Mr ALBANESE (Grayndler—Prime Minister) (14:01): I move: That the House record its deep sadness at the death, on 7 March 2024, of Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon, place on record its appreciation of his service to his country, and tender its profound sympathy to his family, friends and colleagues in their bereavement. I rise to pay tribute to Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon. He made the ultimate sacrifice while serving his country. At his funeral service at St Joseph's Catholic Church in Cessnock on Monday, it was a sombre honour to be among those with whom Jack served and alongside his loving family and partner. Jack's family is with us here today. I say to them: we hold all of you in the embrace of our hearts. With us are Jack's parents, Dianne and Joel—the former member for Hunter and someone very dear to us in the Labor family; Jack's partner, Kass; and Jack's sisters Caitlin and Grace. Jack was humble, but I know that your pride in all that he was and all that he achieved was as immense as your love for him. Our hearts are also with all who served with Jack—especially the members of the 2nd Commando Regiment, who are now coming to terms with the loss of their comrade and friend. There is nothing simple or predictable about grief, especially when a life is cut short during its prime—all the promise of all those years yet to be lived, suddenly taken away. Any sense of consolation is elusive, but perhaps some can be found amid all the expressions of the extraordinary esteem in which Jack was held. The church was overflowing on Monday. The great town of Cessnock stopped while the service went on. No matter the challenge, no matter the conditions, it was clear Jack was someone who could be counted on. As a soldier his leadership skills had already won recognition, with a promotion from private to lance corporal last year. During his decade of service to his nation and the Australian Army, Jack was awarded the Australian Defence Medal, the Operational Service Badge—Military and the Operational Service Medal—Counter Terrorism/Special Recovery. From the day he enlisted in 2014 Jack was proudly part of something bigger than himself. He was numbered among the extraordinary men and women who volunteer to serve in the Australian Defence Force and do our nation proud every single day. This accident that took Jack away from all who loved him is a harsh reminder that there are no easy days for those who defend our nation. What they do is crucial to everything we hold dear as a nation and as a people. The choice to serve is both an act of courage and a profound expression of love for our country. We are so grateful to every Australian who serves and puts themselves on the line for all of us. Our nation thanks Jack. Our nation honours Jack. He lived a full life that was cut far too short. To look at that photo of Jack in his uniform, shoulders back, eyes bright, is to grieve for all the tomorrows he has been denied, to mourn for all the moments he will never share—all that time his loved ones should have had with him. In the wonderful tributes from his dad, his mum and his sisters, we saw photos there in the church. I've got to say: in almost every one of them he had a beer in hand. It reminds me of another Fitzgibbon that I know. It was a marvellous send-off from a family, from a defence force, from a community and from a nation that is proud of Jack Fitzgibbon. I think Joel's words in the video were that, in spite of everything, he was so glad that Jack enlisted. There is, of course, no grief without love. Sorrow may soften with the passage of the years, but love does not. All that Jack meant and all that he was will endure always. I offer my deepest condolences to all of Jack's family. His dad and I were elected on the same day in 1996, but we've been mates for a lot longer than that, since the early 1980s. So I've seen his family grow up, as we in this strange profession that we're engaged with see often—our families as they grow, our families together. Joel was a mate of my sons as well. This is tough. To all who loved him and to all who served with him, to all who've joined us here in the public gallery to honour him, may your hearts always glow with his memory. May Jack rest in peace.