I rise today to express my deep sorrow and condolences to the people of Nepal and to the Nepali community of Petrie and to the families of the deceased and missing Australians. On 26 August, we all witnessed events on a scale we could never imagine. We all saw the footage that people filmed in the various towns that have been impacted when people were fleeing for their lives. We've since seen footage of the rescue efforts being led by the Nepali army, and I want to commend them on the work that they're doing. I can't imagine how devastating this would be to all those impacted. It's mind-boggling when you think about the scale of the event that occurred—the flash flooding, the many hundreds of lost lives and the many thousands who are still missing.

When I was 22, back in 2016, I was working in hospitality and I saved every cent I had to take myself overseas for the very first time—and I chose Nepal. I took myself into the Langtang region and stayed in a town called Syabrubesi. It is a place that has been effectively wiped off the map. What hasn't been wiped off the map is the history, the memories and the culture of that place. When I hiked in the Himalayas, it was a profoundly spiritual experience, with the Buddhist culture mixed with the Hindu culture. The sheer history of the place is just phenomenal.

When I was hiking, I suffered a bit of altitude sickness—and, mind you, I was on my own; I wouldn't advise anyone to do that, but 22-year-old Emma decided that was appropriate! Hiking along the river and staying in a place up there, I got altitude sickness and then had a sinus infection. I stayed in this tiny little guesthouse, and the people there looked after me. I was there for a few days, longer than expected, and the wonderful aunties and my Nepalese sister looked after me. They fed me. They brought me soups, they brought me masala and they looked after me. I used to do a bit of fire spinning and I had LED poi with me, and I got to play with the locals there and we had a great time, once I was feeling a bit better.

I was speaking to some of the locals there. The Langtang region suffered great loss during the 2015 earthquake. I met people who had lost 30 or 40 members of their family. Even a woman who was 75 had to start working again because everyone in her family had been killed during the earthquake. Nepal is no stranger to extreme events—but nothing like the scale we witnessed on 26 August. I remember the bumpy eight-hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Syabrubesi, crossing bridges that are no longer there. I remember I looked out the window of the bus, and there were about six inches between the bus's tyre and a hundreds-metre drop. The scale of these mountains is incredible. Unless you've been there, you can't comprehend the scale of this place.

Another thing that I don't think people can understand is just how truly wonderful the Nepali people are. They take in strangers. They look after you. The hospitality is just incredible. Even when I got back to Kathmandu and finally made it off the mountain—I had a few naps along the track because I kept throwing up my breakfast and didn't feel well at all. I got back to Kathmandu and a wonderful man named Dhan Lama looked after me at his hotel. Unprompted, they kept bringing me soups and momos and masala, and checking in to make sure I was okay. They even went down to get me some more Panadol. They were looking after me—and this was just off their own goodwill. That's an example of how incredibly wonderful the Nepali community are.

To see what's happened is heartbreaking. As you can see, I'm quite emotional because the scale of the loss of livelihood is incomprehensible. I have a number of Nepali people that live in my community—thousands of them—and they've got missing loved ones and had loved ones lost. To understand what they're going through is hard to fathom. I even travelled to Chitwan National Park, which is now unfortunately the site of mass graves, a necessary course of action. Seeing what has happened to this town due to the scale of this event is just heartbreaking. I got to see my first wild rhino in that part of the world, and it was just phenomenal.

Nepal has always been a popular travel destination for Australians. It's a very revisited country in the world, and that's a testament to how wonderful the people are there—the food, the culture. It's a culture built on respect. There are many different religions. There are many different backgrounds. There's a lot of acceptance of difference and ability. Even just the little things—when you're walking down the street and you hear a lot of horns tooting, it's not to say, 'Get out of my way;' it's to say, 'Hey, I'm here, and I'm moving through this area.' I think that sort of cultural awareness and that sort of societal awareness show that the whole culture, the whole country, is built upon respect.

I've been able to reach out to some of the Nepalese community leaders within Petrie to express my condolences and let them know what supports are available to them. I still have more to contact. There are many, many more I still need to call. So, if any of them are watching this, I will be in touch. If I'm not, please reach out to me and my office, and we'll do whatever we can to accommodate your needs and to direct you to the proper advice.

During times of immense tragedy, the words of solidarity matter, but we also need to back them with action. Australia is backing our friendship with the people of Nepal with practical humanitarian support on the ground. The Australian government has committed $11 million in humanitarian assistance to support the urgent disaster response and the recovery that follows. We know Nepal already struggles with human trafficking as an issue, and, in times like this, that's a risk, with all of these displaced people, all of these orphans, and so I commend the efforts of our Foreign minister, DFAT and the department for their work in assisting the people of Nepal to prevent further crisis from coming to fruition afterwards. Of that funding, $5 million is being provided through the Emergency Action Alliance, and that's going to support the locally led recovery and rehabilitation efforts.

