Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

History may well record 22 February 2011 as New Zealand’s darkest day, as suggested by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key. It was a day that saw 182 lives lost, 10,000 homes destroyed and the CBD of Christchurch devastated. Even the magnificent Christchurch Cathedral, which had withstood major damage from earthquakes for over a century, succumbed.

In the world community, we as Australians have no greater, more loyal and supportive friends than our cousins from across the ditch. Whilst we sportingly wallow in our grudges, especially in cricket and rugby, those grudges are friendly family rivalries forgotten and discarded when crisis arrives at the doorstep. This is best encapsulated by the Anzac tradition—a tradition which has overwhelmingly helped to forge our relationship. That is, of course, not to forget that section 6 of our Constitution Act refers to New Zealand as the second-named possible state of the Commonwealth of Australia. As Senator Judith Adams, our not-so-token New Zealander, noted in the adjournment on 2 March:

Australia has no closer friend and partner than New Zealand and every Australian will be sharing in your pain.

I commend the senator’s speech to honourable senators.

So as we try to feel and share the pain of our cousins across the Tasman, it is hard to imagine what the real-life experience was like. A 27-year-old Australian blogger poignantly captured the experience as follows:

I was convinced I was going to die. The city was collapsing around me, people were being buried in rubble and others being struck in the head by debris. Absolute pandemonium. It was surreal … both horrific yet somehow impossible and unbelievable like a nightmare.

The horror of the collapse of the six-storey CTV building is beyond imagination. And whilst buildings and infrastructure can be replaced, people cannot. So to the bereaved we offer our condolences. To those injured and debilitated we wish a speedy recovery and rehabilitation. To those charged with a task of rebuilding we wish wisdom. But as the good book enjoins us in the Epistle of James, to just say, ‘I hope all goes well’ is of no use unless you do something practical to help. The people of Australia and their government have acknowledged this injunction by providing useful, practical help in a range of areas, as would be expected of true family and friends. Indeed, over 500 Australians have helped in the disaster relief effort to date. They have done us proud as a nation while providing much-needed practical support.

I also thank Prince William for his sensitive support to those Australians impacted by recent natural disasters, and also to New Zealanders. He did the monarchy proud.

The coalition support wholeheartedly the Leader of the Government’s motion and we extend our deepest sympathy to those who have felt the full brunt and terror of this most recent earthquake.