Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

on indulgence—Thank you, Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, for your beautiful words that will bring great comfort and recognition to my community in north-east Victoria, in the seat of Indi. Alongside my community in north-east Victoria, I mourn Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, who so tragically lost their lives in the line of duty at Porepunkah on Tuesday, in a beautiful, idyllic mountain village at the foot of Mount Buffalo, a place that is characterised by magnificent scenery, by good people and by a gentle lifestyle.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson was a long-serving and so deeply respected member of the Victoria Police and a much valued member of the Wangaratta community and the Moyhu community—so greatly loved.

Senior Constable Vadim De Waart, based in Melbourne, was supporting Wangaratta police on temporary assignment over winter—a beautiful young man, as you've heard; a native of Belgium.

While they were respected officers, we also remember Neal and Vadim as people, with family, friends, interests and passions beyond the uniform. They so deserved the chance to keep living those lives, and it is with deep, deep sadness that we honour them and their service. You've heard that Neal was an adventurer who loved the outdoors, and he was within days of his retirement with his beloved partner, Lisa. Vadim grew up in Belgium and loved travel, and our region—what a place to travel to!—was another in his long list of beautiful places. He was welcomed, and he had so much to explore in what is an outdoor playground.

Our thoughts are with both their families, with their friends and with the wider police community. We know that your hearts are broken, and we know that this is felt right across the nation. We continue to pray for the recovery and healing of the officer who was seriously injured in the line of duty, and for all those at the scene whose mental trauma cannot be underestimated and will live with them and, indeed, their families forever.

To the beautiful people of Porepunkah: I acknowledge that you are living with grief and shock and that this event is not over for you yet. I stand in this parliament in solidarity with you, today and beyond, and I thank you all for everything you are doing right now to support the emergency services, who are undertaking a most difficult and traumatic search for the offender.

The loss of life in the line of duty is the ultimate sacrifice and a painful reminder of the risk borne by those who serve in our police forces. What is very clear is the courage and commitment of our police service right across this great nation. They walk amongst us, live alongside us, serve us and protect us, and they are in danger every day of their lives, and yet they still go out and do their work with such honour and grace. We will never forget the names of those who have lost their lives in service to us. And, Neal and Vadim, we will never forget you. You are heroes. Your families have so much to be proud of, and we grieve with you today and ongoing.

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