Five Australians found safe as search continues for 38 still missing in Nepal-Tibet floods
Five Australians previously unaccounted for in the devastating Nepal-Tibet border floods have been confirmed safe, reducing the number of missing Australians to 38. Of the five located, one was found in Nepal, one in Tibet, and three outside the crisis-affected area. The federal government holds "grave concerns" for those still unaccounted for, with the Australian Defence Force continuing to coordinate emergency relief efforts across the region.
The disaster has claimed at least 1,000 lives and left nearly 4,000 people unaccounted for across Nepal and Tibet. According to the latest official update, the revised figure of 38 missing Australians represents a significant development after days of uncertainty. The five Australians who made contact had not spoken to families and next of kin since the disaster struck seven days earlier.
Foreign Affairs Minister and Acting Prime Minister Penny Wong expressed deep concern over the situation and outlined the government's response. She told the ABC's 7.30 program that Australia is pursuing urgent efforts to locate the remaining missing Australians and has been coordinating with both Nepali and Chinese governments, though recovery efforts remain extremely challenging given the remote terrain and scale of the disaster.
I first want to again express what I've been expressing to the families and friends of those Australians who are not accounted for, that this is such a difficult time, it's an incredibly distressing, traumatic time. I think all Australians are with you. And certainly we are with you. We are working to do whatever we can and to provide any information we obtain.
Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy confirmed the positive development while acknowledging ongoing concerns. He stated that the government remains very focused on establishing the whereabouts of the 38 unaccounted Australians and supporting their families during this difficult period.
What aid is Australia providing?
An Royal Australian Air Force aircraft carrying hygiene kits, shelter and solar lights has been deployed to Nepal as part of Australia's emergency response. The Australian government has committed A$8 million in aid, while Australian citizens have donated A$2 million to a public appeal—a contribution the federal government is matching dollar-for-dollar. According to official sources, more humanitarian and disaster relief from Australia was due to arrive in Nepal on 2 September 2026, with 18 Australian personnel having travelled to Nepal to join staff on the ground.
Wong outlined the nature of the assistance being deployed:
We are deploying an RAAF aircraft to deliver these kits which are designed to support people in circumstances of natural disasters that destroy infrastructure and their shelter. Whether it's shelter kits, lights, hygiene kits, these are the things needed for those people who are facing the devastation of their homes and their communities.
Australia plans to deploy extra consular staff to the affected area as part of the ongoing response. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has received nearly 800 calls in relation to the floods as families seek information about loved ones.
How has the number of missing Australians changed?
The count of missing Australians has been revised multiple times as new information emerged and individuals made contact with authorities. The figure initially rose from 35 to 39, then 41, before reaching 42 by 31 August. The latest update to 38 missing Australians reflects the confirmation that five previously unaccounted-for people have been located alive. The remoteness of the affected region has created major obstacles for search and recovery operations, making it difficult to quickly establish the status of all Australians in the area.
Melbourne communities hold vigil for flood victims
Members of Melbourne's Nepali and Tibetan communities gathered at Federation Square to remember those lost in the disaster. The event drew approximately 400 people and was attended by Victorian Premier Ben Carroll and members of parliament from both Labor and the opposition.
Volunteers at the vigil unfurled a sign encircled by candlelight reading "Vic united for Nepal". Addressing the crowd, Carroll said:
I know so many of your hearts are breaking right now. Look around you, all of Victoria stands behind you and every candle in Federation Square is lit up for you. You are not alone.
The Victorian government has pledged A$100,000 to Australia's immediate relief efforts in Nepal.
What happens next in the relief effort?
Search and welfare checks continue as authorities work to confirm the status of the remaining 38 missing Australians. Rescue and recovery efforts are expected to continue amid the difficult conditions and the ongoing process of accounting for missing people across the broader region.
Treasury flags AI as productivity game-changer for Australian economy
The Treasury Department has identified artificial intelligence as a transformative force that will help restore Australia's productivity performance to its historical average in coming years, according to departmental briefing papers released ahead of this month's intergenerational report.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers characterised the technology's potential impact in sweeping terms:
This is a gamechanging technology which will impact every part of our economy and society, in every corner of our country. I'm confident we can maximise the economic upside and minimise the risks.