The government is also matching the generosity—the extraordinary generosity, let me say—that has been shown by Australians who have donated to the appeal, and that reflects our close relationship with Nepal. I think, for a lot of Australians, Nepal has a place in our hearts. I'm sure many members in this place have travelled there and have Nepalese community members within their electorates. I think the response to this and the number of people who have decided to speak on this condolence motion are emblematic of how much we truly care for Nepal and our relationship with the country. Also, for what we've provided as a government, I am very appreciative of the bipartisan support. I think it's really appropriate that we do so, and I commend those across the parliament for their support and advocacy for this. So we've put in a further $2 million to the World Food Programme, and they've been leading incredible efforts, making sure people have food in their bellies. It's not only about nutrition; with that kind of trauma, a warm meal makes a big difference.

We're also supporting emergency shelters and vital logistics supporting the affected communities. Many of the roads, as I've said, have been destroyed, and communities are completely cut off and isolated. I'll finish up in the amount of time I have by expressing my condolences to the entire community of Nepal. Thank you.

It's an honour to follow the very heartfelt comments of the member for Petrie, who obviously has a very deep, personal connection with the people of Nepal from her time travelling there and from her own Nepalese community.

I wanted to start by announcing some good news to the Federation Chamber tonight. A short time before this debate commenced, media reports indicated that another Australian has been found, which is a great cause for celebration, and those reports have been confirmed to me by government officials. It is very good that there are now only 35 Australians missing, and I'm very hopeful that more will be returned.

I want to begin by acknowledging all those suffering as a result of the devastating flash floods in the Trishuli valley. The floods have caused untold suffering for the people of Nepal and Tibet. Lives have been lost, communities have been devastated, and many families are still waiting for news of loved ones who are missing. We know at least 1,339 people have been killed, and more than 5,400 people are missing in Nepal and Tibet. For people in my electorate, these floods are not just an incident on the other side of the world. They've affected our community personally. The Berowra electorate is home to a 2,000-strong Nepalese community and a 12,000-strong Hindu community, and 11 of the now 35 Australians who remain unaccounted for live in my community.

I want to acknowledge the Nepalese community first and the extraordinary way it's responded. Two weeks ago, I met with the North Shore Nepalese community leadership, including its president, Hira Giri; Prem Sapakota; Ganesh KC; Udah Bhatta; and others. I've been struck by their resilience, their concern for those affected and their determination to support families here in Australia while also helping the communities in Nepal. Last week in Hornsby, members of the community gathered at the fountain for a vigil to remember those who've died and pray for those who are missing. On the weekend, Harris Farm Markets at Pennant Hills supported its Nepalese staff with a special barbecue, giving colleagues and members of the community an opportunity to come together and raise funds for Nepal.

Many of the Australians caught up in this disaster were in the region making a Hindu pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, the resting place of Lord Shiva, one of the most sacred places in Hinduism. My friend Councillor Sreeni Pillamarri and his family, including his wife, Lakshmi, his son, Parin, and his daughter, Samyuta, were among the pilgrims and got out 36 hours before the floods. They're very close to many of the people who are missing now, and I know he's been giving comfort to many people across Cherrybrook and Epping.

I want to talk about those people from my community who are missing. Among the missing are the Muralitharan family from Cherrybrook: Chandrasekaran, or Murali, as he's known; Shylaja; Aarush, who's aged 11; and Ashwin, who's aged 15. Murali is an engineer. Shylaja is a senior data scientist and manager at the Commonwealth Bank. Their boys attend John Purchase Public School, where they are very much missed, and Cherrybrook Technology High School, and they're active in sport. Their neighbours have described them as the kindest people they've ever met and the best neighbours anyone could ask for.

Also missing are their friends the Iyer family from Cherrybrook: Sreedharan, Lakshmi, Rishab and Rudhra. Sreedharan and Lakshmi are well known in our community. Lakshmi has previously worked for a school for students with special needs, and Sreedharan has worked in early childhood care. One of their neighbours, Ms Young, has spoken about Sreedharan and how he helped actually save her life by calling an ambulance when she was having a stroke. Their two sons are two outstanding young men. Both are medical students at the University of Newcastle. Rudhra is in his third year. He's a keen cricketer with the West Pennant Hills Cherrybrook Cricket Club. Rishab is in his final year of medicine at Newcastle and has a place at Gosford Hospital next year. He too is an avid cricketer. I want to say something about Rishab's amazing partner, Sarada. Sarada has been a tireless advocate for the family, pressing the Nepalese and Australian authorities to continue the search for the family, including using mobile phone technology to look into their whereabouts. I know what a difficult time this is for Sarada, as it is for everyone who knows and loves the people who are missing from my community.

Also missing is Rajeswari Sharma, a 64-year-old from Cherrybrook. Her family is still waiting for news.

From Epping, Uday and Kripa Shivamurthy are missing too. Uday has worked for more than two decades as a technology professional and has volunteered as a cricket coach with the wonderful Epping Bulls Cricket Club, a place that is such a tight-knit community in my electorate. Kripa has worked as an accountant for more than 25 years.

