Senator BOSWELL (Leader of The Nationals in the Senate) (2:35 PM) —On behalf of The Nationals, I rise to support the condolence motion moved by the Leader of the Government in the Senate, Senator Hill. It fills me with deep sadness to stand here today in the wake of another series of bombings in Bali, not yet three years after the horrific loss of life we witnessed in October 2002 and subsequent bombings in Jakarta of the Marriott Hotel and the Australian embassy. Almost three years ago we assembled in the Great Hall to commemorate the lives lost in the 2002 Bali bombings. At that time I had hoped that the senseless stupidity of the terrorists’ actions would register with those involved and we would not see this type of tragedy repeated. That was a forlorn hope that has not been fulfilled.

I extend my sincere sympathy to those Australians who have lost loved ones and those who have suffered injuries from the bombings. At this stage, two Australians are confirmed dead while grave concerns are held for the welfare of two others and 17 Australians have been hospitalised as a result of the attacks. My thoughts and hopes are with those people and their families as they confront this very sad and distressing time.

I also convey my sympathy at the loss of life and casualties suffered by other countries in this attack, especially Indonesia, which suffered the greatest loss of life. The loss of life and the toll from injuries are horrendous in their own right. Beyond this, though, we must feel for the Balinese, who will suffer economic hardship through the loss of tourism.

These horrific bombings have once again shocked our nation to the core. They are acts of extreme cowardice, orchestrated by faceless people and cruelly targeted at innocent men, women and children. There is evidence to suggest the bombs contained nails, glass and ball bearings. Such lethal contents are the hallmark of cold and callous murderers determined to inflict extreme pain and suffering on innocent people. These terrorists harbour unbridled hatred and feel no remorse or sorrow for their victims. Terrorists seek to divide culture, religion and nations with their cowardly acts. They hide behind their fundamentalist beliefs and seek to strike fear amongst our people and undermine our core beliefs in a free and just society.

However, once again in the midst of tragedy and heartbreak we are witnessing acts of bravery, human compassion and regional cooperation. Almost three years ago, the world and especially our region joined together in unprecedented levels of cooperation to assist the victims of the Bali bombings. Once again, it is this human compassion and cooperation that is bringing together nations and cultures in the face of such cowardly terrorist acts. Such compassion and cooperation binds us together as a region and strengthens our resolve against the evil forces of fundamentalism and terrorism.

Immense gratitude must go to the people of Singapore, who so quickly jumped to the aid of Australians caught in the tragedy. Five Australians were immediately moved to Singapore for prompt medical attention in the wake of the bombings. These Australians are receiving the very best care by our friends and neighbours. Two Japanese and two Indonesian casualties have been brought to Australia for medical attention. I commend Australia’s quick response to these bombings. The Australian emergency response team arrived in Bali on 2 October and continues to work under the direction of our consul-general to manage our response.

Initial Australian government aid will go towards helping families and individuals affected by the bombings and will seek to soften the impact of these attacks on the Balinese people and their economy. Australian government assistance provided after the 2002 Bali bombings is already providing immense benefit in dealing with the fallout of Saturday’s bombings with the burns unit that was opened by the Prime Minister on the first anniversary of the Sari Club and Paddy’s Bar bombings being called into action. The Australian government will continue to do all that it can to assist victims, their families and the people of Bali in the wake of these bombings.

Saturday’s Bali bombings further underline the huge fight against terrorism that lies ahead for us. The fight against terrorism will be a long one, but it is one fight that we simply cannot back away from. We owe it to those who lost their lives and suffered so greatly at the hands of cowardly terrorists and their acts to leave no stone unturned in rooting out the underlying causes of terror. The only way we are going to win against terrorism is through close cooperation amongst the world community. This further highlights the critical need for our strong presence and work in countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. The Taliban and Saddam’s regime long harboured terrorists and supported their activities. We must continue the work we started in these countries to ensure that these types of regimes are not able to gain a foothold ever again.

Australia is part of a global coalition against terror and we must remain vigilant in our fight. Since the 9-11 attacks, more than 3,400 international al-Qaeda and associated operatives have been detained or killed in over 100 countries. JI has been listed as a terrorist organisation and 22 of its members have been listed by name. In over 100 countries, tough new terrorist related legislation has been introduced. Within the global coalition, Australia places great emphasis on targeting terrorist cells in our region, and continued cooperation amongst our region’s nations will be critical in the war on terrorism.

I welcome President Yudhoyono’s vocal condemnation of the bombings. I also welcome his stern assurance to the Prime Minister that no effort would be spared by Indonesia in tracking down those responsible.

The Australian way of life is built on strong democratic principles that espouse freedom of speech, freedom of religion and freedom of expression. We are a tolerant nation, but the Australian way, which we all hold so dear, is never to bow to the evils of extremism. As a nation, we will not shy away from helping those who have embarked on the road to democracy. A long-term response will be important. I want to quote Professor Saeed from the University of Melbourne’s department of Islamic studies, who said:

I support the condolence motion.