Australia's productivity growth has stalled significantly, with the nation showing no improvement in productivity levels compared to the beginning of the decade. This stagnation has prompted government focus on potential solutions.
The Treasury briefing paper characterised AI as "the first substantive, credible global productivity growth accelerant in almost two decades". However, Treasury officials cautioned that adoption of AI across the economy is not expected to trigger a new era of rapid growth in the near term, despite acknowledging an unusually wide range of forecasts on the technology's impact.
The department's "baseline" forecast projects that "AI will support the achievement of the long-term productivity assumption of 1.2%"—a target outlined in the lead-up to this year's budget. This measured assessment reflects uncertainty about how quickly businesses will integrate AI technologies and the extent of productivity gains that will materialise.
NSW workers march for additional public holiday
The Shop and Warehouse Workers Union (SDA) is organising a march to NSW parliament on Tuesday, bringing together over 400 workers carrying a petition signed by more than 10,000 workers and their families. The campaign calls for 1 September to be declared a new public holiday in the state.
NSW currently has the fewest public holidays of any Australian state or territory, with 11 statewide public holidays, eight of which fall in the first half of the year. By contrast, the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, Northern Territory and Western Australia each observe 13 public holidays.
The union and workers are seeking to have 1 September designated as a "family and community day". The petition will be presented to NSW Industrial Relations Minister Sophie Cotsis.
SDA NSW/ACT Secretary Bernie Smith expressed the union's position:
NSW workers work just as hard as everyone else, and they deserve the same opportunities to spend time with their families and friends. Spring is all about new beginnings and that is exactly what a 1 September public holiday would provide for NSW.
Capital city median house prices fall below $1 million
The typical capital city home price has declined below the A$1 million threshold as buyer activity weakens in what property analysts describe as a "buyers' market". Property data firm Cotality reported that the median price across Australia's capitals fell to A$990,394 by the end of August, reversing earlier gains.
The median price had surpassed A$1 million for the first time in October of the previous year but has experienced steady declines throughout the current year. Demand has been suppressed by rising interest rates and diminished consumer confidence in the broader economy. According to recent analysis, house prices are now falling in more than 90% of Australian suburbs, with analysts predicting average home values could fall by approximately 10% from their recent peak over the next six to nine months—a decline that would represent the worst postwar property market correction.
Perth's median home price crossed the A$1 million mark in March but retreated to A$999,987 by the end of August. Sydney and Brisbane remain the only capitals with median prices above A$1 million, with Sydney's median standing at A$1.22 million—A$93,000 below its peak earlier in the year—while Brisbane's median sits at A$1.08 million, down A$30,000 from its peak.
Tim Lawless, research director at Cotality, noted that nearly every capital city suburb has experienced price declines, yet sales volumes have fallen significantly compared with the same period last year, resulting in a buildup of listings on the market. Lawless observed:
Longer selling times, larger vendor discounting and persistently low auction clearance rates all point to a buyer's market, yet buyers are lacking the confidence to transact at the moment.
This combination of falling prices, extended selling periods and reduced transaction volumes indicates a fundamental shift in market dynamics, with vendors increasingly forced to adjust expectations to attract purchasers.
Wong dismisses One Nation's approach as lacking substance
Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong has acknowledged a message from Western Australia Labor's loss to One Nation in the Secret Harbour byelection, but characterised One Nation leader Pauline Hanson's platform as offering "very few real solutions" to community concerns.
Wong told the ABC's 7.30 program that the byelection result was "very disappointing" but reflected broader public sentiment that "the status quo is not delivering for them". She pointed to the federal government's policy agenda—including investment in Medicare, childcare and schools, tax cuts and tax changes—as its response to community demands for change.
While acknowledging that voters had not embraced these measures in the Western Australian contest, Wong argued that Hanson was not presenting constructive alternatives:
I accept there's a message sent in this byelection for us. I accept that. And I think we understand that. We understand the importance of delivering real change and as someone who sits in the Senate with Pauline Hanson, what I would say to you is that she is … there's a lot of anger and a lot of complaints, but really very few solutions.
Wong's comments reflect Labor's effort to distinguish its policy approach from opposition messaging that emphasises grievance without proposing detailed remedies.