The 11 people missing from my community are not just names on a list. They are families, they're neighbours, and they're almost a third of the total number of Australians missing. They're people who have contributed to our schools, to our workplaces, to our sporting clubs and to our community. This is why the tragedy has been felt so deeply across the electorate of Berowra, because in some respects we have three connections to it: the strong Nepalese community, the strong Hindu community and the very strong personal connection that people have to the 11 people who are missing—11 people that we want to see return home safe. We all hope that the person who was found just a short while ago is one of those 11.

It's fair to say that there are few people in this parliament who have been more critical of the Albanese government's foreign policy than I have, but I want to give a bouquet to the government in relation to the way in which they've handled this incident. I particularly want to acknowledge Assistant Minister Matt Thistlethwaite and his chief of staff and Kath Cummins from the Prime Minister's office. I also want to acknowledge the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their assistance with all the consular matters I and my community have been raising, particularly the matters that I've raised on behalf of the families of my electorate. Thank you to Eleesa and Kath and Minister Thistlethwaite.

Australia has played an important role here in the humanitarian assistance, as well. We've offered personnel and specialist capability to support the response, including search and rescue and mapping assistance. We've also responded generously through donations to humanitarian organisations supporting people with water, sanitation, shelter and other essential supplies. One of the great benefits of the event put on by Harris Farm Markets at Pennant Hills was that it gave people, including myself, an opportunity to make donations to ensure that humanitarian aid gets through to the good people of Nepal and Tibet.

But for the families waiting here in Australia, the most important thing that they're waiting for is news. They want to know where their loved ones are. They want to know that we are pursuing every possible avenue. They want the search to continue. As the discussion turns, in the weeks ahead, to the causes of this disaster and the recovery, we mustn't lose sight of the people at the centre of it. There are still Australians missing. There are still families waiting. There are still communities holding out hope. I join my community in holding out hope, waiting for news. To the Nepalese and Hindu communities in Berowra, particularly to the families and friends of those who remain missing, I want you to know that our community stands with you. We pray for the safe return of your loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers remain with everyone who has been impacted by this terrible tragedy.

It has been a long and harrowing wait for the families of Australian, Nepalese and Tibetan victims of the catastrophe that has hit the Himalayan border region, from witnessing footage of the terrifying floodwaters as they tore through villages and homes, sweeping away bridges and roads and everything in their path, to getting the terrible news of those who've died and waiting for news on the thousands and thousands of people who remain missing. Among those missing are 35 Australians, plus others from around the world and, of course, local Tibetans and Nepalese people. I acknowledge the devastation of the loss for their families and their friends and also for those who have survived the trauma and will now have to face that task of recovery. I know my community has shown its support for Nepali and Tibetan community members in vigils over the last couple of weeks in the Blue Mountains. Of course, the Blue Mountains are home to many Tibetans, as are Sydney and Newcastle and right around the country.

What is making it particularly hard for families of people in the Tibet region is the lack of communication from China about their loved ones. Unfortunately, it has been very challenging to get information on that side of the border. The Chinese authorities have provided very little detail of the people affected in the Tibet region, only broadly confirming the hundreds missing, including 260 foreign nationals. They've also not provided any specific information about the settlements and villages in the areas that have likely been affected. We all know of China's control of information. It is well documented and well known. But this is a time when information for Tibetans living in Australia is really vital and I'd certainly urge for a level of transparency in the interests of humanity. I know the Australian government, along with other countries, is pressing for updates, and I will certainly continue to ask for those.

I think it's important to recognise the role Australia has taken to support the communities that are affected in the fastest and best way we can. There have been offers of assistance to China. These haven't yet been accepted. There has been significant support provided for Nepal. We've deployed almost 50 officers to the region to support in search, rescue and recovery efforts.

We've got officials working in Kathmandu, Beijing, New Delhi and Canberra around the clock, trying to find and help establish the whereabouts of Australians and, very importantly, meeting with family members, some of whom have travelled to Nepal, desperate for information and trying to get the answers wherever they can.

Each Australian family has a dedicated case officer from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the AFP, who've been assigned to support the next of kin of those missing. That's so that those families have a constant through this really difficult time and don't have to retell their story multiple times. It's hard to imagine what they must be experiencing, and I'm really pleased to know that we have taken this approach.

There is also a variety of people in Kathmandu who are supporting the dedicated family support hub in the embassy, including two Services Australia social workers. This is help that we can provide on the ground and here and that Nepal has accepted. One of the things we've also been able to do is provide specialist Australian drone operators, who are over there as part of a 15-person disaster assistance response team. The team is drawn from Fire and Rescue NSW and the Queensland Fire Department and is bringing that advanced technology to bear on those areas where searches are taking place. We all know how extraordinarily challenging the terrain is.

We've also provided AFP disaster victim identification specialists, and they're on hand, and we are providing telecommunications data. They're very practical things that we can do and that we can provide from here, knowing, really, that our hearts are with those searching and that we hope for the miracles that will allow more people to be found alive.

