Ms SCRYMGOUR - 2002-10-17
Can the Chief Minister bring the House up to date in regards to the response to the Bali bombings?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, an important question. I am very pleased to bring the House up to date with what is happening four days after the Bali bombing and our response.
The Prime Minister has announced that Sunday will be a national day of mourning. He has taken up a suggestion – a good suggestion – from federal Opposition Leader Simon Crean, and it has been adopted in a bipartisan spirit, which is a very important part of what we have seen over the last few days. We have been asked, right around the country, to observe a minute’s silence at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time, for us, that is 11.30 am. Flags will be at half-mast at this time. Each state is marking the occasion in its own way. In the Territory, I know there will be a number of church services and special prayers for those who were injured or killed in the horror of the Bali bombing.
In the Territory on Sunday, I will join the Consul of the Republic of Indonesia at 4 pm to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on the Esplanade in memory of those who died in Bali. The Cenotaph honours our war dead, and although these Australians and those of other nationalities who died in Bali weren’t soldiers, they were victims of a very insidious war, a war of terror. We will remember and honour them as we did the victims of 11 September.
I invite everyone to place a flower at the Cenotaph on Sunday - it doesn’t have to be anything expensive, it can be a simple frangipanni. They are around and in blossom at the moment, or whatever is appropriate in whatever part of the Territory it is, and do it at a time of choosing sometime on the Sunday. I am just indicating that the Consul and myself will be there around 4 pm. We chose what is a very peaceful spot on the Esplanade looking out over the sea, and that will make us focus on how close we are to Indonesia, which is a very special point. I invite parliamentary colleagues and staff to join me at 4 pm, and anyone in Darwin to do so. It will be a very simple ceremony, a matter of laying flowers and remembering.
There has been another proposal, which I think is an excellent one, from federal Opposition Leader Simon Crean, about tackling the region’s security issues which are very high on the agenda at the moment. Simon Crean has proposed a conference of regional leaders to look at ways, in a regional sense, of tackling terrorism. In talking to my federal colleague, I proposed Darwin as a venue for that. It is entirely appropriate. We are the gateway to Asia and we have successfully run major events like that, for example, the APEC Trade Ministers, and we can undertake the security and the organisation required.
Looking at what is happening at the hospital now, Madam Speaker, of the seven who remain at RDH, two have been transferred interstate, four are still in intensive care and one of those injured is recovering in the wards. A Balinese woman was brought to the hospital for treatment overnight by the RAAF. She has a major burns injury and it is likely that she will be transferred to Sydney as soon as she is stabilised. We were to receive two Balinese patients. Sadly, one of those died before boarding the plane for treatment here.
What has happened over this week has been very traumatic for a number of people. A Bali crisis line is available for Territorians. The number is 1800 019 116. It is for anyone who feels they need to talk about some aspect of this, need some aspect of counselling, or want to talk about someone they know who needs counselling. It is a counselling and referral service. If a parent has children who are distressed or someone who has fears about travelling, that crisis line is open for use. We will make sure we provide all the necessary resources for this phone line.
In a way it is a miracle that we haven’t had a Territorian reported who has either been injured or part of the Bali bombing, but if anyone needs to find out about a relative or friend, Federal Police advise that the number is 1800 333 000. So it is a simple number: 1800 333 000 if there are any concerns about missing relatives or friends.
A final point: the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have left for Bali where they will attend a memorial service this evening. Again, another indication of the true bipartisan spirit we are seeing right across this country in response to the bombings in Bali.
Sunday afternoon, the national day of mourning, 4 pm on the Esplanade at the Cenotaph for a simple ceremony remembering, with flowers, those who died or injured.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on, I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to all those members and staff, particularly the staff of the Minister for Community Development’s office, for the wonderful contributions that have poured into our office, member for Port Darwin, it has been quite extraordinary in such a short time. So many people have rallied and sent in contributions. Many thanks indeed to all those who have contributed, and we will make sure they get off tomorrow with Leigh Hillman.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, an important question. I am very pleased to bring the House up to date with what is happening four days after the Bali bombing and our response.
