Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I join the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Minister for Defence in honouring Lance Corporal Stjepan 'Rick' Milosevic, or 'Milo' to his mates, of the 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment (Queensland Mounted Infantry); Sapper James Thomas Martin, of the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment—indeed, Premier Campbell Newman's own regiment; and Private Robert Hugh Frederick Poate, of the 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, who were tragically killed in Afghanistan on 29 August 2012. I pass on my condolences on behalf of the Ryan electorate to their families, friends and colleagues.

As part of the defence family, I was honoured to attend the memorial for these three brave men at the Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, last Friday. All three were based in Brisbane and had been serving with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment Task Group on operations in Afghanistan when they were killed by an insider attack while they were off-duty in the BaluchiValley region of Uruzgan province.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 18:01 to 18:23

As part of the Defence family I was honoured to attend the memorial service of these brave men at the Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, last Friday. All three were based in Brisbane and had been serving with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Task Group on operations in Afghanistan when they were killed by an insider attack while off duty in the Baluchi Valley region of Uruzgan province. Let there be no mincing of words here today. These men did not die in battle, as every soldier is prepared to do. They did not die under orders from their superiors, or standing to the last man with their comrades against all odds or rescuing a mate under fire. They were murdered, and it was done by a man whom they had volunteered to help, teach and train so that he in turn could contribute to the rebuilding of his country.

Our national commitment to the war in Afghanistan has particular resonance with the men, women and their families at Gallipoli Barracks in the electorate of Ryan. When the House last adjourned, as part of the ADF parliamentary program, I travelled with my colleague the member of Dickson and two of our Senate colleagues to Afghanistan, where we spent 10 days embedded with our soldiers in Kandahar and Tarin Kot. It was a confronting visit, where I saw first-hand the sacrifices made by those men and women who choose to live the life of a soldier, who choose to serve our national interests, who choose to serve our country and who choose to put their lives on the line when called to do so.

To lose three men in such a dreadful way so soon after our return home to Brisbane was indeed very sobering. It reminded us all of the true responsibilities of office and the significant decisions that we make on behalf of our community and country. Lance Corporal Milosevic joined the army when he was 36, carrying on a proud family tradition. In his four short years of service he served honourably in Iraq and Afghanistan. His colleagues said his dedication to the army combined with a strong sense of right and wrong saw him rise within army ranks, where he achieved so much in such a short period of time. He was a leader. He put his soldiers ahead of himself. He loved his family and spoke of them often. I pass on my sincere condolences to his wife Kelly, daughters Sarah and Kate, his mother, brothers and sisters.

Twenty-one-year-old Sapper James Martin was on his first operational deployment as part of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment task group. Once James had made his decision to enlist in the army as a combat engineer, he remained very determined and focused on his goal. In his first-ever home at Kapooka, when some of his section mates were homesick and discussing pulling out of the training, James wrote to his family saying, 'I would not give up this opportunity for anything' and 'I will be an Australian soldier'. I pass on my sincere condolences to his family and friends.

Private Poate was known for having outstanding leadership potential, which led to him completing a promotion course for corporal in 2011. Private Poate had a reputation for creating mischief without getting caught and was proud of his family, his military service and his red hair—which he vehemently defended as being strawberry blonde. I pass on my sincere condolences to his parents, Hugh and Jenny, and his sister, Nicola.

In closing, I would like to quote a part of the soldiers prayer, which I was privileged to share with the families and colleagues of Lance Corporal Milosevic, Sapper Martin and Private Poate during the memorial service at Gallipoli Barracks last Friday.

Help us to accept our share of responsibility with a strong heart and cheerful mind. Make us considerate of those with whom we live and work and faithful to the duties our country has entrusted to us. Let our uniform remind us daily of the traditions of the army in which we serve.

When we are inclined to doubt, strengthen our faith.

When we are tempted to sin, help us to resist.

When we fail, give us the courage to try again.

Guide us with the light of your truth.

For a soldier and for the comrades he or she leaves behind, this was a cruel death. Betrayal from within, betrayal from a comrade, is something that damages the whole company far beyond the grief of losing a mate. The feeling that you may be attacked from within makes a soldier doubt themselves and everyone around them and is therefore more a terrorist attack than an act of war. It is for this reason that we should not falter from our mission in Afghanistan. We must not allow the deaths of these brave men to be in vain. Lest we forget.

Debate interrupted.

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