Part of the bushfire devastation that occurred in the suburb of Duffy in Canberra.

THE dedicated effort of Defence personnel in the recent bushfires crisis has been acknowledged in Federal Parliament.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Fran Bailey told Parliament that ADF members had shown the same spirit, character and versatility during the bushfires as they had in many previous emergencies.

“Australian Defence Force personnel again demonstrated strength of character and versatility as they worked shoulder to shoulder with firefighters over the holidays against some of the most fearsome bushfires we have seen in this country,” she said.

“Faced with an enemy of a different kind, Defence personnel were quick to respond, postponing regular duties to lend a mate a hand and providing invaluable backup and support to weary fire fighters.

“And as we have come to expect, the Defence personnel acted with the utmost professionalism, stamina and courage to support the efforts of the volunteer firefighters and emergency service workers, pitching in to defend communities against the peril of the firestorms.”

Ms Bailey said the dedication and response by Defence personnel during emergencies was becoming an all too familiar sight. Referring to recent emergencies such as the Bali tragedy, she said the ADF response was immediate and probably the largest mobilisation of emergency military support in peacetime.

“These occasions represent major contributions to coordinated national emergencies, outside of wartime when, often with little acknowledgement, defence personnel use their skills and training to help fellow countrymen and women in time of need,” she said.

“But our armed forces are not immune to the despair and tragedy that accompany these disasters.

“Just as the endless days fighting fires takes a terrible toll on our firefighters – most of whom are volunteers and travel great distances from loved ones to help their colleagues – so too does the involvement in natural and man-made disasters by members of our armed forces.

“My thoughts are with the RAAF member whose wife perished in the bushfires in Canberra and to others who lost homes or all their possessions – we stand with you as you assess and rebuild.

“We are a nation characterised by our enduring spirit of giving, by our strong sense of mateship and our willingness to lend a hand in times of crisis and we should count ourselves lucky that our armed forces espouse these very qualities.

“We are privileged to have them and should repay them with loyalty, support and understanding.”

.