Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on indulgence: on behalf of the coalition I join the Prime Minister in expressing our deep sense of shock and revulsion at today’s cowardly and murderous terrorist attacks in the very heart of Mumbai. This is an assault on all of us who cherish the value of free societies. We may not know how many lives have been lost to this senseless savagery but we do know the cost will be horrific and the pain will be immense for the families of the innocents who have died or suffered serious injury.

For the people of Mumbai, sadly, this is far from their first encounter with violence and extremists—the cowardly, murderous terrorists. We well remember the horrendous bomb blasts in March 2003 which claimed 257 lives. We remember the serial bombings on the Western Railway three years ago, claiming the lives of more than 200 people simply going about their daily business. After a wave of terrorist attacks across India this year—in Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore and other cities—in which hundreds of people have been killed or wounded, these murderers have now returned to Mumbai. It is a reminder to the world that the terrorist threat to freedom has not retreated and we must remain, as the Prime Minister said, as vigilant and courageous and as stalwart and forthright in our opposition to terrorism as ever. It is a reminder too to Australians that terrorism is a present threat around the world and we must be resolute in our own determination to defeat the enemies of freedom and democracy.

At this time we understand that two of our own citizens have been injured in these attacks and we pray for their safe recovery as we pray for the families of all the people affected by this tragedy. Our thoughts and prayers are also with those trying to contact friends or family in Mumbai, the hub for many Australians who are dealing with, working in, or trading with India, one of the world’s oldest and most revered civilisations. Today the people of India have our heartfelt support and solidarity.

Australia and India have so much in common—a common heritage through the Commonwealth, through the British connection, the English language, cricket and, above all, democracy. When we think of our achievements in Australia, of our parliamentary democracy, let us spare a thought of admiration for India, that vast country of over a billion people, which maintains a rich and vibrant democracy and which is now facing these murderous cowards who are trying to bully and threaten the people of India, disrupt their economic growth and disrupt their democracy. Democracy and economic freedom have lifted tens if not hundreds of millions of Indians from the very bottom of poverty. They have provided great opportunities in that free society, and these terrorists seek to stop that. They are seeking to stop the progress of poor men and women out of poverty, and for that terrible crime they are condemned. We on the opposition benches stand together with the government in condemning the men and women who committed this crime and resolve to be as vigilant and stalwart as ever in our opposition to terrorism wherever it may be around the world.

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