Greg Combet (Charlton, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change) Share this | Hansard source

I rise also to support the motion and offer my sincere condolences to the family of Corporal Mathew Hopkins. Corporal Hopkins was killed during service in Afghanistan and was Australia’s ninth casualty in that theatre. Tragically, he was only 21 years old and married with a very young son. By all accounts, Corporal Hopkins was an exemplary soldier, a professional in a service that requires a level of dedication and selfless commitment.

He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army in 2005. After completing recruit training he was posted to the Royal Australian Infantry Corps, where he qualified as a rifleman. In September 2005, Corporal Hopkins was posted to the 5th/7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment, where he fulfilled a number of junior soldier roles and subsequently qualified as a M113 crewman driver. The battalion was based at Robertson Barracks in Palmerston, Northern Territory, and formed part of the Australian 1st Brigade. In late 2006, as part of the expansion of the Australian Army, the unit was broken up into two separate battalions once again. Corporal Hopkins remained with the 7th Battalion, and later qualified as a M113 crewman commander, in November 2007. He was temporarily promoted to lance corporal in June 2007, which was made substantive in April 2008. He was promoted to corporal before his 21st birthday in August 2008.

His battalion 7RAR has produced many fine soldiers. It is a regular infantry battalion of the Australian Army. It was formed on 1 September 1965 at Puckapunyal in Victoria during the expansion of the regular infantry that occurred because of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War. The battalion served two operational tours in Vietnam, between 1967 and 1971, with 33 men killed and 220 wounded, and receiving 31 awards for gallantry.

Corporal Hopkins deployed to Afghanistan on Operation SLIPPER with the 1st Reconstruction Task Force from November 2006 to April 2007. Operation SLIPPER is Australia’s military contribution to coalition efforts against international terrorism. Corporal Hopkins deployed to Afghanistan as a member of the Force Protection Combat Team, known as Combat Team Tusk, serving with the 1st Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force. The Mentoring and Reconstruction Task Force consists of about 440 personnel and also includes an operational mentor and liaison team, which assists the Afghan National Army with training and capability development. The task force is comprised of engineers, mechanised infantry and cavalry from the Darwin based 1st Brigade and is drawn mainly from the 7th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, 2nd Cavalry Regiment and 1st Combat Engineer Regiment.

Corporal Hopkins was a section commander with the Force Protection Combat Team. A valued member of the task force, he was part of Australia’s first army training team assigned to live and train with Afghan troops. He was more than halfway through his tour in Oruzgan when he was badly wounded as his team conducted a patrol near Kakarak soon after 9 am on Monday, 16 March this year. It is understood that his team were involved in an intense fire fight with a group of approximately 20 Taliban insurgents when he was wounded. The insurgents were using small arms and rocket propelled grenades. Corporal Hopkins was evacuated by a coalition helicopter to the nearby medical facility in Tarin Kowt as soon as the security situation allowed. Tragically, despite all efforts, he died shortly after arriving at the hospital.

We know from the words of his commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Shane Gabriel, that Corporal Hopkins was an outstanding soldier, that he was ‘extremely well known’ and ‘greatly respected’. He was also held in high esteem by his mates in the 7th battalion, who invariably reinforced his character as a professional, as a good leader and as an approachable bloke. He was also, of course, a much loved son, husband and father. It was no doubt with great pride that he witnessed the birth of his son, Alexander. He got to spend only four days with his newborn baby and wife Victoria before returning to Afghanistan.

We know that Corporal Mathew Hopkins epitomised the values of the Australian solider. His military decorations include the Australian Active Service Medal with International Coalition Against Terrorism clasp, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal and Infantry Combat Badge.

I would like to acknowledge, along with the others who have spoken on the motion, the extreme sacrifice made by Corporal Hopkins on behalf of all Australians and the deep and overwhelming grief felt by those who knew Mathew as a loving partner, a proud father, a wonderful son and brother, and a good mate to many.

It is incumbent upon the government—indeed, all Australians—to do everything we possibly can to support the families and communities of veterans lost to combat. It is imperative we recognise the valour, integrity and resilience of our servicemen and women, reflect on their experiences and remember those who make the ultimate sacrifice. I wish to extend my sympathies to Victoria, Alexander and Corporal Hopkins’s extended family and to those who served with Corporal Hopkins. He was a brave and loyal soldier, and he will certainly be remembered firmly as such.

See this speech in context