Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Sheldon, for the question. I know I speak for all in this chamber when I say that we have been watching the heartbreaking scenes from Turkiye and Syria with horror.

Yesterday, as I indicated to the chamber, the Prime Minister announced an initial commitment of $10 million in humanitarian aid to support the people affected. I'm also pleased to announce that earlier today, following advice from my department, I agreed to activate an AUSASSISTPLAN to deploy an urban search-and-rescue team of up to 72 personnel to Turkiye to assist local authorities. Our National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, is now conducting an urgent assessment to ensure the safety of Australian personnel. NEMA is working closely with Fire and Rescue NSW, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the ADF to coordinate the deployment as soon as possible. These are urban search-and-rescue specialists, highly trained to locate, deliver medical assistance to, and remove victims who've been trapped or impacted by a structural collapse.

These are extremely difficult times. I think all of us have been horrified by the scenes of devastation and the stories of human tragedy that we're witnessing. There is also so much heroism and compassion for one's fellow man, woman and child that is on display in these areas, which have already been so devastated in many cases. If we are able to assist, notwithstanding that we are a long way away, I'm sure all of us would want the government to support our personnel to engage in such assistance.