Deputy President, once again, I would like to emphasize to our wonderful Nepalese Australian community that this Parliament stands in solidarity with you.
We stand in solidarity with you and with our Nepalese Australian community. It is one of our fastest-growing diaspora communities, and we see the wonderful contribution it makes through the work its members do in professions, businesses, small businesses, our health sector, and every other aspect of our community. We see the contribution that is made by our Nepalese Australian community.
In that respect, I also want to note that I have attended a number of events with our Nepalese Australian community where they have opened their festivals to all Australians, including in my home state of Queensland. I am sure Senator Waters would agree with me on that point.
To be open with you, Deputy President, I do not feel comfortable debating an issue such as this at this point in time. That is my own personal position with respect to this matter. I think the focus needs to be on providing our support and our solidarity to the Nepalese Australian community. I understand and appreciate that the Greens have a different perspective in that regard, but, from my perspective, it should be all about working out what we can do to support that community.
In that regard, I congratulate the government on the support it has provided to date in response to the disaster. I also note that members of the Nepalese community have contacted me and have expressed their wish and desire to contribute to the relief efforts occurring in Nepal.
I think one thing the government could consider in the medium to longer term, as Australia continues to provide its support, is how we can use the link, the human bridge, between our Nepalese Australian community and the people of Nepal in order to provide assistance to Nepal over the medium to long term. I advocate for that assistance to be provided over that period.
In that regard, I welcome the fact that Angus Taylor, the Opposition Leader, has provided his support for measures undertaken by the government to support the Nepalese Australian community and to support Nepal as it goes through the rebuilding and restructuring process.
We are still in the phase of trying to rescue everyone who is able to be rescued. Again, I offer my compliments and support to those engaged in those rescue activities, including many Australians. It is extraordinarily heartwarming and inspiring to see the efforts occurring on the ground. Every day, including just yesterday, we hear of new survivors being rescued many days after these catastrophic events, and that is heartwarming.
So I do want to express my solidarity with the Nepalese Australian community. I want to express my support for those engaged in the rescue and relief efforts, and I want to advocate for the Australian Government, whoever happens to be in government, to commit to whatever support is necessary in the short term for the rescue and relief efforts, and also to commit to the assistance Nepal will need in the medium to long term as it seeks to rebuild after this catastrophe.
I think the government has the support of the Opposition and the support of the Opposition Leader. One of the reasons for that is the wonderful contribution made by our Nepalese Australian community. We see it every day. They are part of the Australian story, they will always be part of the Australian story, and at this very difficult time they should know that the Australian people have their arms wrapped around our Nepalese Australian community in solidarity and support.