In humanitarian assistance, there's been an $11 million commitment so far for things like emergency shelters, food, clean water, sanitation, healthcare and other essential supplies. I'm very proud that a Royal Australian Air Force C-17 has been the means of delivery for almost 24 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Nepal. I want to thank all of those involved, from Defence, the AFP and DFAT, plus the non-government workers who've been involved, so far, in our efforts. Australians, of course, have been very generous with donating—I think it's probably close to $5 million of their own money—to Emergency Action Alliance, which has been matched by the government.

Australia will obviously need to continue providing support for what's going to be a long and slow recovery for the people who live on the Himalayan border. At the same time as we support the recovery on the Nepalese side and continue to offer support for the Tibetan side, I'd really urge the Chinese government to allow independent observers into the Tibet region going forward, because, once the recovery begins, the Australian Tibetan community would really like to see international scientists, journalists and observers being able to get in and understand what the situation is on the ground. They're concerned about the impacts of climate change on the region and what the environmental consequences are of the major development projects that are being undertaken there. For them, it's a question of what the impacts are on Tibet's environment and on the people and countries downstream.

I also want to share some of the insights that Plan International has already been able to give about what it sees going forward in this recovery. Plan International is very focused on the impacts on children, and we know that children will bear a heavy price because of this disaster. Even when the full scale is not known, we know one thing for sure, and that is that the disaster will not affect Nepal's or Tibet's children equally. It will fall hardest and longest on girls, because that's what history tells us happens. Plan has been looking at this situation across disasters for many, many, many years.

Nepal is the 20th-most disaster-prone country in the world, with frequent floods, riverbank erosion and landslides—all major climate related hazards. As they say, this flood didn't create the link between climate change and girls' future in Nepal, but it accelerates a trend that Plan International has already documented and qualified. In 2023 their research found that, in Nepal, students are on average losing three months of their education every year due to climate disasters. The same research found that a third of young people surveyed said their schools had been closed, damaged or destroyed by climate related events in the past year, and almost half felt unsafe travelling to and from school because of climate related disasters. This is a really profound effect already, and the disaster that we've seen clearly is on much bigger scale.

The thing we need to be mindful of as we provide aid to Nepal is that, in the immediate aftermath, with girls' mobility contracted sharply, we need to be thinking about those experiences and the consequences of the greater restrictions on girls' mobility and autonomy compared to boys. In the emergency shelters, the risk intensifies, and the consequence of all of this for women and girls is the heightened risk of violence, trafficking and exploitation. Plan International's own research into trafficking routes affecting girls and young women in Nepal confirms this is a well established, cross-context risk rather than something they're just speculating about. Therefore, the disaster-to-marriage link is also an issue, and it is quantifiable. Child marriages can surge by up to 39 per cent, as they did following a natural disaster in Bangladesh. As Australia provides assistance, we have to make sure that we put the needs of children right at the top of our list as we support the recovery from this disaster.

Thirteen days ago, an unimaginable wall of water tore through the Himalayan valleys along the Nepal-China border. A glacier and mountain collapse sent billions of litres of water surging through the region, destroying villages, roads, bridges and entire communities in their path. The latest reports indicate at least 1,398 people have been killed, and more than 5,500 are still missing. Among those missing are hundreds of foreign nationals, and only a few moments ago we learned that another Australian has been found alive, which is wonderful news. That brings our number of unaccounted for to 35.

Those numbers in their entirety are almost impossible to comprehend. But behind every one of those numbers is a person—a brother, a sister, a mother, a father, a son, a daughter. And the agony that those families must be going through right now is unimaginable. For those of us on the Sunshine Coast, this international tragedy has been brought painfully home to us. One of those Australians still missing is Fisher local Renee Spry. Renee is a disability support worker, a mother and a much-loved member of our Sunshine Coast community. She travelled to Mount Kailash on a pilgrimage when the disaster struck. Her family understands that Renee was at an immigration centre near the Nepal-Tibet border only minutes before the catastrophic flood swept through the area. The building was overwhelmed and Renee has not been heard from since.

When the news first emerged, our entire Sunshine Coast community hoped and prayed that Renee would be found alive and well. We continue to hold that hope today, but with every passing day we also recognise the terrible uncertainty Renee's family is being forced to endure. Her family, like all others, wakes each morning waiting for a phone call, waiting for a message, waiting for somebody somewhere to tell them where their loved one is and what's happened to them.

I've been deeply moved by the strength of Renee's family and what they've shown throughout this ordeal. Her daughter Ruby has spoken publicly about her mum and about the sort of person Renee is. Importantly, Ruby has also said that Renee would want Australians to think not just about her mum but about the thousands of Nepalese people whose lives have been devastated. She's encouraged Australians to support humanitarian organisations helping those affected. We have not forgotten Renee and we will not forget Renee, and we continue to hope and pray for the news that so many Australians and so many people around the world are longing to hear.

There are, of course, many other Australian families experiencing that same terrible uncertainty. Some have travelled to Nepal themselves, searching for their loved ones and hoping for answers. Others remain here in Australia, waiting by their phones and holding on to every piece of information that comes through. For some families, there's still hope that their loved one may be found alive. For others, the heartbreaking reality is beginning to set in that the search may now be about recovery, closure and bringing their loved one home. These are Australians who should have been returning to their families after the trip of a lifetime. Instead, their loved ones are left waiting, hoping and grieving. As the days pass, we must make sure that those still missing and the families waiting for them do not simply fade from our national attention.

