Legislative Council, Wednesday 2 September 2026
Ms FORREST (Murchison) – Mr President, I note the Leader’s contribution to this condolence motion, and I rise to support this motion, and do so with a heavy heart.
What happened in the border region between Nepal and Tibet is almost impossible to comprehend from the safety and distance of this Chamber. In the space of a single morning, a wall of water swept through Himalayan communities, hydropower stations and border crossings, taking hundreds of lives, leaving thousands unaccounted for and reducing homes, roads, critical infrastructure, schools and livelihoods in ruin. The scale of the loss is still emerging, and for many families, the agony of not knowing is its own form of grief. We understand this tragic event was triggered by a major glacial collapse with little warning, and thus little time for people in the vicinity to react. Images and video footage has been frightening to watch, it must have been unimaginable to witness and experience. In such a picturesque and beautiful part of our world, it would have been such a shock.
I want to acknowledge in particular the now 39 Australians reported missing, with the news overnight of four being found, thankfully alive, in the wake of this disaster. Behind that 39 Australians are individuals, some undertaking pilgrims, trekkers, workers, sons and daughters, siblings, parents, grandparents, friends, and behind each of those individuals are families here in Australia, including here in Tasmania, many waiting for news. I also acknowledge all the Nepalese people, many of whom still have no news. I understand the search and rescue efforts continue and I join with other members in hoping for a safe recovery of as many of the missing people as possible, whilst also recognising that hope must sit alongside honest acknowledgement of the mounting toll, and every day that passes makes it more unlikely that people will be found alive, sadly.
This tragedy is not a distant one for Tasmania, as many living here know or have connections with members from the Nepalese community. We are home to a vibrant and growing Nepalese community. With more than 6000 Tasmanians born in Nepal, and more than 7000 who speak Nepali in their homes. These Nepalese Tasmanians have made their lives here. They work in our hospitals and aged-care facilities, on our farms and food-processing plants, in our trades and in our small businesses. They play sport among us and they send their children to school in our communities, and they contribute to community life. Many members of our Nepalese community are still grieving and will continue to grieve for many months and years to come. Some will be waiting for news of their parents, siblings, cousins or friends still in Nepal. Others will be actively grieving already. Friends of these Tasmanians will also be sharing in their grief, as we do. That grief does not stay confined to their private homes, it is carried into their workplaces, the clubs they are involved in, their places of worship and community halls right across the state. I hope every Nepalese Tasmanian will note this parliament sees that grief and stands with them. They are a long, as we are, from the disaster area, and not knowing what is happening on the ground – and in some cases whether loved ones are safe – must be extremely difficult. The not knowing is particularly difficult and we know that communications are cut in these sorts of disasters and that hope that people cling on to is very real.
Mr President, I also want to pay tribute to those on the ground doing the work that none of us could easily do: the emergency services personnel; the volunteers; the humanitarian organisations; many operating in extremely difficult and dangerous terrain, searching for survivors and providing aid to those who have lost everything, many of them putting their own personal safety at risk, going into these areas that still remain unstable.
This is an area that will remain unstable, and listening to some of the commentary around this area, it’s likely to occur again and obviously the whole community of Nepal are very aware of that and I know that there’s work going on at the moment to try to take preventative actions but knowing this effectively was the first event that came with very little warning and ongoing risks to their own safety, continues for those working in that area. Their courage deserves our recognition and acknowledgement.
For Tasmanians who are looking for a way to help here, aside from reaching out to members of the Tasmanian Nepalese community to offer support, including practical support such as providing a meal or other support they may need. I urge them to support established fundraising and relief efforts that are under way. Even modest contributions multiplied across the community can make a genuine difference to families rebuilding from nothing.
Mr President, I offer, my heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal, to the Australians and their families who are missing and those who have died in Nepal as a result of this tragedy, all the families of those who are still missing, and to every Nepalese Tasmanian carrying this loss with them, not only this week but into the future. We stand with you and acknowledge the very real loss and profound grief that you are experiencing.