SMITH, CORPORAL SCOTT JAMES

Debate resumed.

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Treasurer, Minister for Workers Rehabilitation, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:12): As the state Minister for Veterans' Affairs, I rise to support this condolence motion. I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the partner of Corporal Scott Smith, his family and his friends. As the son of a Vietnam veteran and a father myself, my heart goes out to Scott's parents. I can try to understand but I know that I can never share the heartache implicit in having to farewell a child in this way. Scott's family will forever be impacted.

Corporal Scott James Smith died in the proud and selfless service of his country. He was born in the Barossa Valley in 1988. His life was one crowded hour in which he saw service in the Solomon Islands, once before in Afghanistan, and had also worked on the security surrounding the visit to Australia by President Obama. Scott is one of several brave South Australians to have made the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan since the Australian Defence Force commenced Operation SLIPPER in 2002. Sergeant Andrew Russell died in 2002; we lost Sapper Darren Smith and Private Tomas Dale in 2010 and Sapper Jamie Larcombe last year.

Scott's passing serves to remind us yet again of the reality of what we ask our defence personnel to do in various theatres of conflict around the world. Our young men and women put their lives on the line in a very real way every single day. As those who remain, it is our clear responsibility to care for the families of those who are gone, care for those who return to us injured and, on the broader political stage, continue to strive for an environment where war is not seen as an acceptable solution to international problems. With the loss of Corporal Scott Smith we have lost one of our finest and we are forever diminished. Lest we forget.

Mr VENNING (Schubert) (14:14): It gives me great sadness today to support the condolence motion for a young man, 24 years of age, who grew up in the Barossa Valley, Corporal Scott James Smith. I support the words of the previous speakers, particularly the Premier, the Leader of the Opposition and the minister. Corporal Smith's life was so tragically cut short while serving his country as a member of the Special Operations Task Group serving in Afghanistan on 21 October 2012. As we have just heard, Scott grew up in the Barossa Valley, and I have a very close relationship with his grandfather, Mr Jim Paterson, of Greenock. Scott spent some time during his secondary education at several schools in the Barossa, particularly the Faith Lutheran School and the Nuriootpa High School. I understand that both schools have paid tribute to Scott.

We have noted several of our other brave soldiers who have died. We all feel and share the loss, but it is even more keenly felt when it is so close to home. The Barossa is much muted by this tragic news and in disbelief, and we feel we have lost a member of our community family. He joined the Army in 2006 and had been posted to Darwin, and more recently he was based at the Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, New South Wales.

As members have heard, Defence has described Corporal Smith as one of its brightest during his short career. He was awarded many honours and awards and has been described by Defence as an 'exceptional soldier who possessed all the qualities and charisma of a junior leader'. When I was talking to his school mates on the weekend, I was told that this gentleman had an infectious and spontaneous personality. He was very popular with his school mates.

He was a much-decorated and respected soldier. As the member for Schubert and branch president of the RSL, I express my sincere sympathies and condolences to Scott's family. To his parents, Katrina and Murray, his sister, Roxanne, grandfather, Jim, and girlfriend, Liv, you will feel his loss more than anyone. May it provide some comfort to you to know that his sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Yes, Scott joins three other South Australians who have paid the supreme sacrifice in Afghanistan. We will never forget. Truly, they shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Lest we forget.

Mr HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite) (14:16): I rise to support the motion moved by the Premier. The house and the entire South Australian community find great sadness in the death of Corporal Scott James Smith of the Special Operations Engineer Regiment based at Holsworthy Barracks in Sydney, New South Wales—sadness because he was a local South Australian country boy, sadness because his family and his partner have suffered a great loss, sadness because his regiment and country have lost a good man with great promise; a life cut short out of duty to us.

In Afghanistan we are fighting a great evil. It has been a base for terrorists to plan and support attacks around the world from September 11 to the Bali bombing, attacks designed to maim and kill and destroy innocent men, women and children. These terrorists are extremists and zealots dressed under the guise of Islamic fundamentalism.

