Alex Thomas, Host: Delighted to say that Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Matt Thistlethwaite has joined us here in the studio. Just to bring us up to date, obviously a very fluid situation, Matt, you and your team have been flat out over the last 48 hours or so. What can you tell us?
Matt Thistlethwaite, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good morning, Alex. Yes, unfortunately, the number of unaccounted for Australians has risen to 41. That's based on our consultations with next of kin and family. There's obviously a very fluid situation at the moment. The region's been devastated. If there are Australians who have loved ones that are in that region that they can't get in contact with, we're asking them to contact our emergency hotline on 1300 555 135. Our officials on the ground in Kathmandu are trying to get as close to the affected region as possible to provide as much support to those families and to the unaccounted for Australians.
Thomas: Yeah so, you're basically just trying to coordinate things to avoid this flurry of phone calls, text messages, with everywhere, people trying to find out what's happened to their loved ones. How difficult logistically has that been to collate all this information?
Assistant Minister: Yes, we've got processes that we establish in situations such as this, such as the emergency hotline, people can contact the Smartraveller website. We've had requests from the Nepalese Government to send Australian experts and overnight we've sent eight officials who are trained in humanitarian response. We've sent four additional consular officials. They're working with our High Commissioner in Kathmandu to get as close to the affected site as possible and provide that support for Australians.
Thomas: Kind of like rapid response teams, right? Because we were hearing that Nepal was reluctant to accept all the offers of international aid, I guess because they just didn't want to be overwhelmed when they're also trying to sort out the situation. Good that they can let the Australian officials in just to try and find out a bit more, right?
Assistant Minister: Yes, that's right. Yesterday, our Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, spoke to the Nepalese Foreign Minister. The request came in, and we mobilised those officials as quickly as possible. These are experts who train for these situations, who know what to do and help provide that management of what is a very difficult logistical operation at this stage. So, we stand ready to provide assistance. We've provided $5 million worth of humanitarian aid mainly to the World Food Programme to provide that essential food and water supplies into the region. But we stand ready to provide further assistance if it's necessary.
Thomas: How concerned are you? Because time really is the enemy in these sorts of situations, isn't it?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, it certainly is. Unfortunately, the search was suspended yesterday for a couple of hours because there was a risk that the water that was pooling up the mountain would flood again. Thankfully, that risk has subsided and they're now back in the region doing rescue work. But obviously, the longer it goes on, the more difficult it becomes. I don't know if you've seen the footage, but it's incredible, the rescue efforts. 121 people have been saved, which is remarkable. We've heard that great story of Cara Severino, the Australian who made contact with.
Thomas: That's confirmed, she's definitely safe?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, she's made contact with her family. We've confirmed that overnight. Unfortunately, because the region is so devastated, the road network is completely destroyed. The telecommunications infrastructure's gone down, about 10,000 homes have been destroyed, Power plants are out, so it's very difficult to get comms with the area. She's attempting to hike out and get as close to the road network as possible. And our officials are working with her family to try and get transport to her and get her safely back to Kathmandu.
Thomas: Do you know how she's feeling?
Assistant Minister: Obviously, she's been through a very harrowing situation and we're working very closely with her family to provide as much support as possible.
Thomas: Yeah, they must be both tearing their hair out, but also relieved that they've heard from her?
Assistant Minister: Desperately relieved. I can only imagine how distressful this is for members of the community who are waiting on loved ones.
Thomas: It's quite sizeable in Australia, isn't it?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, it is, yeah. About 170,000 Australians from Nepalese background. Yesterday, I did an online forum with members of the Nepalese community, the leaders of that community, to provide them with an update. I did a separate one with the Tibetan community. Last night I attended a vigil at Strathfield with members of the Nepalese community. We're here to support them as much as we can.
Thomas: Yeah, I've seen some disappointing comments online when some of the images of those missing have been posted about, you know, are these really Australians, and it just brings into mind all the current debate over migration, Australian culture. We're going to see a bit of that tested in this by election over in Perth later on today. If one nation do end up winning what is essentially a Labor stronghold, what sort of signals is that going to send, particularly to those people worried about their own constituencies over in the east of the country?
Assistant Minister: Yeah, it's disappointing that people have resorted to those types of comments, but the great thing about Australia was reflected in what I witnessed last night when I went to Strathfield Square, and Australians from all backgrounds, all different faiths, multicultural communities, were there in support of the Nepalese community. And we all came together as Australians in unity to show our appreciation for the contribution of the Nepalese community and obviously to offer our support and love to them in this difficult period. That's the great Australia that we want to promote. And hopefully that's what prevails in today's by-election.
Thomas: Yeah, Australia at its best, for sure. We wish you and your team all the best in your search for those Australian survivors. And we hope there's more good news to come in the days ahead.
Assistant Minister: Thank you.
Thomas: That's Matt Thistlethwaite, who is, of course, the Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister.