address to parliament - CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS - September 11 Attacks: 22nd Anniversary

On this day 22 years ago the world stopped. The world changed forever. We all remember where we were on 9/11 when we saw the tragic news and we heard how many lives had been taken and how many lives had been lost. On 29 April this year I went to the 9/11 Memorial at the World Trade Center site in New York. I was moved—very moved—by what I saw there, particularly when I saw the name of Rahma Salie and her unborn child. It brings home just how tragic an event this was.

Australians Kevin Dennis, Alberto Dominguez, Elisa Ferraina, Craig Gibson, Peter Gyulavary, Yvonne Kennedy, Andrew Knox, Lesley Thomas, Stephen Tompsett and Leanne Whiteside lost their lives on that day. And, of course, it plunged us into wars in Iraq, where two Australians were lost, and Afghanistan, our longest-ever conflict, where 46 lives that are now remembered at the Australian War Memorial were lost. Such a tragedy and so unnecessary. We should always remember that the price of peace is eternal vigilance. We mourn for those who were lost, who were taken so unfairly, so tragically and so quickly on that fateful day.