Paul Calvert (President) Share this | Hansard source

In concluding the debate on the jointly sponsored motion, I would like to say a few words, not as the President of the Senate but as a senator for Tasmania. This last fortnight since Anzac Day, I have been reminded of other challenges my state has faced: the devastation of the 1967 bushfires; the Tasman Bridge disaster; and, as Senator Parry just said, the awful reality of the Port Arthur massacre, which has just had its 10th anniversary. These things came to mind as the time stretched from hours to days and from one day to the next while those three young Tasmanian miners were trapped one kilometre below the earth. The community of Beaconsfield rallied, just as I expected they would. Notwithstanding the media glare and the extraordinary nature of the ordeal, the memorable images for me were the fortitude of the three families and the enormous courage of the Knight family, having learned of the death of Larry.

Senator Allison alluded to the fact that this disaster gained international prominence. I happened to be representing Australia at an executive meeting of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association on the Isle of Man. I can assure you that it was headline news on every television channel and in every newspaper. It made me feel very proud to see the images of the people of Beaconsfield and how well they were standing up and being part of the community.

I would like to pay a special tribute to everyone in the historic and beautiful town of Beaconsfield and, in particular, to honour the courage and steely determination of the team of rescuers. What marvellous Australians they are. In particular, as others have done today, I would like to single out the dignified community leadership of Councillor Barry Easther, the Mayor of West Tamar; the resolute determination of Mr Matthew Gill, the Beaconsfield mine manager; and those representatives of the unions who so ably supported their mates. They had to overcome a seemingly endless series of hurdles. As a mark of respect to the late Mr Larry Knight and to signify senators’ agreement to the motion, I ask honourable senators to stand for a moment in silence.

Honourable senators then stood in their places.