I acknowledge and support the work being undertaken by the Australian government. This is an extraordinarily difficult time for disaster response taking place across remote and badly damaged terrain. Roads and bridges have been destroyed. Entire communities have been cut off. Search teams are operating in extremely challenging conditions. The government has now deployed almost 50 Australian officers to the region to support search, rescue and recovery efforts; that includes consular and crisis response officers, Australian Federal Police, defence personnel and humanitarian specialists. Officials in Kathmandu, Beijing, New Delhi and here in Canberra have been working around the clock, dealing directly with families, local authorities, hospitals, tour operators and other organisations in an effort to establish the whereabouts of missing Australians.

Australia has also deployed a specialist disaster assistance response team, including drone operators from Fire and Rescue NSW and the fire department in Queensland. Those teams are providing advanced aerial mapping and imaging to support Nepalese authorities conducting search operations in extremely difficult terrain. That is practical Australian expertise being put to work where it is desperately needed. I thank the Australian government, our diplomats, defence personnel, Australian Federal Police officers, emergency service personnel and everybody else involved in the operation. On issues like this, Australians speak as one; it doesn't matter what political party we are from. The government has the opposition's full support in doing everything reasonably possible to find Australians who remain missing and to support their families.

Australia is also providing significant assistance to the Nepalese people. The government initially announced $5 million in humanitarian support and has provided a further $3 million, bringing its commitment to $8 million. That support is helping provide food, emergency shelter, clean water, sanitation, medical assistance, hygiene kits, blankets and psychosocial support. Funding is being delivered through organisations including the World Food Program, Australian humanitarian partners and the Emergency Action Alliance. I strongly support this assistance, because, while naturally our attention is drawn to the Australians still missing, we cannot lose sight of the enormous suffering of the Nepalese people. The member for Fairfax and I joined our respective Nepalese communities on Friday night in the Teej festival. We grieved with them in their moments of loss.

Yesterday, Nepal observed a national day of mourning. Flags flew at half mast. Families gathered in prayer. Candlelight vigils were held. Traditional mourning ceremonies marked the 13th day since this disaster. There are villages where families have lost everything. There are workers still feared trapped in tunnels. There are thousands of people missing and thousands more displaced. The scale of that grief is difficult to comprehend from here in Australia. But Australia has always been a country that helps our friends when disaster strikes, and we should continue to do so.

There's no easy ending to a speech like this, because for Renee's family and so many others there's still no ending to their story. They are still waiting. They are still hoping. They are still searching for answers. For Renee's family on the Sunshine Coast, I want to say again that we are thinking of you. Our community is standing with you, and we continue to pray that Renee will be found and brought home.

For the families of all 35 Australians still unaccounted for, this parliament stands with you as well. And, to the people of Nepal, Australia mourns alongside you. I commend the Australian personnel on the ground and the government for the assistance it has provided and the resources it continues to deploy, because these families deserve answers. The people of Nepal deserve our help, and the Australians still missing deserve every reasonable effort we can make to bring them home. I hope I don't destroy the Nepalese language by saying: Tapainko yo kshati ma sara sansar tapai sangai shok ma dubeko cha. The whole world is immersed in grief with you in this loss.

I offer my deep condolences to the people of Nepal and Tibet following the floods that struck those regions on 26 August. More than 1,300 people have been confirmed deceased, and thousands remain missing, including Australians. Search and rescue teams continue working to reach isolated communities and workers trapped inside damaged hydropower tunnels. Many families have not recovered the bodies of their loved ones, and others are waiting for news of those still missing.

The effects of this disaster are being felt across the world and across Australia, including in my electorate of Solomon, where we have a large and much-valued Nepalese community. The loss has reached Darwin personally. We are aware of one member of Darwin's Nepalese community whose family has been directly affected. I offer my support to them and to their loved ones.

The wider Nepalese community has come together around those grieving, here and overseas. Planned events in Darwin were cancelled so the community could mourn and support those affected. On 30 August, members of the Nepalese community and wider Darwin and Top End community gathered for a candlelight vigil at the Parliament House forecourt in Darwin, remembering those who died and praying for those missing and all of the families.

I acknowledge the Nepalese Association of Northern Territory, through Acting President Namrata Sharma, for bringing the community together. I also acknowledge the Non-Resident Nepali Association of Northern Territory, through its president, Trilochan Sapkota, for the work of NRNA in supporting the community. Darwin Hearts Football Club held a 'kick for a cause' match to support Nepal's flood relief effort. The Northern Nepalese football club organised a fundraiser at Rapid Creek Markets in association with Rapid Cafe and with support from Lukla Mart. Community members donated and purchased food to raise money for affected families. Money raised by local organisations has been directed to the government of Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund to support search, rescue, relief and recovery work.

