Bruce Scott (Maranoa, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to join with others on this condolence motion for Lance Corporal Stjepan (Rick)—or Milo, as he is known—Milosevic, who grew up in Quilpie in my electorate in Queensland, some 800 kilometres west of Brisbane. It is rather poignant that right at this very moment his private service is being conducted in Brisbane at Marist College Ashgrove. I spoke to people there knowing that I could not be there today—it was a private service and I respect the wishes of the family.

I am also here to pay my respects to Sapper James Thomas Martin and Private Robert Hugh Frederick Poate. It is not a coincidence but it is a reminder to us all that it was on the day of 11 September 2001 that the free world was attacked by terrorists using not weapons of war but civilian aircraft. So I think it serves all of us in this place at this time to be reminded of the events that have brought about our involvement in Afghanistan.

The three soldiers who are part of the condolence motion, 'Rick', James and Robert, were killed by a soldier that they trusted, an Afghani—but you cannot attach the word 'soldier' to that person; he is a coward. Our soldiers, our men, our Australian Defence Force and we in Australia thought we could trust him, but the only word you could use to describe his actions is 'cowardly'. You could never use the word 'soldier' because soldiers are people of courage and of commitment and of values. Of course, they are prepared to do things that many of us perhaps would never do ourselves but they do them in the name of Australia as they serve under our flag, and I respect the professionalism that they display each and every day that they serve.

Our three soldiers about whom this condolence motion reflects on today were well trained. They were professional. They had the support of the parliament. It is one of those things that in this place when we commit soldiers, our Australian Defence Force personnel, to an operation overseas where they will be in harm's way I always have to reflect for a moment because we are, in fact, by the resolution of the parliament, committing troops to a theatre of a war or a peacekeeping operation where there are risks. In Afghanistan we have lost some 38 wonderful Australians who leave behind them family, friends, wives, partners and, as so often, children. When we do commit our troops to an operation overseas I have to think very carefully about how we do that to make sure that we are doing everything possible to support our troops when we commit their services through that resolution of the parliament—and it must be unwavering support.

Rick was born in New South Wales, where he grew up, and his very early education was in Quilpie, in Western Queensland, where his mother, his brother and other members of his family still live. In fact, his brother was recently elected to the Quilpie Shire Council. I know that Rick's death has hit the Quilpie Shire and Western Queensland particularly hard because it is a very close knit community, a small rural community with a very proud record of service to our nation. Many community members throughout time have served in the Australian Defence Force, in the Army, Air Force or Navy, including during the First World War, the Second World War, Vietnam and Korea. So it is a very proud community, and I know this has had a significant effect not just on the Quilpie Shire but also on the surrounding shires—we have all felt it. When I got the news it was one of those things where you draw in your breath and think about another loss of life, another family in which children will grow up without a father—in this case, Rick's children. And, of course, there is Rick's wife, who is a mother, and his extended family.

Rick was one of those guys who went into the Army at quite a mature age, at 36. He was actually awarded for his initial training at Kapooka—an outstanding soldier award. That, to me, said a bit more about Rick. You can imagine the young guys saying, 'I think we are fitter than this fellow who is a bit older than us'—probably twice their age. Rick was a stocky guy and played a good game of football out there in Western Queensland and was loved by so many. His commitment and leadership shone through at his training at Kapooka. He was promoted to lance corporal—a further demonstration of his leadership qualities—and I know that he would have had an outstanding career in the Army. Another thing I want to say about Rick is that he was a family person. Family meant everything to him, as it does to his mother, his brothers and his sisters. It meant everything to him.

Since this tragedy occurred in Afghanistan there have been some comments about whether we should bring our troops home. I would like to share with you an email that I received from a constituent of mine whose son is in Afghanistan. I will not use their name, because I want to preserve their privacy. It is interesting. I will quote from the email that my constituent received from their son. In the email, their son said:

It was a sad morning this morning when we farewelled the bodies of the guys killed last week, and I understand you're concern but I want you to take a second and read something for me.

He said to his mother:

Read Mark Chapter 8 verses 31 to 38.

So I can assure you that those in the services do have the strength and the support of the spiritual belief that helps them through times like this—and I think this is reflected in his email. He went on to say:

We have lost some men, but to impose some knee-jerk reaction as a consequence only serves to trivialise their lives and the sacrifice that they and their families have made.

He went on to say:

Coming to this country I had ideas about what I was doing and why I was doing it, but the incidents around this week have crystallised that understanding for me. I guess that you have heard about the 17 young people that were beheaded by the Taliban. They were in a province just a little distance from us here, just kids having a party whose only sin was to be playing music and dancing at that party. According to the news reports it is becoming their preferred form of social intimidation. Surely pure evil in is basest form.

Our guys are doing great work over here, giving the locals options to that oppressive regime, and hopefully slowing the movement of drugs into the western world. The main focus at the moment is working towards an orderly withdrawal, which I'm sure that your pleased about.

He went on to say:

Ultimately we'll probably never know the difference that we, or more particularly those that have lost their lives or been injured over here, will have made. But there is the possibility that because were here one Afghani will have the chance, the courage, or just the idea to make a difference in this country. And if there is one, then there could be many and it could make such a difference in our world as a whole. I only know that if we weren't here they wouldn't have that chance.

He went on to say in his email:

The Padre who led the service today quoted the old saying, 'The only thing required for evil to flourish in this world is for good men to do nothing.' I think that this place makes that statement very real.

Those comments I read are from an email from a soldier who is in the field, in theatre, and who knew Rick. He is from my constituency and his parents live there, but I want to protect their names. I do not want to necessarily link them to this, but I do want to thank them for the email that they have shared with me.

I think it is important to share those words in this condolence motion because they say a lot about those who are in the field. We as a nation and we as members of parliament are committed by resolution of the parliament to a task in Afghanistan we must see through.

Lance Corporal Rick Milosevic was known as 'Milo'. I am not quite sure how he got the name 'Milo', but there is a large sheep property out there called 'Milo'. Maybe he worked in shearing sheds in his holidays or something, because his parents had a business there. They had mail runs out of Quilpie and did a lot of building in and around Quilpie. In 2003 Lance Corporal Rick Milosevic received the Australian Active Service Medal with Iraq 2003 and ICAT clasps, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign Medal, the Australian Defence Medal, the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal with ISAF clasp, the Army Combat Badge and, very proudly worn by those who have been in active service, the Returned From Active Service Badge.

It is at times like these that we all reflect on our own lucky circumstances in Australia, but we also must remember that those who are lost—and we have lost 38 in Afghanistan—leave behind them families. It is to those that I address my deepest sympathies and condolences, not only on my own behalf but on behalf of my constituency of Maranoa and on behalf of the parliament. They will forever need our support as a nation. I know that for Rick's widow, now a war widow, and his children the work of the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Legacy will be very important to support the family left behind. In this country, we must never diminish our financial support for those who are left behind. We have one of the best systems in the world. Regardless of budget surpluses or deficits, their service and support must always be paramount in the minds of all of us. To those families, and particularly to Rick's family, his mother—his father has passed away—his brother and his extended family, I say, 'My deepest condolence to you.' Rest in peace, Rick. We will never forget you.

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