Sussan Ley (Farrer, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I rise to associate the opposition with the Prime Minister's remarks. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart—two men, two heroes, two Australians. They are two Australians who felt a spark within themselves—a spark to do more. In joining the Victorian police, these men took that spark and lit a flame of service. For Neal Thompson, that flame burned across almost four decades of service in uniform. Vadim served for seven. These men stood up. These men put on the uniform. These men, like all our police, protected our community.

Our police run towards danger. They confront the violent, they protect children, and they keep us safe. Our police are the very best of us, and very few of us here in this chamber today can understand the horrors our police face on our behalf. But Neal and Vadim were more than the uniforms they wore. They were more than their badge. These men lived and loved. They had plans for their futures and for their families.

Neal Thompson, or Thommo as his mates called him, gave decades of service not only in uniform but to his community. Just this morning, Golden City Football Club life member Neil Cramer said of Neal:

He was willing to talk to anybody and treat them equally. He was just a beautiful person.

When Golden City take to the field this weekend, they will be wearing blue and white tape in honour of their mate.

Vadim De Waart represents the best of our Australian story. From Belgium, he chose to make his life here, and he took that commitment even further by serving as one of our police officers. Fluent in English, French, Spanish and Flemish, this worldly man chose us. He chose Australia, and he chose to make his vocation keeping Australians safe. So my message to his parents, Carolina and Alain, is that, with deep sorrow, we thank you for Vadim and the contribution he made here in this country.

The deaths of these men is a heartbreaking tragedy that has touched us all. Today our nation grieves for these officers who have lost their lives, their families, their friends and their colleagues. Our thoughts also go out to the injured detective who is now recovering and all those involved in ongoing operations to bring the killer to justice. Our thoughts are also with the community of Porepunkah, and we thank them for their efforts to work with the police.

The loss of Neal and Vadim serves as a stark reminder not only of the danger that police officers face each day but of the bravery and courage it takes to serve. Every police officer who puts on that uniform to go to work has our respect and gratitude. All Australians stand shoulder to shoulder with Victoria police at this moment of profound sadness. We will honour those who have fallen and never take for granted the courage and service that keeps our community safe.

We must also confront the fact that, given what we know about the circumstances of the shooting of these men, there are disturbing echoes today, because this is not the first time we have lost police officers to a crime of this type. Today we must ensure that Victoria Police have every possible support they need to catch this killer and make the community safe. We must recommit ourselves to stronger action to cure the sickness that has seized the outermost fringes of society, and we must reaffirm our love and support for every single member of our brave police forces across Australia.

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