To the Nepalese and Tibetan families who have lost loved ones, are waiting for news or have seen their home communities destroyed, Australia stands with you. On behalf of the people of Darwin and Palmerston and all Territorians, I offer my sincere condolences to the families of those who have died and those who are still missing. I acknowledge the emergency workers, volunteers, medical teams and residents that are searching for the missing and also caring for survivors.

Trilochan Sapkota, the NRNA-NT president said:

I sincerely thank all members of the Nepali community living across the Northern Territory, as well as our multicultural communities, for joining us at the Candlelight Vigil and standing together during this difficult time. I also sincerely thank everyone who generously donated directly to the PMO Relief Fund and the NRNA Australia GoFundMe. Some of these funds have provided assistance for those needing to travel back home to Nepal.

Our heartfelt condolences go to all those who have lost their lives. May they rest in peace. We continue to pray and hope that those who are still missing are found safe and reunited with their families.

The Acting President of NANT, Namrata Sharma, said:

The recent tragedy in Nepal has deeply affected our community here in the Northern Territory, with many of us having family, friends and loved ones back home. During this difficult time, the compassion, solidarity and support shown by the Australian Government, our local leaders and the wider Australian community have meant a great deal to us.

We are incredibly proud of how the Nepalese community in the Northern Territory has come together to support those affected back home. Although we may be far from Nepal, our hearts remain closely connected to our homeland.

They also said: 'Thank you to all those Australians, members of the government agencies, members of non-government organisations and other volunteers, who are helping and are part of the worldwide effort of humanitarian assistance. God bless you all.'

I trekked the mountains of Nepal as a 17-year-old and the people of that country have always been in my heart, but no more so than now. Samjhan chu din ko raat—I think of you day and night. May those who died rest in peace. May those missing be found. May the people of Nepal and Tibet receive the support that they need.

I rise to speak on the catastrophic floods that recently devastated Nepal and the Tibetan border region and to express on behalf of the people of Kooyong our deepest sympathy for the lives lost and the communities destroyed in that event. On 26 August, a glacial lake burst its banks near the Nepal-China border. There was no rainfall and no warning. A wall of water, mud and rock tore down the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli valleys at speeds of up to 190 kilometres an hour through the towns of Timure, Syaprubesi and Betrawati and on into the Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. It happened at nine o'clock in the morning as people were going about their ordinary lives.

The scale of what followed is difficult to comprehend. As of this week, the confirmed death toll stands at over 1,340, with thousands of individuals still unaccounted for. Over 1.6 million people have been affected. Hydropower projects were buried with hundreds of workers still inside. Entire villages were erased. On the Tibetan side, whole settlements at the border crossing were reduced to rubble. Families are still searching for their missing, and mass burials have had to take place because of difficulties coping with the scale of the loss. Among the missing and dead are at least 30 Australian nationals caught up in a disaster that struck with no chance for anyone to flee.

The tragedy has been felt acutely here in Australia, particularly in Victoria, which is home to one of the fastest growing migrant communities in this country. Melbourne's Nepalese community has more than doubled in the last decade, and thousands of Nepalese Australians, including families in and around Kooyong, have spent the last fortnight in anguish, trying to reach relatives, refreshing news from home and grieving people that they knew personally. I want to acknowledge the vigil held at Federation Square, where members of the Nepali community gathered to honour the dead and to stand in solidarity with those still searching for news for their missing loved ones.

On Sunday 6 September, the Balwyn Rotary Club, of which I'm a proud member, held a fundraiser at the Camberwell Sunday Market. Balwyn Rotary has a special relationship with the Rotary of Kathmandu via Raj Gautam. That special relationship enabled an immediate commitment to a hyperlocal relief project for the Bhotekoshi flood affected communities in Nepal. The fundraising opportunity and activities on Sunday were facilitated by: Tony Stephen, the Camberwell Sunday Market director and a member of Balwyn Rotary; Julie Mulhauser, President of the Balwyn Rotary Club; and David Hobson, Rotary's disaster relief coordinator.

We were fortunate to have in attendance: Sudeep Shrestha, President of the Nepalese Association of Victoria; Yakindra Timilsena, the past president of NAV and President of the Nourish Nation Foundation; Parsu Budatholi, Director of the Insearch Foundation; Prem Kandel, a member of the Non-Resident Nepal Association; Binit Sharma, a community leader; Rajan Maskey, a community leader; Babin Mishra, a member of the NRNA; Bipan Adhikari, the President of the Rotary Club of Craigieburn; and Madhuri Maskey, a member of both Rotary Club of Craigieburn and Rotary Passport Melbourne Club. We also invited and hoped to host a number of other community representatives: Mr Niranjan Gauli, the past consul of the Consulate of Nepal in Victoria; Mr Tilak Pokharel, president of the Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre; Mr Mahadev Dhanuk, coordinator of NRNA Victoria; Ms Bina Adhikari, coordinator of the Nari Nikunja, Women's Forum, of Victoria; Mr Keshab Kandel, the Vice President of the Australian Nepalese Multicultural Centre; and Dr Raju Adhikari, the CEO of Nourish Nation Foundation.

