Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

I acknowledge those who have spoken on this condolence motion for Sapper Rowan Jaie Robinson. Firstly, let me offer my deepest sympathies on the death of Sapper Rowan Robinson and express my condolences to his parents, Peter and Marie, and his siblings, Rachael, Troy and Ben.

Sapper Robinson was described as a soldier whose luck had run out on a dusty Afghan hilltop. Rowan was a dedicated and professional soldier whose skill belied his youth. He was born in Wahroonga, New South Wales, in 1987. He joined the Army in 2006 and after his initial recruit training joined the 3rd Combat Engineer Regiment. After four years of service he was posted to the Incident Response Regiment at the start of 2010 where he completed his reinforcement cycle.

Sapper Rowan Robinson was serving with the Special Operations Task Group when he was tragically killed in action on Monday, 6 June 2011. This was his second deployment to Afghanistan, having first deployed in Operation Slipper in 2007. His colleagues described him as a superb young man who was fit, happy-go-lucky and a great team member. I am told that those who had the pleasure of meeting him instantly warmed to him, and his easygoing nature made him popular with his peers and chain of command. Sapper Robinson was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp International Coalition Against Terrorism (ICAT), the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Australian Defence Medal and the NATO ISAF Medal. He has also been awarded the Army Combat Badge and the Return from Active Service Badge.

At his funeral service on Friday, 17 June, in Kingscliff, a colleague from Sapper Robinson's regiment said the fallen soldier had made the choice to put his comrades' safety above his own:

"You could have sat back and considered your job done when the position was cleared and yet you pushed up, right to the front line … I strongly doubt there was ever a better example of a combat engineer and a brother in arms."

His father, Peter, told of Sapper Robinson's luck running out on that dusty hill in Afghanistan and how in his youth Sapper Robinson had escaped the jaws of a shark while surfing and walked away from a car accident where he rolled his brother's car. He had been run over in training by an armoured vehicle, and in another incident he had survived an improvised explosive device which failed to detonate after a colleague who was right beside him trod on the device.

Too often now we stand here and have motions of condolence for brave soldiers like Sapper Robinson. As an Australian community, we can only wonder and marvel at the courage and bravery of these young men who lay their lives down for Australia. On behalf of the Australian government, I offer my support to Sapper Robinson's family and friends through this very difficult time and assure them that the sacrifice of this outstanding young Australian soldier will be remembered. They should know that Australia is proud of his courage, his selflessness, his service and the ultimate sacrifice that he has made. He will surely be sorely missed.

It behoves us to understand the nature of armed conflict but more importantly, from my point of view, to understand that anyone who puts an Australian uniform on to work for the Australian Defence Force is a special person. Those special people go where others will not go; they do what others will not do; and ultimately they are prepared to lay down their lives for this great nation of ours, as Sapper Robinson has done. May he rest in peace. Lest we forget.

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