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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 8 Hansard (27 August) . . Page.. 2482 ..

MR BERRY (Leader of the Opposition): Mr Speaker, on the day of this tragic event, I recall being at home and being advised by telephone that something had gone wrong. As events unfolded, it became clear that a tragedy had occurred. My heart went out to the family and those people who had been affected by the tragedy on site. At that time, I did not know that some others had been injured; but one could not help wondering why one person had been struck by fate on that day. Katie has gone now, and those people who have been left behind will remember her for what she was.

One's thoughts then have to swing to the parents, particularly, and to the friends. As I understand it, they were out in their motor vehicle and they decided to go and see an event which had been developed by the Government and to which the Territory's community had been invited. All families do only things that are in the best interests of their children and with the future of their children uppermost in their minds, and none more so than the Croatian community here in the ACT. One cannot help thinking about the terror that they would have felt as the event unfolded - an event to which they had been invited, at a place which they felt was safe to take their child to, where she would see something new.

Mr Speaker, this was a tragic event, which so regrettably struck down someone so young and, I suppose, could have affected others in the same way. Many will be traumatised for a long time over this, none more so than the family. I trust that they will be able to get on with their lives and find some peace in their lives after this event. It must be hard for them. Mr Speaker, the Opposition will be wholeheartedly supporting this motion, and it congratulates the Government for bringing it on.

MR MOORE: Mr Speaker, I rise to support the motion. I was not in Canberra at the time of Katie Bender's death. In fact, I was in Brisbane on Assembly business, but I had my family with me. My immediate reaction was to look at my young daughter, who is of a similar age to Katie Bender, and try to imagine what the parents and friends of Katie would have felt. Nobody can imagine that kind of tragic circumstance. I think the best we can do is just put out our hearts to people who find themselves in such awful, tragic circumstances and, as an Assembly, see what we can do to ensure that such situations are avoided in the future, if there is anything that we can do. It is so difficult to know what to say in such circumstances, Mr Speaker, other than to join the other members of the Assembly in supporting this motion and expressing genuine sympathy and support for the family and friends.

MS HORODNY: Mr Speaker, like everyone else in the Assembly and across Canberra, I was horrified to hear about what had happened on that day - Sunday, the 13th. I found it hard to put the tragedy out of my mind. It was interesting to hear counsellors over those few days and weeks talking about how people all over Canberra were feeling the same way. It had really hit home to people and made them realise how fragile we all are and how close to death any of us can be at any time. Members have already expressed their condolences. Ms Tucker and I wish to support the motion and express our deep sorrow. To Katie Bender we say, "Rest in peace".

Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.

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