Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

Madam Speaker, I join with the member for Kennedy in expressing sympathy to the families of those who lost loved ones in this disaster at Ravenshoe, which can only be described as an extraordinary freak accident. People were quietly going about their day around the coffee shop, only to have an out-of-control of vehicle run through the wall and cause an explosion. It is certainly an example to us all of how precious and I guess how tenuous on occasions life can be. I understand seven people are still critically ill and so there is obviously a real risk that the death toll will rise.

We think very much of the families and the people of Ravenshoe. As the honourable member for Kennedy has mentioned, it is a relatively small community but a close-knit community that has gone through a lot of trouble in its day. They have worked and knitted closely together and built strong bonds of friendship and loyalty to one another. This is a very sad event for the town of Ravenshoe and particularly for the families of those who have lost loved ones. I hope to go up to Ravenshoe on Monday to meet with the community and look at whether there are any ways in which the government might be able to assist them in these difficult times.

See this speech in context