Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

On indulgence, I too seek to make a contribution on behalf of the Labor Party and most particularly on behalf of Kevin Rudd, who today is attending the state funeral of Tom Burns, a Labor legend. I would like to extend the Labor Party’s condolences for the terrible tragedies which have affected the communities of Kerang in the north-west of Victoria, of Newcastle and of the Central Coast of New South Wales.

As a Victorian, I was struck particularly hard by the news that on 7 June 2007 tragedy had struck the community of Kerang when a truck collided with a V/Line train making its regular journey from Swan Hill through the Murray Valley to Melbourne. It is, of course, the worst rail disaster in Victoria in over 50 years. Nearby farmers, locals and passers-by did what they could at the time to help those in the crash, assisting the truck driver from his cabin and helping those who stumbled out of the rubble in a daze to see a shocking sight of twisted metal and a ripped-open carriage. Then came the personal stories of those who had lost loved ones, those who had been injured and those who had survived just out of sheer luck—who were meant to be on that train but, for whatever reason, did not make the train that day. Every death hits hard and many in Victoria and beyond are mourning.

Our hearts have been especially touched in all of this tragedy by the story of the McMonnies family, who must deal with the loss of their father, Geoff, a long-time local of Robinvale, and a daughter, 17-year-old Rose; whilst the youngest of four, Sharice, 15, was seriously injured in the crash and admitted to the Royal Children’s Hospital. It is stories like those that bring this tragedy home. I know that every member of this parliament would be mourning the loss of life in the Kerang rail disaster.

Our hearts have also been touched by the havoc wreaked on the people and the communities of Newcastle, the Hunter, the New South Wales Central Coast and even parts of Sydney in recent days. On the weekend I had the opportunity to speak to my colleagues Sharon Grierson, the member for Newcastle, Jill Hall, the member for Shortland, and Joel Fitzgibbon, the member for Hunter. Indeed, Sharon Grierson is not with us in parliament today; she is back home in her electorate assisting locals. When I spoke to her on the weekend, she told me of personally rescuing her elderly parents, who were sitting on their kitchen table in a house that had waist-high water. I am sure that Sharon’s story is just one of tens of thousands that could be told of what has gone on with this tragedy.

Businesses have been ruined and homes have been trashed. Tragically, no fewer than 10 lives have been lost. I join with the Prime Minister in particularly mentioning the loss of life of Roslyn Bragg, her children Jasmine and Madison, her nephew Travis and her partner, Adam Holt, who did what we do every day—they got into a car and strapped themselves in—only to have that car literally swallowed up by the road. On behalf of the opposition, I offer our thoughts and our prayers for the families of those who have lost their lives and many who have had their homes and businesses destroyed.

If there is one bright light in all of this tragedy, it is the work of the emergency services personnel—the SES, volunteers and others who have put themselves out to help community members around them. That is true in Kerang and it is true in New South Wales. I associate myself with the Prime Minister’s remarks about the special role played by our police when disaster strikes. Both my mother and father served as police officers and the words of the Prime Minister do ring true. We owe a special debt of gratitude to the police, who so often have to look after all of us in these sorts of difficult circumstances. The work of each—the police, the emergency services personnel and the volunteers—make us all very proud. The uplifting spirit and tenacity of the Australian people are always apparent in moments of great disaster and tragedy. Once again, it is inspiring to see Australians working together as mates to pull each other through.

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