Zoe Daniel (Goldstein, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Bianca and Holly went on a holiday to Southeast Asia—a rite of passage that many young Australians experience. If you were to look at their holiday photos, you would see the wonderful adventure that these best friends were having together. They could be any of our teenaged kids embarking on life from the wonderful suburbs of Bayside, Melbourne, where they've both grown up—gone to school at Mentone Girls' Grammar and Beaumaris Secondary College, worked in casual jobs and then, of course, played AFLW together at the famous Beauie Sharks. Bianca's parents, Michelle and Mark, and her brother Lachlan have been by her side during this ordeal, for the last few days. Today, of course, they're suffering pain beyond measure, a pain that no parent or sibling should ever experience.

I offer my sympathy to Bianca's family and also my strength to Holly's parents, Shaun and Samantha, who remain at her bedside in Bangkok. I'm sure, as I do, the House sends love and strength—along with people all around the country—to the families of these two young Aussie girls who just headed off on an adventure together.

I know that so many members of our community are connected to these girls and to these families. I feel your grief. Our hearts are broken.

See this speech in context