Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I join with the Prime Minister in expressing my regret, on behalf of the Australian Labor Party, for this tragic loss of life. I join with the Prime Minister also in thanking the police and emergency service workers undertaking this difficult task and the tasks to come. A family has lost a loved one. There's no doubt that, although the person has not been identified, his friends—his community—will be feeling this loss very soon. On behalf of this side of the House I join with the Prime Minister in expressing our condolence to all who've lost a loved one in this tragedy and to remind people, as the minister did earlier in question time today: don't take risks. Water and cars don't mix at a difficult time like this. It is better to be delayed, to be inconvenienced, than for any risk to be taken. It's quite extraordinary that with such a significant weather event there hasn't been more loss of life, frankly, and that is a credit to the way the community has responded and to the people on the ground, be they permanent workers such as police and emergency service workers or those magnificent volunteers in the SES, who put their own lives at risk in order to help others. We thank them.

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