Tanya Plibersek (Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam Speaker, and I thank the government for the opportunity to speak very briefly on indulgence to this motion.

All of us remember the Sydney Olympics and the way Martin Place played a central role in the welcome we gave to the world. Martin Place was the place where anyone could go to watch the live sites, and we had visitors from every part of our globe. We presented the best of Australia then—a welcome to every nation and a welcome to every race. During the Martin Place siege we saw one of the most difficult times that our nation has faced, and for Katrina Dawson's family and Tori Johnson's family, of course, it was the most difficult time that they would ever face.

It is so easy to picture, isn't it? Tori and Katrina and saying goodbye to their families that morning—a quick kiss as they ran out of the door, like any of us would do—going to work, stopping for a coffee and then this terrible tragedy intervening and they were not able to keep that promise, 'See you tonight, kids.' To Katrina's family and to Tori's family: thank you for honouring us today with your presence. We stand with you in your unimaginable loss. To the three hostages and the police officer who were injured during this time: we think of you also—the suffering that you have gone through and the suffering that no doubt stays with you. To all of the hostages who were part of this tragedy: our thoughts are with you, they continue to be with you and we stand united as a parliament in saying that we will do whatever it takes to support you in this difficult time.

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