Five years on from the fall of Kabul our thoughts are with the people of Afghanistan, who continue to face violent repression at the hands of the Taliban, as well the Afghan community in Australia and around the world.
We acknowledge the brave contribution and sacrifices made by more than 39,000 Australian Defence Force and civilian personnel who conducted or supported operations in Afghanistan over 20 years.
We remember the 41 Australian soldiers who died during operations in Afghanistan and those we have lost after they returned home. Our thoughts are with their loved ones and those who still carry the mental and physical toll.
We also recognise our coalition partners, and the Afghan Locally Engaged Employees who worked alongside us, thousands of whom now call Australia home, along with their families. Their service is an important part of our shared story, and we remain committed to helping those who helped our mission.
The Taliban's takeover in August 2021 marked a devastating turning point for Afghanistan.
It also triggered one of the largest humanitarian operations in Australia's history. In the days that followed, Defence personnel, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Home Affairs officials along with Australian Border Force officers, worked around the clock to help thousands of Australian citizens, visa holders and locally engaged Afghan employees leave Afghanistan. Their actions, at a time of extreme danger, saved lives and reflected two decades of Australian commitment to stabilise Afghanistan.
Australia has not stepped back from that responsibility. The Afghan people endure one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.
Since September 2021, we have delivered $310 million in sustained humanitarian assistance through trusted partners, including UN agencies, to ensure it reaches those most in need, not the Taliban. We have expanded migration pathways for displaced Afghans and continue to work with international partners to support those most at risk, particularly women and girls.
The Taliban's ongoing violations of human rights - including systematic attempts to erase women and girls from public life by stripping away education and employment opportunities that deny their potential - remain unacceptable.
We have worked with partners to pursue action against this coordinated discrimination under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. We have established a world-first autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan and imposed financial sanctions and travel bans against senior Taliban figures.
Today, we reaffirm our commitment to the Afghan people to hold the Taliban to account. We will continue to press for consequences and support international efforts to protect fundamental freedoms, ensuring that the Afghan people are not abandoned.
