Tuesday,1 April 2025

Nick McGOWAN (North-Eastern Metropolitan) (13:48): I would actually like to join in with the sentiments you shared at the beginning of today, and that is in respect to our sisters and brothers over in both Myanmar and Thailand, but also including, not to forget, in parts of China. For those who may not be aware, last Friday there was a 7.7 magnitude earthquake. You may have seen – if you have not, you may look online – the footage in respect to some of the towers that have actually collapsed. Very sadly, even to this day in Bangkok, in Chatuchak district, there are still a number of people who they believe are trapped there. There are certainly a large number who have died as a result of these earthquakes. The toll is somewhere in the order of 1700 to 2000 across both those countries, particularly Myanmar and Thailand. Our thoughts and our wishes go out not only to them but also to their families that are affected in our constituencies and our local districts of Croydon, Ringwood, Warrandyte – I am sure there are locals there that may also, sadly, be impacted by this – but also Box Hill and right across the suburbs and the state of Victoria, for that matter. It is a traumatic time for those people. We hope that in the days ahead they have good news. We also hope that any assistance they may seek – and we know that the Myanmarese government have already reached out to a number of international actors – and that this state can offer is done swiftly and with the goodwill that we would hope for.