Larissa Waters (Queensland, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Australian Greens, I offer my condolences to Shinzo Abe's family and friends, and the people of Japan, following his unexpected and tragic death. Mr Abe served his country over many years, including two stints as Prime Minister, weathering ill health as he did so. Like the rest of the world, we felt the shock of his assassination. Mr Abe's death while campaigning was an assault on Japanese democracy, perhaps more tragic because death by gun violence is so rare in Japan.

Those in this chamber would know that the Greens were quite regularly at odds with Mr Abe and the Japanese government over whaling. Senator Whish-Wilson even managed to personally hand him a letter from Sea Shepherd during his visit to Australia in 2014. Senator Whish-Wilson describes breaking diplomatic protocols in approaching Mr Abe, which he nonetheless graciously and respectfully received. Of course there were other issues, too, where we didn't see eye to eye, but none of this diminishes the shock and the pain upon hearing of his assassination. Democracy relies on elected representatives and those campaigning being available to the people. Events like this don't just hurt those close to the victim; they threaten democracy itself.

I can only imagine the sadness that his death has caused his loved ones and many in his country, and I hope that the condolences of the Australian parliament, supported by the Greens, offer some small comfort in these sad times.