James Glenday, Host: We’re joined now by the Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong who is in Adelaide this morning. Minister welcome to our program. You've confirmed today that 39 Australians are now missing. It's probably very difficult to say, but are you expecting that number could rise further?
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Good morning, good to be with you. This is a disaster of enormous proportions and you're right, we unfortunately have some 39 Australians who are missing and unaccounted for. We are urgently working to confirm their whereabouts, we are working to mobilise more resources into Nepal, into the area, and we have announced humanitarian assistance for the region. In terms of the 39, that obviously is an increase from yesterday, we are still seeking to gain information about any Australians in the area and to ascertain their whereabouts and confirm their wellbeing.
Glenday: You were contacting next of kin yesterday, I’m sure that process is still taking place. I've seen some absolutely devastating pictures from different parts of that valley where the flood went through. Do you know yet where these Australians were likely to have been when the flooding hit?
Foreign Minister: This is a very distressing time for the families and friends of those who are missing. We are still working to gain the specific information on each of the 39 Australians who are missing, and we will communicate that to families, to the next of kin as soon as we are able. We're also receiving calls into our consular emergency centre and we are deploying people into the region, so we are looking to respond to what is a very difficult situation. I do want to say our thoughts are with the families and friends of the Australians who are missing, and our thoughts are also with the broader Australian Nepalese and Tibetan communities.
Glenday: We know that people are watching us around the country and around the world this morning. We might just bring up that graphic for that consular line that you mentioned, if you do have concerns about a loved one overseas, the numbers are there, please use them. You can get all that detail from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website. Minister, you've announced a support package this morning for Nepal. Can you take us through what's in it and are you also looking at sending more personnel to help with the rescue operation?
Foreign Minister: Well, the last part of the question first. Yes, we have an initial team, a Rapid Response Team who are deploying in the next 48 hours. These are people who have experience in responding to humanitarian disasters and obviously have experience in logistics, planning, communications and humanitarian response. And I'll be speaking to the Nepalese Foreign Minister later today and I will certainly talk through with him what it is that Nepal might be seeking from Australia. In terms of the humanitarian response, we've announced a $5 million assistance package. We have $2 million going to the World Food Programme, $2 million going through other agencies, Australian agencies, and a million dollars to Emergency Action Alliance and people are able to donate to that as well if they wish.
Glenday: We know a lot of Australians were in Nepal at this time. For people seeking consular help on the ground there, what sort of support is available at the moment in Kathmandu?
Foreign Minister: We've got about 20 people now deployed or who are employed by Australia in Nepal, we are adding to that. We will build on those resources over time, over the next days, as we are able and depending on the need. So, we've now already deployed some and we'll deploy additional officers as required but if people are overseas they can contact the Consular Emergency Centre, the number I think you had on the screen, to seek advice or to provide information. We're also ensuring that Smartraveller is updated as quickly as we are able, taking into account any local advice or local conditions. We also encourage people to ensure they follow the advice of local authorities.
Glenday: Just very finally, Minister, on a separate issue, the Prime Minister has intervened to make sure that Australia's refugee intake doesn't go backwards. I know you're not going to comment on Cabinet deliberations or indeed the wisdom of the Prime Minister's decisions. Do you personally think this is a good idea, is this something you advocated for?
Foreign Minister: We've got a very clear position – we have very strong border policies which have seen no successful boat arrivals under the Government but at the same time, we will continue to maintain refugee intake. I think that's an appropriate balance, that's a balance the Government's maintained for many years now.
Glenday: Penny Wong, thank you very much for your time this morning.
Foreign Minister: Good to speak with you.