Senator Joyce said he is deeply saddened to hear of the tragic death of Corporal Richard Atkinson, 22, of the Darwin-based 1st Combat Engineer Regiment, who was on his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Our deepest sympathies go to his fiancé and family.
Whilst there is so much turmoil currently with the extreme weather events in Australia, it is important to remember that those in the defence of our nation live continually in harms way and day after day put their lives on the line so that Australia can be a safer place.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Atkinson family. We know that there is nothing we can say that will make this sadness lift. The nation remains eternally grateful to Corporal Atkinson and his comrade who has been injured in the same event.