Senator SANDY MACDONALD(4.00 p.m.) —I join with other senators in expressing my condolences to the families and friends of those victims of the Black Hawk helicopter crash on the high range country near Townsville last week. Australia has an extraordinary and proud military history that recognises the sacrifices that both soldiers and civilians make during wartime.

The great majority of Australians have not experienced wartime, which we can only be very thankful for, but last week the whole nation witnessed a tragedy that was a stark reminder of the dangers that face our defence forces all the time. It was a tragedy that ran a shiver down everybody's spine. Our defence forces face danger on a day-to-day basis. It may not be danger in the expected form of war or armed conflict but it is still present when Australia's armed forces are part of peacekeeping or training for all eventualities and, in particular, anti-terrorist activities.

Fifteen fit, young men who served in Australia's most elite force, the Special Air Services regiment, lost their lives last Wednesday afternoon. As a part of that service, they were practising anti-terrorist manoeuvres when their Black Hawk helicopters collided and crashed. In addition, three pilots and air crew from the 5th Aviation Regiment died. As a result, these men paid the ultimate price in their desire to defend their country. The SAS acknowledge they are in a high risk business and they suffer at least one fatality in training per year, which is probably something that not a lot of Australians realise. I speak today to honour these men and their families for the sacrifice they have made and the terrible sorrow and sense of loss families and friends are feeling at this moment. Nothing we can say can make them feel any joy at this time.

Recently I had the opportunity to officially dedicate a peace tree in Coonamble in western New South Wales to those locals who had made sacrifices both at home and abroad during World War II. Many locals turned up for the ceremony to make sure that those sacrifices made during the world war were not forgotten. So too the sacrifices of these young men will not be forgotten.

There will also be many, especially within the defence forces, who will be affected personally by this tragedy. In Singleton, New South Wales, where my electorate office is located, there is the Singleton army camp where at least eight of these men went through the infantry school. Tomorrow they will hold a memorial service, and I am very sorry that I am not able to be there to help them commemorate this loss.

Northern New South Wales will particularly mourn the loss of Brett Tombs, who was among the casualties. Brett Tombs' parents live in Armidale and he had plans to resign from the SAS to continue his university studies at the Armidale university.

We must not forget that, as well as being fine soldiers, these men were also sons, husbands and fathers who had a role outside their service involvement. Those victims as well will feel this loss for the rest of their lives. The grief of the relatives and friends of these soldiers can only be understood by other people who have lost loved ones in the defence forces.

These servicemen will be added to the list of servicemen and women who have given their lives for the defence of Australia. There is no doubt that this loss will also be felt throughout Australia. I am sure that I speak on behalf of all senators when I say that we are also extremely saddened by the loss of these fine young Australians.