Senator Barnaby Joyce said that it was with deep sadness and regret that he heard of the two fatalities from the 2nd Combat Engineer Regiment based at Brisbane's Gallipoli Barracks.

“Our thoughts and prayers remain with their family and friends and our eternal gratitude remains with these men who did a job that in every essence of the word preserves our safety in our nation today.

Though nothing can possibly compensate for the loss of these fine soldiers, their sacrifice means that we do not have to deal on our shores with the enemy they have engaged with in another land.”