Islam is not the problem. As a person who has lived in two Muslim countries, it is very clear that this is a great religion followed by wonderful people. The problem is bigotry, zealotry and extremism which would see one small class of human beings dominate others and force upon them a bizarre vision for a future world in which freedom is suppressed, women and minorities persecuted, violence reigns supreme and the light of humanity extinguished by a great darkness. This darkness has raised its head before in genocides, in religious wars and in totalitarianism of the right or the left over centuries. We now fight it in its current guise.

To the family and friends of Scott, can I say that he died serving the cause of truth, freedom and justice. All that stands between freedom-loving Australians and the great evil of which I have spoken has been him, his comrades and our democracy. With our friends around the world, good must fight evil and light must defeat darkness. Australia has lost 39 of its best young people fighting this war. There is another story around the 424 who have been savagely wounded and who are presently being nursed by their families, some with debilitating injuries. They have paid a huge price as well. Each one of these men, normal everyday Australians, one and all, volunteered to serve in the ADF. Thousands apply every year. Few are chosen after exhaustive medical, psychological and aptitude testing. You have to be good to get in. One of the best.

In Scott Smith's case, he had to endure an exhaustive Special Forces selection process, a process which picks the best of the best amongst the ranks of the ADF. He had to be smart, he had to be strong, he had to be emotionally and physically tough, he had to be well-educated, sharp, sensitive and astute.

Corporal Smith and all of the fallen were extraordinary Australians. It is important that as a parliament we pause to reflect on Corporal Scott Smith's sacrifice and I commend the Premier for bringing this motion to the house. It is important as MPs that we reaffirm our respect and commitment to the mission and to him and to his comrades and that we thank his family.

I last spoke on this in memory of Sapper Jamie Larcombe, another combat engineer from South Australia, killed during an engagement with insurgents on 19 February 2011. I read out the names of the 23 who had fallen at that time in the desert sands of Afghanistan. Since then, we have lost another 16 souls, bringing the total to 39. Many of these men have fallen from within the three regiments with which I served: the Royal Australian Regiment, the Special Air Service Regiment and the commando regiments. Like every member of this house, I feel the pain of this loss as an MP. At a personal level, I also feel it as a former comrade of these men.

On behalf of ex-servicemen across South Australia, who also respect their service and feel their pain, I want to mention each of the 16 who have died since this house last recognised their sacrifice on 22 February 2011. They are:

Sergeant Brett Wood, Medal of Gallantry, Distinguished Service Medal, 2^nd Commando Regiment, who was killed by an improvised explosive device during a dismounted patrol on 23 May 2011.

Lance Corporal Andrew Jones, 9^th Force Support Battalion, died of wounds as a result of a small-arms fire incident on 30 May 2011.

Lieutenant Marcus Case, 6^th Aviation Regiment, died of wounds sustained in a helicopter crash on 30 May 2011.

Sapper Rowan Robinson, Incident Response Regiment, died as a result of gunshot wounds sustained in an engagement with insurgents on 6 June 2011.

Sergeant Todd Langley, 2^nd Commando Regiment, killed during an engagement with insurgents on 4 July 2011.

Private Matthew Lambert, 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, died of wounds as a result of an improvised explosive device strike on 22 August 2011.

Captain Bryce Duffy, 4^th Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, killed as a result of a small-arms fire on 29 October.

Corporal Ashley Birt, 6^th Engineer Support Regiment, killed as a result of a small-arms fire on 29 October 2011.

Lance Corporal Luke Gavin, 2^nd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, died of wounds as a result of a small-arms fire on 29 October 2011.

Sergeant Blaine Flower Diddams from the Special Air Service Regiment, killed during a small-arms engagement with insurgents on 2 July 2012.

Sapper James Martin, 2^nd Combat Engineer Regiment was killed as a result of small-arms fire on 29 August 2012.

Lance Corporal Stjepan Milosevic, 2^nd/14^th Light Horse Regiment (QMI) , killed as a result of a small-arms incident on 29 August 2012.

Private Robert Poate, 6^th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, killed as a result of a small-arms fire on 29 August 2012.

Private Nathanael Galagher, 2^nd Commando Regiment, killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012.