The Victorian Nepalese community's message throughout has been one of unity, a call for everyone affected to stand together, and this parliament stands with them too. I was grateful to receive today an update from a number of senior DFAT officials about the extraordinary efforts being made by DFAT, by the AFP, by Services Australia and by other Australian units to support affected Australian and Nepalese families in Kathmandu and greater Nepal at this very distressing time.

This was not simply a natural disaster. Scientists have been clear that the glacial lake which collapsed had shown visible signs of instability in the days beforehand and that outburst floods of this kind are becoming more frequent as the Himalayan glaciers retreat under a warming climate. Nepal's foreign minister has called on the international community to treat this as a climate event, not a freak accident. He's right to do so. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region holds the largest volume of ice outside the polar regions, and it's warming faster than the global average. Every fraction of a degree of warming that we fail to prevent increases the risk of another such event. Nepalese community members present in Kooyong on Sunday asked for our assistance in highlighting how global warming acts as a critical risk multiplier in Nepal's valleys, increasing the risk of flash flooding driven by accelerated glacier melt. They made the point that, as a wealthy middle power with abundant renewable resources, Australia does have a regional influence and a responsibility to lead.

By rapidly decoupling our own economy from fossil fuels, we don't just reduce our own emissions. We can demonstrate that a low-carbon economy is practical and achievable, and we can set a standard for global action to protect vulnerable communities. We can't personally rebuild the homes or return the lives lost in Nepal and Tibet, but we can honour them by taking seriously our own responsibility to cut emissions, to support our Pacific and South Asian neighbours in their climate adaptation and to treat the accelerating instability of glaciers and ice sheets as the urgent global security issue that it now is. I extend my condolences and those of the Kooyong community to everyone who has lost something in this disaster, and I commit to continuing to press this parliament to act on the climate change that's making tragedies like this more common and more severe.

On 26 August, part of a glacier collapsed high in the Himalayas. A vast mass of mud and rock crashed into a river near the border between Nepal and Tibet, China. The water that followed swept through valleys below, destroying towns and villages and burying transport links and hydropower sites. The figures are still changing. At the time of speaking, at least 1,380 people have been reported killed across Nepal and Tibet. More than 5,500 remain missing.

On 7 September, Nepal marked its 13th day since the disaster—the traditional final day of mourning in Hindu rites—with the national flag at half mast. Around 900 workers from hydroelectric projects have been reported missing. Nepalese rescuers believe about 120 of them may have been inside tunnels when the floods struck. Yet, even after many days, people have emerged alive. A Chinese worker was pulled from one tunnel, and a Nepali woman was rescued from her buried home. With miraculous rescues like these, we can imagine why rescuers keep toiling in the mud.

The United Nations and its partners have launched a US$49.6 million emergency appeal, aiming to reach more than 84,000 people. In Rasuwa and neighbouring northern districts, entire settlements have been displaced. With Himalayan winter approaching, damaged homes and severed roads mean the region is at risk. At present, 35 Australians remain unaccounted for. Most were last known to have been around Gyirong and Syabrubesi. My thoughts are with their families as they wait in hope.

The Australian government has deployed almost 50 officers to the region. Dedicated case officers from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Federal Police are working with families. Two Services Australia social workers have arrived in Kathmandu, where our embassy is establishing a family support hub. A 15-person Australian disaster assistance response team has also travelled to Nepal, including specialist drone operators from Fire and Rescue NSW and the Queensland Fire Department. Their drones can rapidly map terrain and search areas that are extraordinarily difficult to reach from the ground. Australian Federal Police disaster victim identification specialists are deploying as well, while telecommunications data has been provided to Nepalese authorities to help narrow the possible locations of missing Australians.

Australia has committed $11 million in humanitarian assistance. A Royal Australian Air Force C-17 has delivered almost 24 tonnes of aid. Australians have separately given $4.5 million through the Emergency Action Alliance, and the government's $11 million package includes a $5 million contribution to the alliance. The alliance is helping provide shelter, health care, clean water and sanitation.

Here in Canberra, more than 5,000 people were born in Nepal—over one per cent of Canberra's population. They're tradies and teachers, businesspeople and public servants—contributing to Canberra's multicultural success.

The Australia Nepal Friendship Society has been part of Canberra since 1982, seven years before ACT self-government. It runs Hamro Pathashala, a Nepali language school for children. Nepali voices contribute to Canberra Community Radio. The Canberra Nepalese Football Club grew from informal games in 2008 into a formal community club, while NRNA Australia maintains an ACT presence, connecting the local diaspora. Nepali Canberrans are a strong presence at the ACT multicultural festival and are generous in inviting local politicians such as me along to their community events.

That generosity extends to raising money to assist with natural disasters. After the Nepal earthquake in April 2015, the Australia Nepal Friendship Society had raised more than $21,000 within five days. Canberrans gathered at Garema Place for a candlelight vigil, and local Nepalese organisations formed a joint earthquake relief coordination team.

