The Labor Party has issued a statement on Monday, August 20, 2018, expressing their heartfelt condolences for flood-hit Kerala on behalf of the Hon Bill Shorten MP – leader of The Opposition, shadow minister for Indigenous Affairs and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, member for Maribyrnong – and Senator the Hon Penny Wong – leader of The Opposition in The Senate, shadow minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator for South Australia.
The statement says: “Labor expresses our deepest sympathy to the people affected by the devastating floods in southern India’s Kerala state.
“More than 350 people have died, and 800,000 displaced by one of the worst floods in the history of Kerala.
“Aid agencies are reporting massive destruction from floods and landslides with homes submerged, crops and livestock destroyed, and fears the death toll could climb as hundreds of thousands are denied access to clean water, sanitation and food and shelter.
“Labor urges the Australian Government to provide any assistance that the Indian Government may require to help the people of Kerala in their immediate hour of need, and in the longer term, to recover from this disaster and rebuild their homes and their lives.
“We applaud the generous efforts by the Indian community in Australia, and the wider diaspora to assist with the relief effort, and offer our support, and sympathy to our friends in the Australian Indian community as they respond to this unprecedented natural disaster.”
