Ms GEORGE (5:35 PM) —I rise to say a few words at the end of what has been a very sad and tragic week for all members of parliament, a week in which our nation has expressed its collective grief against the barbarism perpetrated against innocent victims, both Australian and other tourists to Bali and the local Balinese community.

I think coping with death is a very individual and personal situation. It has touched me personally in my life, and I know what the families and friends of the loved ones are experiencing. I hope that they genuinely understand the expressions of condolences and grief that have been so very evident in the many words that have been expressed already in this parliament. I think at best all we can do is reach out, but nothing relieves the personal pain and suffering that people who have lost their loved ones are now experiencing. October 12 was a black day for our nation. I think it will be one of those days that remain indelibly imprinted on the minds of all our people. But it is also a black day for humanity as well. I think it will be long remembered in our nation's history as one of those days when the dark side of people was so evident—the dark side of the brutal terrorism that was inflicted on innocent people.

But in this terrible tragedy for our nation and in the awfully adverse circumstances that have confronted us, I think there have been many examples of heroism and generosity displayed by hundreds of people who will probably remain the unsung heroes of a very tragic set of circumstances. I know that we have all looked at the individual stories in the newspapers. I reflected on a group of young boys from Garie Beach, not far from my electorate, who formed a human chain to help people escape over the rooftops from the blazing inferno. We have read the stories of injured people giving up their seats on the first plane out to others who were more seriously affected. We have learnt of stories of mateship, of the voluntary efforts that have been made, of the sadness of people who have been left orphaned and of the magnificent response of medical services—our doctors and nurses, the emergency agencies and Defence personnel.

On Sunday, when the whole nation grieves and reflects on this tragic set of circumstances, I hope we will also reflect on the wonderful examples of mateship that are so common in the Australian spirit and that shone through in the darkest hours of this great tragedy. Like all politicians, this week I have tried to find some small examples that restore your faith in humanity and in the essential goodness of people. The dark side of humanity should not be allowed to remain the only impression imprinted on our minds. It is in that light that I want to spend a moment acknowledging a local event that I was involved in that was organised by the Wollongong City Council during Refugee Week.

It is the case, unfortunately, that in an increasingly globalised world global terrorism knows no boundaries. As well, this globalised world does not show enough compassion, in my judgment, to many millions of people who are displaced and who find themselves in the position of being refugees. Our region receives about 55 refugee families each year. Wollongong is a city of great multicultural diversity, and we are just about to receive our first Ethiopian and Iraqi families. I am pleased that the Wollongong City Council is the first in New South Wales to commit itself to declaring the City of Wollongong as a refugee welcome zone. The statement that was adopted by the Wollongong City Council stated, in part:

... ... ...

I think at times of great sadness, tragedy and darkness, small examples like this rekindle one's faith and optimism in the essential goodness of humanity.