Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon honoured by Albanese, Marles, Dutton and Hastie
Australia’s major party and defence leaders used Thursday’s Question Time to honour the life and sacrifice of Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon.
Labor veteran Joel Fitzgibbon has made an emotional return to Canberra as parliamentarians paid tribute to his son Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon.
The 33-year-old died in a parachuting accident as a part of a training exercise earlier this month. Question time was delayed on Monday so MPs could attend his funeral in the Hunter Valley.
His family sat in the public gallery on Thursday to listen to tributes from Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles, and opposition counterparts Peter Dutton and Andrew Hastie.
The Prime Minister began proceedings by saying: “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.
“From the day he enlisted in 2014, Jack was proudly part of something bigger than himself.”
“Our nation honours Jack. He lived a full life that was cut far too short.”
Mr Marles recognised Fitzgibbon’s talent in the defence force.
“As important as the facts and figures of Jack’s career are, they only tell part of the story. Because we also heard him described as a fun-loving larrikin who was full of life,” the Defence Minister said.
“A young man with a captivating, cheeky smile who at the same time was completely committed to his family and friends, to his job, to his nation. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
“I want to say to you, Joel – that the pain … being felt here today is also a reflection of the deep warmth and affection … felt for you on both sides of this chamber.”
Mr Dutton labelled Fitzgibbon “an honourable man who lived an honourable life”. “In the tragic death of Lance Corporal Jack Fitzgibbon, our nation has lost a principled, personable and promising young Australian,” he said.
“Greater than the national loss is the profoundly personal loss.
“Our hearts break for Joel and Di and Cass and Caitlin and Grace and for the commanders of the second commander regiment.”
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