Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank earlier speakers, including the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Minister for Defence and his opposition counterpart. Condolence debates are among the most difficult things we do in this place, but one of the things that relieve the pain just a little is the bipartisan approach we see to not only motions such as this but also our contribution in Afghanistan. I do not know whether I ever met Sergeant Brett Wood; I may have. He was part of one of our elite special forces groups. But I do know one thing, and that is that he would have really believed in what he was doing, he would have been absolutely committed to what he was doing, he would have enjoyed what he was doing and as a volunteer he would have fought very hard against any attempt to deny him the opportunity to do what he was doing. Based on my experience as defence minister, it is more than likely that his family and friends felt exactly the same. They would have come to the conclusion some time ago—a long time ago, in his case, I suspect—that this was what he wanted to do, this was what he trained hard to do and this is what he dreamt of doing. And, based on what we have been told, he did it with a high degree of distinction, and his family and friends would have been very supportive.

The bipartisan approach to our role in Afghanistan is very important to all of our troops and to their families and broader loved ones, including their mates. I continue to appreciate it. Let us all work very hard to ensure that that bipartisan approach to our operations in Afghanistan continues, because it might get hard. I have said for a few years now that the longer we are in Afghanistan and the more people we lose the more difficult it will be to maintain broader community support for our operations there. If community support declines, then the temptation emerges to capitalise on community discontent. Let us all hope and pray that both sides of parliament will work together to ensure that that is never the case and, to the extent that that requires bringing the opposition further into the inner circle of decisions, and consulting them more, then let us do it, because I think that is critically important.

Tragically, the next time we are here in this chamber we will have another condolence motion before us, as kicked off by the Prime Minister today, taking our loss in Afghanistan to 26—I hope I have got that right—which is too many. One is too many; 26 is far too many. But, given the size of our involvement in Afghanistan, it is relatively low, and we can be thankful for that. Canada, a country of about 30 million people, had lost over 90 the last time I counted, which is tragic. So let us hope that we continue to operate in a way that keeps our losses to a minimum, and I say again: one is too many. Let us hope we do not go beyond 26.

I said that Sergeant Wood would have believed in what he was doing. So do I and, I judge from earlier contributions, so too do most people in this place. It is important work, and it is not a time to give up. We are making ground. I remain in contact with people on the ground in Afghanistan and, in fact, one said to me, 'You would be very proud of what has been happening in Afghanistan because in Oruzgan province, at least, the environment has substantially changed and it is a far more peaceful and much safer place for ordinary citizens'. In his view we really are making significant ground.

Of course, not so long ago now we reconfigured our operation to focus on the training of the Afghan National Army and the Afghan National Police. This is a transition out of Afghanistan, which will produce an ability in Afghanistan on the part of the security forces to maintain their own security and to enforce their own rule of law. That is why we are there: we are there to build a government, to build a democracy, to help to build an economy and, of course, to build the strength of the security forces. When we get the 4th Brigade up to speed and do more work with the Afghan National Police then we will be in a position to do what we have wanted to do for a long time, I am sure, and that is to get out of Afghanistan. I am sure that that success, while we do not know exactly when it will be, is not too far down the track.

I hope I will be excused by the family, because it is relevant on this occasion to congratulate the new Chief of Defence Force. I know that he is committed to our troops and our work. I know the new service chiefs, including the new Vice Chief, although I do not know the new Chief of Navy or the new Chief of Army all that well. But I know the leadership very well, and I know they are all committed not only to success but to the safety of our troops. It is one of the reasons we have had a relatively—and I underline relatively—low casualty rate, and I wish them all the very best of successes. They take on the heavy responsibility of not only helping to manage an organisation that is 80,000-strong and with a budget of somewhere around $26 or $27 billion but also ensuring our success in Afghanistan. Just as importantly, if not more importantly, they take on the responsibility for the safety of our troops in Afghanistan.

My thoughts, again, are with Sergeant Brett Wood's wife, his family, his mates and all those who were close to him, including those who have served with him not only in Afghanistan but in other places. He was a highly-decorated soldier, again, part of our elite special forces. I know them well, and I know how amazing they are. To have qualified to be one of them he must have been something special. I just close by appealing to everyone to ensure that the loss of his life will not be one in vain.

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