Steph Hodgins-May (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I stand in solidarity with the Sudanese communities, including the proud community in my home of Victoria—one of the largest Sudanese diasporas outside of Africa. I want to acknowledge the Sudanese-Australian Advocacy Network, who have called on parliament to recognise the urgency of the proxy war playing out in Sudan. I will read a statement from members of the network, Basil and Yassin:

Each of us here carries the solemn responsibility not only to represent Australians but to uphold our nation's values of compassion, fairness, and humanity.

It would be easy to say we were unaware of the suffering unfolding in Sudan; one of the gravest humanitarian crises of our time.

It would be easy to claim we never heard the pleas of the Australian-Sudanese community, who fled unimaginable hardship seeking safety.

It would be easy to insist we never saw the images of families torn apart by violence, by armed groups funded by foreign powers.

But the truth is undeniable. We did see. We did hear. We did know—and yet, as a nation, we have not acted with the urgency this crisis demands.

The Australian-Sudanese community should not face this pain alone. We have the means, the capacity, and the moral duty to do more. Australia must expand its humanitarian aid, increase emergency relief funding, and support diplomatic efforts that protect civilians and restore stability.

If any of us question the urgency of this moment, I urge you to look at the satellite images—evidence of atrocities visible from space. We cannot claim ignorance. We can only choose action. Let that action be compassion, through decisive humanitarian support.