STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr THOMPSON (Herbert) (16:11): 8231781. Corporal Cameron Baird VC MG was Australia's 100th Victoria Cross recipient. He was born on 7 June 1981 and killed in battle 22 June 2013, on this very day.

Today his family launched the Cameron Baird Foundation honouring a national hero, someone who laid down his life in service of this nation. On three separate occasions during the battle where Cameron lost his life, he charged an enemy held behind a building who had prepared in a compound. On the first occasion, he charged the door to the building, followed by another team member.

Despite being totally exposed and immediately engaged by enemy fire, Corporal Baird pushed forward while firing into the building. This is the bravery of one of ours. This is the bravery of Cameron Baird.

Today his family set up the foundation that allowed Doug Baird, his father, to travel around to at schools and with veterans—with Australians—and talk about the significance of the Victoria Cross, about the significance of military service and about his son. Today here I've got my mates ScoJo and Matty Morris, veterans who've served in battle and combat, honouring Corporal Baird.