Page 1320 - Week 05 - Tuesday, 5 April 2005
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community in wholeheartedly supporting our forces. It is sad that too often we see uninformed and ignorant political lobbyists questioning the actions of our ADF personnel, in Iraq now, and recently with the unacceptable allegations levelled at ADF personnel, AFP personnel and customs officers, including those who live in Canberra and those who have families residing in Canberra, over the SIEV X affair. Those personnel were basically accused of being directly involved in the very sad loss of 353 souls at sea. The community leadership should understand we have no truck with that sort of lobbying and that the protection and upholding of respect for our personnel is extremely important.
Lieutenant Kimlin, Dr Davey, and the crew and passengers of the Sea King—call sign Shark 02—were doing what they loved doing, such is the spirit of our young ADF personnel in 2005. Perhaps it is important to reflect that that spirit does not seem to have changed in the weeks leading up to Anzac as we commemorate the youthful spirit and the strength of Australian personnel in past conflicts. HMAS Kanimbla was one of the few quickly deployable assets capable of reaching the island of Nias in its hour of terrible need. Our nine service personnel were helping a very important neighbour and were flying the flag of this country. Lieutenant Kimlin and his team died in the service of our country, and they died in the service of humanity. The community must, and I think does, completely understand this.
I express my condolences to Laura Ryan, partner of pilot Lieutenant Paul Kimlin RAN Canberra, and to his parents Ray and Carroll and his two siblings. Lieutenant Matthew Davey RAN, a reserve Navy doctor, from the ACT was a well-known and well-regarded doctor. We just heard the minister go through and detail his accomplishments. Today, on radio 2CN, we heard genuinely respectful and warm regards from hospital colleagues about him and about his work. The other servicemen and women included Leading Seaman Scott Bennet, RAN, observer on Shark 02, Lieutenant Matthew Goodall, helicopter observer, and Sergeant Wendy Jones, RAAF, from NSW. Petty Officer Stephen Slattery, medic, from Western Australia. Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy, ADF doctor and Lieutenant Jonathon King, pilot, from Queensland, and, from Tasmania, Flight Lieutenant Lynne Rowbottom, RAAF.
Our sincere condolences go to their friends and families, and to the ship’s company of HMAS Kanimbla who at this moment must be doing it pretty tough. But we know they are remaining on station and doing their job regardless. I think that is an amazing demonstration of the spirit and strength of our ADF and its personnel.
Mr Speaker, may the souls of these nine people rest in peace.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
Public Accounts—Standing Committee
Report 2
MR MULCAHY (Molonglo) (12.14): I present the following report:
Public Accounts—Standing Committee—Report 2—Appropriation Bill 2004-2005 (No 2), dated 30 March 2005, including additional comments (Mr Mulcahy), together with a copy of the extracts of the relevant minutes of proceedings—
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