Eleven years later, Nepali Canberrans are again demonstrating their generosity towards those in need. Within days of these floods, the Australia Nepal Friendship Society organised a vigil on the lawns of Parliament House. Its secretary, Amrit Sharma, spoke of Canberra families whose relatives had been affected. The society opened a relief fundraiser, with proceeds to go directly to the Nepal Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.

Members were also checking with one another and helping affected families make contact across continents. Mr Sharma also described support arriving from outside the Nepali community. Indian and Vietnamese community members were among those reaching out.

I acknowledge, too, Australia's Tibetan community, for whom this disaster has brought its own losses and terrible uncertainty. To the people of Nepal and Tibet, and to every family waiting here in Australia, I offer my condolences. To Canberra's Nepali community, I want you to know that your grief is felt across our city.

On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith, I expressed our sincerest condolences and sympathies to those affected by the catastrophic flooding and landslides in Nepal and Tibet, China. The disaster has caused immense loss of life, widespread disruption and profound grief across both nations. Entire communities have been devastated. Families are waiting anxiously for news of loved ones. Rescue workers continue to operate in conditions that are dangerous, unpredictable and physically demanding.

Australia stands with Nepal and China at this difficult time. We stand with the families of the missing. We stand with the communities who are grieving, rebuilding and supporting one another through unimaginable hardship.

The government's focus is on the welfare of Australians caught up in this disaster and on supporting Nepal and China as they respond to an event of extraordinary scale. Thirty-five Australians remain unaccounted for in the affected region. There was some good news this afternoon with an eighth Australian making contact with DFAT. We remain very concerned for those who are unaccounted for. Australian officials are working around the clock, getting as close to the affected areas as conditions will allow and liaising with local authorities, tour operators and community leaders.

The circumstances are extremely challenging. Roads have been blocked or washed away. Homes and infrastructure have been destroyed. Telecommunications and power networks have been knocked out, and in many areas access is only possible by air. Despite these obstacles, our officials are pushing forward with determination and professionalism.

Yesterday, on Nepal's national day of mourning, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed their condolences in parliament, and I was proud to sign the condolence book at the Nepalese Embassy on behalf of the Australian government.

Australia has already deployed 49 extra personnel to Nepal to support the crisis response. The deployments include 15 drone operators with disaster assistance response, as well as AFP disaster victim identification teams. The personnel also include those with specialist skills in humanitarian assessment, logistics, communications and planning. The extraordinary scale of this disaster, the conditions on the ground and the remoteness of the affected region mean there are immense challenges for rescue and recovery efforts.

Our government has done everything it can to support the humanitarian response. We've committed $11 million to this response. The Australian public have also shown extraordinary generosity, with more than $4 million being donated to the emergency action appeal. It builds on Australia's long history of support for Nepal during times of crisis, including the response that was provided to the 2015 earthquakes.

We're also working closely with Chinese authorities on the Tibetan side of the border. Our embassy in Beijing, led by our ambassador, Scott Dewar, is in regular contact with China's officials. We've offered assistance and, whilst China has indicated they can manage the response at this stage, they've expressed appreciation for Australia's support.

Communication difficulties across the region, caused by damaged infrastructure, have made information flows challenging, but our officials are doing everything possible to obtain accurate updates. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has reported more than 1,300 confirmed deaths and nearly 5,000 people missing, including 587 foreign nationals. China's official figures also reflect significant loss of life and large numbers of missing persons.

These numbers are heartbreaking. They underscore the magnitude of the challenge ahead. In times like these, the strength of international cooperation becomes clear. Rescue teams, governments, NGOs and communities are working together across borders, languages and landscapes, and Australia is proud to contribute to that effort.

Here in Australia, the impact of the disaster is being felt deeply within the Nepalese and Tibetan communities. Last week I hosted a series of online round tables with community leaders to provide updates, answer questions and offer Australia's support. The distress within these communities is profound. Many have family and friends in the affected areas. Many are waiting for news. Many are supporting one another through fear, uncertainty and grief. I attended a vigil in Strathfield with members of the Nepalese community to express our solidarity and unity. It was a moving and solemn gathering. It was a reminder of the strength, resilience and compassion that define our multicultural communities.

Sydney is home to one of Australia's largest Nepalese diaspora communities. Local leaders and members of parliament, including the member for Barton, the member for Banks and the member for Reid, are providing support, coordinating information and ensuring people have access to counselling and assistance.

To all Nepalese and Tibetan Australians, I say: please know that Australia stands with you. We offer you our support, our solidarity and our friendship. You are not alone during this difficult time.

To the families of the missing, I say: we know this is an agonising time. We know the uncertainty is unbearable. We know that every hour feels like a day. Please know that Australia is doing everything possible to locate your loved ones.

To Australians in Nepal and Tibet, China, I say: follow the advice of local authorities and stay informed and in contact with DFAT.

To the people of Nepal and China, I say: we will stand with you in the months ahead as your communities rebuild.

I thank the Assistant Minister for Immigration and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the assistant minister's efforts, as well as those of the PMO, to keep all honourable members, including the crossbench, informed.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 19:24