Lance Corporal Mervyn McDonald, 2^nd Commando Regiment, killed in a helicopter crash on 30 August 2012.

Corporal Scott Smith, whom we recognise today, Special Operations Engineer Regiment, killed by an IED on 21 October 2012.

Each of these men has had a life cut short and leaves behind a grieving family. Each of them has been denied an opportunity to go on and lead a fulfilling life and to serve their community because of their sacrifice. Each of our men and women serving around the world in various places in harm's way are there because they subscribe to certain core values: they love their country; they are imbued with a sense of duty first; and they adhere to a value system that puts integrity, truth, honour and mateship at the forefront. They are men and women of their word. Scott Smith clearly exemplified these values. In a statement following his death his family said:

Scott was a tremendous soldier. It is openly acknowledged that he was well respected within his workplace and by those who knew him.

We knew the Army was Scott's second family, his home away from home. Scott truly believed his actions made a difference; he was a truly dedicated soldier, who also knew how to relax in his time away from work.

Scott lived life to the fullest. He was born in the Barossa Valley and was water skiing as soon as he could stand—it was one of his great loves.

Scott attended school in the local area and used his school holidays to learn to barefoot water ski.

Liv, Scott's German princess, met him when she was an exchange student in Australia. After that, the pair could be found in all sorts of mischief together.

Scott loved being outdoors and keeping fit throughout his lifetime and pursued many sports—from long distance running, to cricket and any sort of competition he could be involved in.

Scott had a great sense of humour and was very much into practical jokes. He could also be very relaxed when not at work—becoming renowned for his cheeky smile and kind words. But mostly Scott will always be renowned for being a loveable character that held the family together.

Scott had a lot of time for those who had time for him, and his generosity in all things was often spoken about. One of the things you could rely on Scott for was calling whenever he was able and was thinking of you, at midday, midnight, or anywhere in between.

Scott had a larrikin charm that endeared him to all those around him, and these qualities ensure he will always be held in the hearts of those who knew him.

Our family is united in grief as we try to come to terms with our loss.

We thank everyone for their heartfelt wishes and messages of condolences, but ask that our privacy be respected during this difficult time.

On behalf of the house, I thank Corporal Scott James Smith's family for gifting him to this great nation. He and his comrades exemplify everything to which a young person growing up in South Australia could rightly aspire. In a world where the word 'hero' is often thrown about lightly, these are the real heroes: quietly getting on with the job of serving their nation, their names unknown until a bullet or a bomb reminds us of the great sacrifice they make so that we can be free. The house knows that the moment Scott fell another courageous young Australian, whose name we do not know, stood immediately into his place.

Scott Smith, thank you for your service. Thank you for the great sacrifice you have made. You now rest with the veterans of Gallipoli, Kokoda, Vietnam and the other battles that have helped shape this nation as a freedom-loving people who stand for all that is good. With your comrades, you rest in good company.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (14:28): I rise, too, to support the condolence motion for Corporal Scott Smith. I was very fortunate: in the time my brother served in the armed forces, I managed to see him deploy on overseas duty twice and managed to welcome him home. As has been indicated before, I cannot imagine the terrible loss that Scott Smith's family are going through in knowing they will not be able to hold him in their arms again. He has paid the ultimate sacrifice, keeping us safe throughout the city, the state and our nation, and we salute him for that. My niece went to school with Scott at Tanunda Primary School and also at Nuriootpa High School. She said that he was just a lovely bloke who was a great character.

I say to the family: please accept our motion today. We honour his service. We are very grateful for it. We obviously do not see the service that these men and women do for us in these nations far away from Australia, yet we are so proud of what they do for us, and what they will do for us into the future. To Corporal Scott Smith, Special Forces combat engineer, we say farewell; you are gone but not forgotten, and our condolences to your family, your partner and your friends.

The SPEAKER (14:30): Members, I am sure that you will all join me in passing on our sympathy to Corporal Smith's family, to his friends and to his comrades, and I ask that you join me in carrying the motion in silence.

Motion carried by members standing in their places in silence.

[Sitting suspended from 14:31 to 14:40]