Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian government has offered and will continue to offer consular support to the Ufer and Joynson families. We will also continue to offer all support and assistance to the New Zealand government. There are currently a total of 48 Australians either in or mobilising to depart for Greymouth. They include personnel from New South Wales and Queensland mines, Centrelink and Emergency Management Australia, DFAT and the Western Australian Water Corporation. The Queensland Mines Rescue Service has also had a further 36 personnel on standby, as have Xstrata, BHP and Rio Tinto. This support again highlights the spirit of mateship and camaraderie that Australia and New Zealand have shared throughout their history, including times of adversity. I would like to take the opportunity to thank them for their prompt offer of assistance and pay tribute to their commitment in seeking to protect mine workers’ health and safety.