The Prime Minister has announced that Sunday will be a national day of mourning. He has taken up a suggestion – a good suggestion – from federal Opposition Leader Simon Crean, and it has been adopted in a bipartisan spirit, which is a very important part of what we have seen over the last few days. We have been asked, right around the country, to observe a minute’s silence at 12 noon Eastern Standard Time, for us, that is 11.30 am. Flags will be at half-mast at this time. Each state is marking the occasion in its own way. In the Territory, I know there will be a number of church services and special prayers for those who were injured or killed in the horror of the Bali bombing.
In the Territory on Sunday, I will join the Consul of the Republic of Indonesia at 4 pm to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph on the Esplanade in memory of those who died in Bali. The Cenotaph honours our war dead, and although these Australians and those of other nationalities who died in Bali weren’t soldiers, they were victims of a very insidious war, a war of terror. We will remember and honour them as we did the victims of 11 September.
I invite everyone to place a flower at the Cenotaph on Sunday - it doesn’t have to be anything expensive, it can be a simple frangipanni. They are around and in blossom at the moment, or whatever is appropriate in whatever part of the Territory it is, and do it at a time of choosing sometime on the Sunday. I am just indicating that the Consul and myself will be there around 4 pm. We chose what is a very peaceful spot on the Esplanade looking out over the sea, and that will make us focus on how close we are to Indonesia, which is a very special point. I invite parliamentary colleagues and staff to join me at 4 pm, and anyone in Darwin to do so. It will be a very simple ceremony, a matter of laying flowers and remembering.
There has been another proposal, which I think is an excellent one, from federal Opposition Leader Simon Crean, about tackling the region’s security issues which are very high on the agenda at the moment. Simon Crean has proposed a conference of regional leaders to look at ways, in a regional sense, of tackling terrorism. In talking to my federal colleague, I proposed Darwin as a venue for that. It is entirely appropriate. We are the gateway to Asia and we have successfully run major events like that, for example, the APEC Trade Ministers, and we can undertake the security and the organisation required.
Looking at what is happening at the hospital now, Madam Speaker, of the seven who remain at RDH, two have been transferred interstate, four are still in intensive care and one of those injured is recovering in the wards. A Balinese woman was brought to the hospital for treatment overnight by the RAAF. She has a major burns injury and it is likely that she will be transferred to Sydney as soon as she is stabilised. We were to receive two Balinese patients. Sadly, one of those died before boarding the plane for treatment here.
What has happened over this week has been very traumatic for a number of people. A Bali crisis line is available for Territorians. The number is 1800 019 116. It is for anyone who feels they need to talk about some aspect of this, need some aspect of counselling, or want to talk about someone they know who needs counselling. It is a counselling and referral service. If a parent has children who are distressed or someone who has fears about travelling, that crisis line is open for use. We will make sure we provide all the necessary resources for this phone line.
In a way it is a miracle that we haven’t had a Territorian reported who has either been injured or part of the Bali bombing, but if anyone needs to find out about a relative or friend, Federal Police advise that the number is 1800 333 000. So it is a simple number: 1800 333 000 if there are any concerns about missing relatives or friends.
A final point: the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition have left for Bali where they will attend a memorial service this evening. Again, another indication of the true bipartisan spirit we are seeing right across this country in response to the bombings in Bali.
Sunday afternoon, the national day of mourning, 4 pm on the Esplanade at the Cenotaph for a simple ceremony remembering, with flowers, those who died or injured.
Madam SPEAKER: Before we go on, I would like to place on record my sincere thanks to all those members and staff, particularly the staff of the Minister for Community Development’s office, for the wonderful contributions that have poured into our office, member for Port Darwin, it has been quite extraordinary in such a short time. So many people have rallied and sent in contributions. Many thanks indeed to all those who have contributed, and we will make sure they get off tomorrow with Leigh Hillman.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016