Senator JOYCE (Queensland—Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) (3.41 pm)—by leave—I rise on behalf of the National Party to support others in this chamber regarding the tragic death of Lieutenant Fussell. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. We acknowledge the great sacrifice that has been made not only by Lieutenant Fussell’s family but also by other families of personnel who remain over there. We acknowledge also the distance, the loneliness and the fear
that these people have to deal with. We acknowledge that they are there because they believe it is right, and it is right and proper that today, in a small gesture, we rise in the Senate to make sure that these people know that they have our full support.

Their job is not one of politics; their job is to follow orders. And those orders at times can cost them their lives. This is an exemplary attribute of the human being that was obviously Lieutenant Fussell. Our hopes and prayers are not only with the family of Lieutenant Fussell but also with all those who remain and are currently facing a threat to their life for the benefit of our nation.