Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

There is of course much that we still do not know about the terrible events in Bangkok that the Prime Minister has reported on. The perpetrators have not claimed responsibility and motivations are unclear. Even the death toll—currently at 20 or 21—is yet to be confirmed as final.

What we do know is that it is an act of murder aimed at the innocent. What we do know, as a nation of travellers who have long loved to visit our friends and neighbours in Thailand, is that Australians could easily have been amongst those killed. Australians are a very adventurous people. There is no part of the world that Australians will not travel to. We trust in the world because of our own optimism. There are few places more well travelled by Australians than Thailand, so this event is not just in a far-flung part of the world, but because of the personal experiences of many Australian families it seems closer perhaps than some of the other news we hear in the world.

On behalf of the opposition I offer our condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured. As the Prime Minister has said, our thoughts are with the government and the people of Thailand and all nations who have citizens affected by this senseless act of violence. At the very least, we know this is a crime of hatred designed to provoke fear, and as a nation and as a proud member of the international community we say with one voice: you will not go unchallenged or unpunished, and we will not change who we are because of this.

See this speech in context