Josh Frydenberg (Kooyong, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to pay my respects following the passing of Corporal Cameron Stewart Baird MG following his tragic death in Afghanistan. Corporal Baird is Australia's 40th death following our decision to send combat troops to Afghanistan. Corporal Baird was born in Burnie, Tasmania, and was only 32 years of age. He was a brave soldier, admired for his gallantry on the field and for his professionalism off it. He was a member of the Special Operations Task Group 2nd Commando Regiment, and he received a number of distinguished citations for his contribution. He had served previously in Timor-Leste and in Iraq, and was on his fifth tour of Afghanistan. The many awards and honours he received included the Medal for Gallantry, the Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp East Timor, Clasp Iraq 2003, Clasp International Coalition Against Terrorism, the Afghanistan Campaign Medal, the Iraq Campaign medal, the Australian Service Medal with Clasp Counterterrorism Special Recovery, the Australian Defence Medal, the United Nations Medal with ribbon, the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor, the NATO Non-Article 5 Medal with Clasp ISAF and multiple tour indicator, the Infantry Combat Badge and the Returned from Active Service Badge. The citation for his award for gallantry said:

… Lance Corporal Baird’s Platoon came under heavy fire and during the ensuing close-range fire-fight, a member of his team was mortally wounded. Displaying complete disregard for his own safety, Lance Corporal Baird led other members of his team forward under heavy fire from machine guns and assault rifles to recover the wounded team member back to a position of cover.

Corporal Baird did not die in vain. We say to all his loved ones and his closest family that, as a nation, we are most grateful for his service. Australia has participated in the war against terrorism at the front line in Afghanistan, because we have lost so many Australians and the world has lost so many good people at the hands of terrorists. Afghanistan was the world headquarters for those terrorists, and we have made a real difference in that country. I have had the privilege of travelling to Uruzgan province and also to Kandahar to meet with the Australian service men and women there on the front line. They do their country proud, they do their unit proud, they do their mates proud.

Corporal Baird has served his country with absolute distinction in so many fields of battle in so many ways. We mourn his passing and we say to his family that we thank him, and you, for the contribution he made to make our lives that much safer and secure. May he rest in peace.

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