Just over one hour ago, Opposition leader Angus Taylor stood outside a Nepalese family grocery store in Oxford Street, Ingleburn to pay his respects to the people who lost their lives in the flood disaster a week ago.
Mr Taylor, who was accompanied by NSW Senator Andrew Bragg, joined members of the South Western Sydney Nepalese community for a minute’s silence for the victims of the Nepalese tragedy.
Ingleburn shopping centre is dotted with businesses with Himalayan and Kathmandu prefixes in their trading names.
The throng of community members and media representatives spilled on to the road during the Taylor visit.
The Opposition Leader was invited to the ceremony in Ingleburn by local Nepalese community leader Binod Paudel, a senior Liberal Party figure in Campbelltown and surrounds.
Mr Taylor said he was glad he could be in Ingleburn and in solidarity with local Nepalese Australians.
“They are great Australians making a wonderful contribution to our country,’’ Mr Taylor said.
He revealed that during his very first overseas trip almost 40 years ago the first place he stopped by was Nepal.
“It was there I discovered what friendly and generous people the Nepalese were,’’ he said.
“And now, many of them have migrated to Australia.’’
Mr Paudel urged everyone present to show their generosity in making donations to help the people of Nepal.
“You should also plan to visit Nepal, to further support the people there, who are doing it tough.’’
Mr Taylor said the disaster in Nepal, where so many people had lost their lives, and others were still missing, was hard to take.
“It’s just terrible what’s happened there last week.’
During a media conference held after the vigil, the South West Voice asked Mr Taylor whether he felt the Albanese Government response to the Nepal disaster had been adequate so far.
“Look, it’s still early days, and we want to work with the government to make sure we help in any way Australia can.
“We want the response to be bipartisan,’’ he said.
