Natasha Griggs (Solomon, Country Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to thank the Prime Minister for visiting my electorate of Solomon last weekend and for attending the welcome home parade for more than 250 Darwin based soldiers marking the end of their deployment to Afghanistan. Thousands of Territorians attended the Darwin parade wearing yellow shirts and waving flags to show their support for our returned soldiers. The enormous sacrifice of Australia's decade-long mission in Afghanistan was acknowledged by the Prime Minister and others.

This operation has been the nation's longest military operation during which 40 soldiers sadly lost their lives and more than 260 personnel have been injured. I would like to place on record my personal thanks to all those involved in this operation and to confirm my wholehearted support for the Prime Minister's announcement of the national day of commemoration to be held on 21 March 2015, a day to recognise the contribution and sacrifice of Australian troops who served in Afghanistan and in the Middle East.

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