Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Solomon for his words and his support for victims. I, obviously, very much thank the member for McPherson for bringing the motion to acknowledge International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism. I thank her for her previous role as Minister for Home Affairs for putting in place key legislation to make Australians safer.

The United Nations General Assembly established 21 August as International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism to pay honour to and support victims and survivors of terrorism and to promote and protect full enjoyment of our human rights and freedoms. My background, in actual fact, was in counterterrorism with Victoria Police many years ago. You'll find that what terrorists do is try to cause as much harm in public as possible. They do not care. They target law enforcement. They target those in military or armed services, who are there to protect us. But in particular, they harm and they target women and children.

We go back to 12 October 2002, when we had the three bombs which were discharged in Bali at the Sari Club, Paddy's Bar and the American consulate. At Paddy's Bar, young people were having fun, enjoying their time. That's what the terrorist does—targets them to cause fear so that locals, Australians and other tourists do not go to these night spots when they go to Bali. In total, 202 people were tragically killed, including 91 Australians. The attacks were, sadly, the single largest loss of Australian life at the hands of a terrorist organisation. From memory, I think it was Abu Bakar Bashir—a so-called spiritual leader but, in actual fact, a terrorist—who was behind this.

Another tragic terrorist attack—and I say all terrorist attacks are tragic—was on 3 June 2017. Two Australians, 21-year-old Sara Zelenak and 20-year-old Kirsty Boden, were stabbed to death during the London Bridge terrorist attack, sadly murdered along with six others. Both Sara and Kirsty risked their lives to assist others when entering the scene of this awful terrorist attack. Then we had the September 2004 attack, in which nine Australians were killed and another 160 injured in a suicide car bombing outside the Australian embassy in Jakarta. This was obviously an attack against Australians but not here in Australia. I've actually seen the footage of the victims. It's awful. The terrorists do not care about people or humanity at all. The person driving the truck full of explosives didn't even know how to drive. He drove past twice before he actually smashed into the gates.

It's so important to make sure we do everything that we can in government to protect Australian citizens. The former Minister for Defence, Minister Dutton, who was at that time Minister for Home Affairs, made the right call by cancelling the citizenship of Abdul Benbrika, also known as Abu Bakr. Abdul Benbrika was a person serving 15 years in prison, and I'm assuming he would get life now for his planned terrorist attacks. He was the mastermind planning the attacks at Crown Casino, the MCG and, I believe, Federation Square. He also spoke about assassinating the former Prime Minister. We put in place laws that mean he cannot be released, because he has not changed. I also congratulate the member for McPherson, who, in her previous role as Minister for Home Affairs, again ensured that Abdul Benbrika would not be released. I believe he'd attended the Preston mosque, and he was kicked out of the mosque. They knew he was an extremist and dangerous, and yet he recruited people—youngsters—to follow him in his cause.

We're very lucky. I thank all our law enforcement agencies, including the Australian Border Force, the Australian Federal Police and state and territory police, for the work that they do. Finally, when it comes to the families of the victims, obviously every day is a day they remember—in particular, birthdays and anniversaries. Every Christmas is a day that brings back the awful pain in their hearts.

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