Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Australian Greens I join all other senators today in expressing my admiration for the bravery of Corporal Richard Edward Atkinson, my sadness at his untimely death in Afghanistan and my condolences to his family and fiancee. He was only 22. He was a very young man, but a brave soldier. He was based in Darwin, as part of the 1st Combat Engineer Regiment. He was the 22nd young Australian to be killed in Afghanistan. I would also like to send my best wishes to the 168 people who have been wounded in Afghanistan.

Corporal Richard Edward Atkinson was on his first deployment to Afghanistan and he was killed by an improvised explosive device while on a foot patrol in the Tangi Valley, in southern Oruzgan province. Another soldier was badly wounded at the same time. The Australian soldiers had been working with their Afghan partners at a new patrol base in the Tangi Valley and had discovered several insurgent caches, including explosives.

I want to think especially today of Corporal Atkinson’s family. As a mother of sons in their twenties myself, I cannot even begin to understand and imagine the profound grief and sense of loss that his mother and father, his brother James and his wife, and his fiancee must be feeling. His parents, Ross and Kate, have spoken of their profound sadness. His father said that his son loved the Army and had a ‘real knack for adventure’. His father also said:

He enjoyed being deployed. He was just a lovely boy. He was funny. He loved playing sports. He was a loved son and a loved brother to James.

To his mother and father, to his brother, and to his fiancee, Danielle, we say: we know that you are suffering and we care. We know that you have suffered a great loss, and every day henceforth you will feel that loss. We acknowledge that. We are a grateful nation.

In summing up his life, former principal of Launceston Church Grammar School, Mr Norris, said that, as a student there until year 12, Corporal Atkinson was highly respected, reliable, kind, considerate, well-mannered, had showed initiative and was obviously a great sportsman, having been the captain of Wilkinson House and having won the highest sporting achievement of the school. He particularly loved his soccer. He graduated in 2006—that is very recent, when you think about a year 12 boy leaving school in 2006—saying, ‘I want to be an Army man’. He joined the Army in 2007, and now he has been killed in Afghanistan. As a nation we need to really reflect on that, because there is no greater sense of responsibility than those who make the decision to deploy our troops overseas into a battle zone.

His friends in the Army described him as quick-witted, as a dedicated professional, as a great mate and as cheeky and fun-loving. At his funeral service in Afghanistan they said he would want to be remembered by us with a smile on our faces and laughter in our hearts. We also remember him, though, as General Hurley, the Acting Chief of Defence Force, said:

His bravery should not be forgotten and his sacrifice brings great honour to him, the Australian Defence Force, our Army and most especially his family.

The Australian Greens join all Australians in our gratitude for the service to the nation that he has offered. We offer our deep sympathy to his family, to his friends and to his serving comrades.