Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to also express my sorrow at the loss of Lance Corporal Jason Marks of the 4th Battalion (Commando) in the Royal Australian Regiment, who lost his life on 27 April while serving with the Special Operations Task Group in Afghanistan. Lance Corporal Marks died when his patrol was attacked by about 20 Taliban extremists in Afghanistan’s Oruzgan province. Jason Marks was 27. He was born in Broken Hill and later lived in Yeppoon, near Rockhampton, in Queensland. He enlisted in the Australian Army in 1999, serving in the 4th Field Regiment. Lance Corporal Marks served as a gunner until 2003, then as a medical assistant in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. He had served with 4RAR (Commando) since qualifying for special forces in 2005.

Australia will remember Jason Marks as a dedicated, superb soldier. At the ceremony marking the return of his body home to Australia, the Special Operations Commander Australia, Major General Tim McOwan, said:

Jason epitomized what every Commando strives for: courage, strength and determination. He certainly had a strength of character that set him apart. Jason was an extremely well liked man and his loss will be keenly felt throughout his unit and the wider Army.

Lance Corporal Marks leaves behind a young family. His wife, Cassandra, has told the nation of a devoted father and loving husband whose dream was to serve in the Army as a commando, a man who was proud of who he was and what he did. To Mrs Marks and her two children, Connor and Ella, I express my deepest condolences. The loss of any serving member is a tragedy for Australia but it is devastating for the family left behind. Today we honour his memory, and the Australian government, the Department of Defence and my department will be offering all the support available to assist the Marks family. Case officers from my department will be meeting with Mrs Marks this week to ensure that the Marks family receive their full compensation entitlements.

Another four soldiers were also wounded during the battle in which Lance Corporal Marks lost his life. While we cannot name them here, it is important today that we also acknowledge their injuries, suffered as a result of their service to the nation, and their loss of a fellow soldier and a mate.

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