Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) | Hansard source

by leave—I thank the Senate and I thank Senator Wong for her sentiments. On behalf of the opposition and coalition parties I extend our sincerest condolences and thoughts to those affected, and associate ourselves with the remarks of Senator Wong indicating that we—as a parliament, as a Senate and as a nation—are at one in relation to our reaction to these terrible and tragic events.

The tragedy that occurred during Exercise Talisman Sabre last Friday night was indeed a terrible tragedy affecting many. It occurred, as Senator Wong has said, during critically important exercises for our nation and for our role in the region and the world. We salute and thank all members of the Australian Defence Force and all of those who participate in Exercise Talisman Sabre, as we do in all of the operations and preparations undertaken by our defence forces.

The four men we particularly acknowledge today wore the Australian uniform and served our nation with distinction. These defence exercises are critical to the security and peace within our region, but, like all exercises, to be effective, to ensure preparedness for any and all operational circumstances, they carry serious risk and danger. Our personnel acknowledge that, and that is why their courage, their bravery and their willingness to sacrifice is so evident at all times.

We thank in particular those engaged in the search-and-rescue operations that now tragically turn to recovery operations. We acknowledge and thank the government for its indication that investigations will take place, that they will be thorough, and they will help all to understand what happened, particularly to help the families to understand that, and to work to prevent such a tragedy occurring again.

In that moment of disaster off Hamilton Island we lost four magnificent service personnel of the Australian Army: Captain Danniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Warrant Officer Class 2 Joseph Laycock and Corporal Alexander Naggs. Australians around the country can only imagine the ordeal their four families have been facing and will continue to do so. We extend every element of our thoughts and love to their families, to their loved ones, to their mates and to all those with whom they served in the Australian Defence Force.

We often say in this place, and elsewhere across Australia, 'Thank you for your service.' We say that to those who have served our nation, to those who do serve our nation and to those who will do so with such courage, bravery and sacrifice in the years ahead. On this occasion, we most sincerely say to the families of these four Australian service personnel: 'We thank you for giving of them. We thank them for their service and for their ultimate sacrifice.'