Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to welcome home the women and men of HMAS Ballarat. They were away for 259 days. I know that because Commander Paul Johnson said it as he arrived on the docks at HMAS Stirling on Garden Island in my electorate of Brand. He said: 'Good to see you after 259 days'—I was fortunate to have been at the pier when they departed on 28 October 2018. There were 190 service women and men serving this country on the HMAS Ballarat as part of Operation Manitou in the Middle East. I was very pleased to join my parliamentary colleague the Minister for Defence Industry, Melissa Price, the member for Durack, on the docks. We had a great time witnessing the great welcome.

Melissa Price (Durack, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was cold.

Madeleine King (Brand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was cold but sunny. It was a great welcome back to Perth at the homecoming of so many women and men who live in my electorate and serve this nation in the Royal Australian Navy. I'd like to also thank the commanding officer of HMAS Stirling, Captain Ainsley Morthorpe, for making us feel very welcome, and Commander Australian Fleet, Rear Admiral Jonathan Mead, who was also very good to both the minister and me on our visit. Mostly, I want to say thank you to the women and men of HMAS Ballarat. Welcome home and thank you for all that you do for our country.