David Johnston (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate my fellow Western Australian Corporal Benjamin Roberts-Smith on his investiture of the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry and bravery in Afghanistan. In so doing I of course want to support the remarks of all senators so far, but particularly those of my leader, Senator Abetz, and of Senator Conroy, representing the Leader of the Government in the Senate.

Corporal Roberts-Smith, like all of his fellow soldiers, particularly those down at Swanbourne, would not invite accolades and awards and would just believe he was simply part of a team engaged in a difficult and challenging mission. However, as a nation we would be remiss not to recognise his incredible courage with the highest decoration a soldier in our Australian Defence Force can receive. I know his family is extremely proud of him. His soldiers and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice would look down on him and smile and say, ‘That is the way to deal with this enemy.’

Corporal Roberts-Smith has been totally supported in his ADF career by his wife, Emma, and his twin daughters, Elizabeth and Emma. In addition, he is the proud son of a highly acclaimed Western Australian, Supreme Court Justice Len Roberts-Smith, a revered jurist in Western Australia and, may I say, a former Judge Advocate General of the Australian Defence Force and, until recently, the head of the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission. It is a very proud family heritage.

His VC citation states—we have heard something of it already but I do wish to repeat it:

Immediately upon the helicopter insertion, the troop was engaged by machine gun and rocket propelled grenade fire from multiple, dominating [Taliban] positions. Two soldiers were wounded in action and the troop was pinned down by fire from three machine guns in an elevated fortified position to the south of the village. Under the cover of close air support, suppressive small arms and machine gun fire, Corporal Roberts-Smith and his patrol manoeuvred to within 70 metres of the enemy position in order to neutralise the enemy machine gun positions and regain the initiative.

Corporal Roberts-Smith and his patrol members fought towards the enemy position until, at a range of 40 metres, the weight of fire prevented further movement forward. At this point, he identified the opportunity to exploit some cover provided by a small structure.

As he approached the structure, Corporal Roberts-Smith identified an insurgent grenadier in the throes of engaging his patrol. Corporal Roberts-Smith instinctively engaged the insurgent at point-blank range resulting in the death of the insurgent. With the members of his patrol still pinned down by the three enemy machine gun positions, he exposed his own position—

at great personal risk—

in order to draw fire away from his patrol, which enabled them to bring fire to bear against the enemy. His actions enabled his Patrol Commander to throw a grenade and silence one of the machine guns. Seizing the advantage, and demonstrating extreme devotion to duty and the most conspicuous gallantry, Corporal Roberts-Smith, with a total disregard for his own safety, stormed the enemy position killing the two remaining machine gunners.

           …         …         …

This decisive engagement subsequently caused the remainder of the Taliban in Shah Wali Kot District to retreat from the area.

Corporal Roberts-Smith’s most conspicuous gallantry in a circumstance of extreme peril was instrumental to the seizure of the initiative and the success of the troop against a numerically superior enemy force.

The citation concludes by saying:

His valour was an inspiration to the soldiers with whom he fought alongside and is in keeping with the finest traditions of the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force.

I certainly endorse that comment.

As a fellow Western Australian I am particularly proud of the fact that Corporal Roberts-Smith is only the 14th recipient of the Victoria Cross from my home state of Western Australia and just the 98th to be invested in Australia. I sincerely congratulate him. All of us from Western Australia are very proud of him. We wish him every success in the future.