John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Since the parliament last met, since this Senate was last in session, five young Australians have lost their lives in Afghanistan, as we have heard—Private Nathan Bewes, Trooper Jason Brown, Private Tomas Dale, Private Grant Kirby and Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney. They were fine young soldiers and brave young men. They were not only soldiers but also sons, brothers, partners, husbands and fathers.

It is the responsibility of the government, as every senator in this chamber knows, to protect Australia and Australians. But, as always when Australia’s security is safeguarded by force of arms, the burden of hardship and danger is shouldered by our men and women in uniform and the cost is borne by their families, their friends and their loved ones.

I have always had the greatest respect and admiration for the men and women of the ADF, a respect and admiration that grew during my time as Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence, Science and Personnel in the Keating government. But I am sure that those of us who have had the honour to serve as Australia’s defence minister understand the particular sense of responsibility to the servicemen and women that role brings. One of the great privileges of serving as defence minister is the opportunity to meet so many of our serving soldiers, sailors and aircrew around the country and on deployment overseas. Their courage, their dedication to their country and their supreme professionalism, I can only say, has to be seen to be believed. Their dedication to their mates, their generosity of spirit and their very Australian trait of keeping their sense of humour in even the worst situations makes it unarguable that the spirit of Anzac is alive and well in our modern armed forces.

They do a magnificent job here in Australia and protecting our interests overseas, often very far overseas. They and their families bear long separations, the dislocation of the posting cycle and the constant awareness that they are doing very dangerous work. They do this work on behalf of all of us, and we should remember that our own safety is guaranteed by men and women giving up their own. We can be confident that our own families will return home at the end of the day because thousands of soldiers spend so many months away from their families. Those families endure anxious days and nights so we can lead our lives without such fears. They live with the daily reality of war so we can live with the daily blessing of peace.

I will not forget and none of us must ever forget the sacrifice of Private Nathan Bewes, Trooper Jason Brown, Private Tomas Dale, Private Grant Kirby and Lance Corporal Jared MacKinney in Afghanistan. I will never forget Private Benjamin Ranaudo, Sapper Jacob Moerland, Sapper Darren Smith, Private Timothy Aplin, Private Scott Palmer and Private Benjamin Chuck. I will never forget, as none of us should ever forget, the other 10 Australians who died in Afghanistan and the 150 who were wounded serving our nation there. Nor will I ever forget and nor must any of us ever forget those who have served and continue to serve our nation with such bravery.

Question agreed to, honourable senators standing in their places.