Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is fit and proper that we start this parliamentary year dedicated to this condolence motion. There is no more important business. It is a rare honour to be the last senator to speak on this condolence motion after the contributions of my fellow senators. To those who have lost loved ones, I say: 'The whole Australian family grieves for your loss. Please feel our embrace.' To the thousands of firefighters, emergency personnel and members of the Defence Force, I say: 'There is no greater service than to put yourself in harm's way to protect the lives of others. Thank you.' To the families of the nine firefighters who lost their lives—and let me name them: David Moresi, Geoffrey Keaton, Andrew O'Dwyer, Samuel McPaul, Bill Slade, Mat Kavanagh, Ian McBeth, Paul Hudson and Rick DeMorgan Jr—I say: 'Australia deeply honours and respects the service of your loved ones. Please know that you have our eternal gratitude.'

In my home state of Queensland, 6.6 million hectares of land was burned and 49 homes were lost. From farms to tourist destinations, the loss has been profound. The fires impacted the length and breadth of Queensland, from the Southern Downs to the Sunshine Coast, from the Scenic Rim to the Gladstone region, from the Lockyer Valley to the Maranoa. But, as is the case across the whole of Australia, our communities have rallied. There has been an outpouring of generosity. We saw it in the aftermath of the Brisbane floods in 2011 when the so-called 'Mud Army' mobilised in its thousands to help those in need. We are seeing it today in response to the bushfires and we will see it in the future whenever disaster occurs. Australians help those in need because that is what Australians do.

In his poem, 'The Fire at Ross's Farm', Henry Lawson captures the spirit of mateship:

Down on the ground the stockmen jumped

And bared each brawny arm

They tore green branches from the trees

And fought for Ross’s farm

And when before the gallant band

The beaten flames gave way

Two grimy hands in friendship joined—

And it was Christmas Day.

I have seen those hands in friendship join. Just prior to Christmas, I was pleased to attend a fundraising dinner convened by the Fiji Senior Citizens Association of Queensland and the St George Chinese Community Memorial Committee. A total of $10,000 was raised. They reached the hand of friendship out to the Queensland Country Women's Association Beech Mountain branch. The Beech Mountain branch of the CWA was dealing with the aftermath of the September fires in their region and the destruction of the iconic Binna Burra resort and 11 homes. The Beech Mountain branch of the CWA had provided 6,000 meals for the fire crews over a six-day period. They provided funding and support to 50 displaced families. The Beech Mountain branch of the CWA will continue to provide support as long as it is needed. As their president, Leonie Smith, said: 'Our CWA ladies were not armed with clipboards and high-vis jackets. They were armed with kindness and hearts filled of compassion, with the mantra: "We are to do no harm".' In the lead-up to Christmas, the branch had distributed much of the over $50,000 they had raised. Now, here were two community groups in Brisbane, personifying the best of multicultural Australia, reaching out that hand of friendship referred to by Henry Lawson and providing another $10,000 just when it was needed—at Christmas.

I've seen many such examples over the last month. On 18 January, the Queensland Tamil Mandram association and the Thaai Tamil School raised funds at the celebration of the Pongal Festival, the Tamil thanksgiving, held in Springfield. On 22 January, I attended the opening of a short film by an extremely talented young Queenslander, Madison Marneros. The opening was organised by Caroline Russo, a great supporter of the TV and film industry in Queensland, and funds were raised for the Salvation Army. On 25 January, a group of Papua New Guinea associations, including the PNG Federation Queensland Inc. and the PNG students association, held a barbecue in Roma Street Parkland to raise funds. Papua New Guineans have big hearts. On 26 January, Australia Day, Wests rugby union club of Brisbane, the mighty Bulldogs, held a bushfire appeal rugby tournament, and donated the funds to Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service. On 31 January, as part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, the Queensland federation of Taiwanese associations donated over $90,000 to the Brisbane Lord Mayor's Charitable Trust bushfire appeal. Through January, the Islamic Council of Queensland has raised an additional $17,800, on top of $55,000 raised in December, to provide assistance to families in Batemans Bay, New South Wales.

Lions Clubs, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army; sporting clubs and other service organisations; religious institutions; businesses large and small; and families and individuals have all extended that hand of friendship to their fellow Australians in need. At a time when our fellow Australians need it most, our community, our Australian family, is there with support and compassion. This is what Australians do. This is who we are. This is what defines us as a people. This is what makes us Australian.

Question agreed to, honourable senators standing in their places.