STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms LAWRENCE (Hasluck) (13:59): There can be no better way for parliamentarians to get to know our defence personnel and their capabilities—and for the ADF members to see how laws are made—than through the ADF parliamentary exchange program, which we have seen evidenced all through this place this week. It has been an absolute delight to host signaller Madison Calis, who has been helpful and attentive and has asked me a lot of questions that have helped me reflect on my own role.

I will follow Madison's career very closely, as I know it's going to be a very full and rewarding career ahead. For my part, two weeks ago I spent some time with the Army at Holsworthy in Sydney. There I witnessed the courage and the resilience of the personnel testing themselves to qualify as Special Forces integrators in engineering, medical and signals for the SASR and 2nd Commando Regiment.

The men and women in our Defence Force conduct missions in highly complex, dangerous environments. In the face of this, they step up and wear the uniforms for all of us. For our part, we continue to back our ADF with a commitment of $2.4 billion announced this week to strengthen Australia's air and missile defence capabilities while building a resilient sovereign defence industrial base.

I wish Madison and her colleagues all the best as they leave us to return to their usual duties. Service to Australia should never be a political weapon. On behalf of this parliament, I thank her and all her colleagues for their duty and service to our nation and to our veterans.

The SPEAKER: Order! In accordance with standing order 43, the time for members' statements has concluded.