Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Financial Services) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the people of Kingsford Smith, I offer my deepest sympathies to those affected by the horrific explosion in Beirut on 4 August. We offer condolences to the people of Lebanon who lost loved ones. In particular, we send our condolences to the parents and family of Isaac Oehlers, the young Australian tragically killed during the blast, and to our nation's Lebanese community. We stand with you.

Over 230,000 Australians share Lebanese heritage, but so many more now share the heartache from this disaster. With more than 180 people killed and thousands wounded, and many of Beirut's hospitals badly damaged, the challenge is enormous. For this city, already battling with an economic crisis and a surge in coronavirus infections, it's made even worse. For the people of Lebanon, a difficult year has become so much harder. Our thoughts are with the Australian embassy staff, including those who suffered minor injuries.

The Lebanese people are a generous people and a humanitarian people, with 1½ million refugees and the largest number of refugees per capita. Lebanon supports those in need. It's now time for us to support Lebanon. I acknowledge the government's contribution to the humanitarian effort, but we can do more to help the establishment of stable government and a focus on welfare for the people of Lebanon. Australia should work with the authorities in Lebanon to offer whatever support we can. Once again, commiserations to the people of Lebanon.

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