Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I support the statement of the Prime Minister. Privates Tim Aplin, Ben Chuck and Scott Palmer were all fine soldiers who had served with distinction on previous assignments in Afghanistan. We salute them. We send our prayers and best wishes also to their wounded comrades.

Knowing something of the spirit of the Australian Army, I suspect that these casualties would have only hardened the resolve of our soldiers to fight the good fight and to stay the course. They should not shake our commitment to achieving a more just society in Afghanistan and ensuring that it can never again be used as a base for terrorism. Privates Aplin, Chuck and Palmer died in the service of our country and in the service of a just cause, and that, I hope, will be of some consolation to their families and their loved ones in their time of grief.

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