Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Richmond for the question, and, in doing so, I acknowledge her service in the police force and also acknowledge the members for Tangney, Wide Bay and Cowper, all of whom have served.

29 September marks National Police Remembrance Day, an important day where we pay tribute to the courageous officers who've lost their lives in the line of duty. While loss of life is always a tragedy, there's a huge chasm left when we know that the person we've lost chose to put themselves in harm's way to protect the rest of us. The unspeakable violence committed against officers in Tasmania and Victoria—Constable Keith Anthony Smith, Detective Leading Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, as well as a detective who's still recovering from serious injury—has shaken us as a nation. Every day, our police put themselves in the service of the community. They put themselves on the line, and that's the spirit of courage and selflessness that is the mark of every man and woman from the moment they make the choice to enlist.

Last night, many members of the House joined in attendance of the National Police Bravery Awards. Two AFP officers—Sergeant Aaron Cox and Inspector Peter Murphy—were honoured for their work in the Vanuatu earthquake, and three members of the New South Wales Police Force—Sergeant Daniel Cooper, Senior Constable Adam Davis and Senior Constable Joshua Naughtin—for their work in the Manning River floods. These officers all went above and beyond to save lives and have demonstrated exceptional bravery and commitment. I hope to be able to have them in the parliament today, but, true to form, they went straight back to work first thing this morning—back to Vanuatu, back to northern New South Wales.

But I do want to acknowledge that we have in the gallery the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, Reece Kershaw. By the time parliament resumes after today, the AFP commissioner will be Krissy Barrett, so this is our last chance to be able to acknowledge as a parliament the extraordinary work of Reece Kershaw. He retires on 4 October to spend time with his family, including his new granddaughter Tulsi and two-year-old grandson Jarrah. Commissioner, in your time in this role, you have overseen the work of the Federal Police in child protection, counterterrorism, transnational serious and organised crime, cybercrime, foreign interference, our engagement around the world and the Pacific and the personal protection role that is so significant to the members in this place. Today as a parliament, Commissioner Kershaw, we honour you. The parliament acknowledges that Australians are safer because of your leadership, and we thank you for your service.

See this speech in context