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

Once again on indulgence, I associate the Labor Party with the Prime Minister’s remarks. Of course this nation always mourns its dead lost in battle, lost in defence of the nation, wherever they have served. We are here to mark the passing of Lance Corporal Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson and the return of their remains to this country. I understand that the member for Bendigo, Steve Gibbons, and Graham Edwards were in attendance when the remains were brought back home.

As the Prime Minister has indicated, Richard Parker and Peter Gillson were both of A Company, 1st Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, and they were both killed on 8 November 1965. These men, whose remains were recovered in the most recent operation, were killed in a fierce battle. Their comrades were unable to recover the bodies as a result of the intensity of enemy fire. But in a tireless effort since that time, Mr Jim Bourke, a Vietnam veteran himself, established Operation Aussies Home to bring closure by finding and returning the bodies of those missing from the Vietnam War. He did this together with his fellow veterans Gordon Petersen, who was Parker’s acting platoon commander; Trevor Hagan, his acting platoon sergeant during the battle; and Clive Williams, who was Gillson’s platoon commander. In what can only be described as an extraordinary extension of duty and loyalty, Jim Bourke and his mates led an investigation of the possible burial locations in 2005 for Lance Corporal Richard Parker and Private Peter Gillson. With help from Vietnamese authorities and veterans, the burial sites of these two soldiers were established earlier this year.

I acknowledge the Australian government’s financial assistance and also its diplomatic assistance to Operation Aussies Home. I refer in particular to the Ambassador to Vietnam, Bill Tweddell, and Defence Attache Captain John Griffith. We also acknowledge the Vietnamese government, Vietnamese veterans and local people who facilitated the recovery and the handover of the remains. The information provided by Vietnamese veterans of the battle and by locals was crucial to the discovery of the remains, as was the information provided by Australian veterans of the battle. Our gratitude goes to Jim Bourke and his team at Operation Aussies Home, but I also specifically acknowledge and pay tribute to the families of the two men whose remains were recovered. These include Private Gillson’s widow, Lorraine Easton, and her sons Robert and Craig, and Lance Corporal Parker’s former partner, Wendy Mudford.

On another matter, I also join with the Prime Minister in congratulating the Clerk, Ian Harris, on the good news from yesterday. Ian serves this parliament; he serves every member within it. The opposition relies on his services and advice, as does the government. It is a difficult job and one that does not bring day-to-day recognition, so it is terrific for the parliament to be able to mark this moment. Thank you very much, Ian.

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