Bob Brown (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian Greens totally endorse the remarks and the motion before the Senate. We, too, give our condolences to the families, friends and associates of Nathan Verity, Garth McEvoy, Craig Senger and the other six people from Indonesia, the Netherlands and New Zealand who lost their lives. Following on what Senator Joyce had to say, through all these murderous attacks—and the people involved are murderers with no remitting excuse as far as I can see, although they may believe they have one, and the lowest form of excuse here is a religion based excuse—Indonesia and Australia have drawn closer together.

We see our neighbours as our friends. I cannot see that doing anything but growing stronger, and these attacks actually increase that bond. It is a beautiful country next door and it has friendly people. We are good neighbours and it is unfortunate that there are such awful tragedies of this variety—that is, premeditated murders. They are there to highlight the good relationships across the seas that we have with the Indonesian people. I wish them succour over yet more outrages on their soil. I hope that Noordin Top and the other people involved in this will be brought to justice swiftly. I congratulate the authorities in Indonesia and those in Australia who may be helping them on the relentless tracking down of the people behind these outrages.