Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I inform the House that the Prime Minister will be absent from question time today as he is attending the funeral of Sapper Jacob Moerland in Gayndah in Queensland. I am sure all members of the House would have Sapper Moerland in their thoughts on this very tragic occasion and would wish well to those who are attending the funeral. I will answer questions on behalf of the Prime Minister. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel is also attending the funeral. The Minister for Defence Materiel and Science will answer questions on his behalf.