Steve Fielding (Victoria, Family First Party) Share this | Hansard source

Family First also congratulates Trooper Mark Donaldson on his receipt of the Victoria Cross. He is a hero and I am honoured to have the chance to congratulate him for his extreme bravery under the most difficult of conditions and at the risk of his own life. It is a great tragedy that there is such violence and so little peace in the world that we have to ask young Australians to serve their country in combat. But I think we reserve particular praise for members of our military forces not for killing our enemies, which is a terrible reality, but for risking their lives to save a mate. That is why Trooper Donaldson deserves the Senate’s special praise.

Question agreed to.