Ministerial Statement

NEW ZEALAND MINING DISASTER

The Hon. M.D. RANN (Ramsay—Premier, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Social Inclusion, Minister for the Arts, Minister for Sustainability and Climate Change) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.D. RANN: On behalf of all members of this parliament and the people of South Australia, I wish to express my deep sadness and profound sympathy in the wake of yesterday's devastating news from the Pike River mine in New Zealand. As members are aware, it now appears that all 29 miners, including Australians Willy Joynson and Josh Ufer, have lost their lives in a series of tragic underground explosions.

As the family, friends and colleagues of the missing men gathered at the mine site earlier this week, I am sure that all of us shared their hope and unwavering belief that fate would deliver their loved ones safe from harm, as it did recently in Chile and, of course, a few years ago for those miners rescued at Beaconsfield in Tasmania.

We share their grief and send them our thoughts and prayers as they come to terms with this heart-rending outcome. As a mark of our respect, flags on government buildings will be flown at half mast here in Adelaide today.

The folk who live and work on the west coast of New Zealand's South Island (Coasters, as they are known) have a well-earned reputation for their resilience, their gritty courage and their deep sense of community, and those qualities are being tested like rarely before as a result of this terrible event.

I have no doubt that the neighbourhoods and communities of the Greymouth region—indeed, throughout the South Island and all over New Zealand—will band together to provide support, understanding and hope in the days, weeks and months ahead. As they do so, they can be assured that the hearts and best wishes of South Australians are with them.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!