House debates

Thursday, 30 November 2006

Black Hawk Helicopter Accident: Hmas Kanimbla

2:02 pm

Photo of Kim BeazleyKim Beazley (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Could I have your indulgence, Mr Speaker, on the same sad matter in support of the remarks by the Acting Prime Minister. I too, on behalf of the opposition, extend our sympathies to the families of the Australian soldiers involved in yesterday’s tragic Black Hawk helicopter crash. We pray for the families of the soldier who died and those who are injured. We pray too for the missing soldier that he will be found. It is a tragic loss. It reminds us that whenever our servicemen and servicewomen are in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor, the Solomons and the waters off Fiji it is a dangerous and inevitable part of the job. It reminds us too of the burden on their families. They are torn between the enormous pride they feel and the fear they live with every day. I am sure it is the same for the families of the four aircrew from Townsville’s 5th Aviation Regiment and the six SAS personnel on board the Black Hawk serving their country with great skill, courage and professionalism—the pride of their families. Yesterday their families’ hidden fears were made real. Today they grieve and we mourn with them.

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