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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, First Session (53-1)
2014-08-07 Daily Xml
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Motions

National Day of Mourning, Malaysian Airlines

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:04): On indulgence, I rise to recognise the national day of mourning to honour the victims of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. The circumstances surrounding the downed flight are of course tragic, and all South Australians mourn its loss. Our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of the 298 innocent people on the aircraft. Particularly, we grieve for the 38 men, women and children who called Australia home.

We thank the great number of people putting themselves in harm's way in Ukraine to recover those who have been lost and investigate the incident. On behalf of all South Australians, I want to support and thank the commonwealth government for its diplomatic efforts to ensure that justice is served. We are united in grief and in our determination to ensure that justice is done.

Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (14:05): Today, our nation stops to remember the 298 innocent lives that were lost on Flight MH17 and in particular the 38 Australians who perished. As we mourn their tragic loss, we pray for their families and loved ones whose lives have been shattered by the horrendous chain of events that unfolded on 17 July. This tragedy has gripped our nation and affected so many because the victims were everyday people who we can all relate to.

They were fathers, mothers, daughters and sons; they were grandparents and colleagues with dreams and aspirations. Children who had so much more living to do were taken far too soon. No parent deserves to lose a young one like this. No family deserves to lose a loved one like this. The pain and suffering has only been made worse by the volatile and hostile environment surrounding the crash site in Ukraine. Australia's recovery mission has been significantly challenged but remains committed to honouring the victims.

We commend the dedicated men and women who have been working tirelessly in difficult conditions to ensure each and every Australian is returned home to their loved ones. Their commitment and dedication capture the very essence of the Australian spirit. No-one could have predicted this awful event that has resulted in nearly 300 innocent lives being lost. Flags across our country are today flying at half-mast, and the Prime Minister and the Governor-General have joined hundreds of mourners at an official memorial service at St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne.

As we take time to reflect on the ill-fated MH17 flight, our thoughts and prayers extend to all the other countries that have been affected by this tragedy, particularly the Netherlands, where most of the victims were from. Those who perished are no longer with us, but they will never be forgotten. On behalf of the opposition, I extend my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to all those affected by this tragic event.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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