STATEMENT OF CONDOLENCE
Senator the Hon John Faulkner
Minister for Defence
08 Jun 2010
MIN66/10
On behalf of the Government of Australia, I offer my sincere condolences to both of these soldiers’ families on the devastating loss they have suffered. Their death is a great loss to our nation. And while all Australians will mourn along with these two families, the immensity of their grief cannot be shared.
Sadly, their sacrifice reminds us that the mission in Afghanistan is extremely dangerous. Every day the men and women of the ADF on this operation are undertaking critical and hazardous tasks to ensure that their fellow Australians, both here at home and around the world, are safer from the threat of international terrorism. And the manner of their death, from an insidious and indiscriminate Improvised Explosive Device, again shows the callous and truly despicable nature of our enemy.
Two of our finest Australians have been taken from us. These young men were willing, at great risk to themselves, to do whatever it took to protect our nation and our national interests. They were professional, extremely brave and committed to, without hesitation, doing whatever was asked of them, to the very best of their ability. As we mourn their loss we should also honour the fact that they died in the service of our nation.
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Media contact:
Michael Nguyen (John Faulkner) – 02 6277 7800 or 0429 571 843
Defence Media Liaison – 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664