Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Motions

Victoria Police deaths

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (12:05): I move, by leave:

That this house:

(a) expresses its deepest sorrow and heartfelt condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were tragically killed in the line of duty, alongside another officer who was seriously injured and is still recovering, in Porepunkah on 26 August 2025;

(b) pays tribute to their exceptional courage, dedication and sacrifice; and

(c) honours their unwavering commitment to serving and protecting their community.

Every morning across our state thousands of Victoria Police families begin their day in much the same way: breakfast at the table, a bit of a conversation, a quick goodbye at the door, maybe even a kiss on the way out. From the outside it looks like any other morning, and in many ways it is. But for police families, there is something else: a quiet awareness of what sits behind every goodbye – that once that door closes the person they love is walking into something unknown. This work carries risk. It means stepping into situations that are unpredictable and sometimes dangerous. It is a responsibility that most Victorians will never have to shoulder, and the people they leave behind – their partners, their children, their families – carry that weight too. They carry too the pride of what their loved one does, and they carry the worry. They will wait, they will check the time, they will keep their phones close. They will breathe in when the shift begins and breathe out when it is over. They will of course hope that the day is uneventful, that the work will be safe, that the one they love will walk back through that door at the end of the shift, and most days that hope is realised. But part of the weight of this work is knowing that sometimes it is not, because every shift carries with it the chance of danger. Every day officers are asked to face what others cannot or will not. To put on that uniform is to accept risk, to step forward when others step back, to choose a life in the service and protection of others. That is the gravity of this work. That is what makes them brave. It is also what makes the loss of the lives of two officers so deeply felt, not only by those closest to them but by Victorians right across the state.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson knew that truth better than most. For 38 years Neal served Victoria Police with courage, steadiness and a deep commitment. He began his career at Collingwood working general duties on the streets of Melbourne. Later he became a detective, first with the major fraud squad and then the state crime squad. In 2007 he moved to Wangaratta crime investigation unit, continuing his work investigating serious crimes in the north-east of our state. Over those decades Neal earned recognition for his service: a commendation for courage and restraint, long service medals and the deep respect of his colleagues.

But more than the medals, it was the person that mattered. Neal was an adventurer: he loved the outdoors; he found joy in nature. His childhood was spent in the same bushland around Bendigo that I too grew up in. It is a special place, a place that teaches you resilience, strength and a deep love of the country, and Neal shared that joy freely with those around him. In recent years he found new happiness with his partner Lisa. Together they were looking ahead to the next chapter in their lives, filled with travel, shared projects and the quiet, ordinary moments of building a life together – a well-earned future after a lifetime of service, a chapter that should have been written but never will be, and that is a tragedy. I hold Lisa and her children – her kids are the same age as mine – in my heart for the life they were building together and for the terrible injustice they have faced.

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart joined Victoria Police in 2018. After graduating from the academy he served at St Kilda police station for three years before joining the public order response team.

Vadim brought a spark to every part of his life. He was adventurous, curious and full of warmth. He was fluent in French, Spanish, Flemish and English. He had travelled widely – diving oceans, riding his motorcycle across the state, collecting gin from around the world. Those who knew him speak of his joy, his humour and the way he turned colleagues into friends and friends into family.

At his service last Friday I met one of Vadim’s friends, Greg, a neighbour of Vadim’s partner. Greg came up and stood beside me to share a simple memory that spoke volumes about the person he was. Every time Vadim came to visit his girlfriend next door, he would pop over to say hello to Greg but also to spend some time with Greg’s nine-year-old daughter – always taking a moment, always kind. Greg was just one of so many who gathered last Friday to honour Vadim’s warmth, his humour and the way he built connections that lasted – honest, loyal and full of heart. Vadim had just bought his first home. He was laying down roots, building a future. That future has been stolen.

Vadim leaves behind his parents Carolina and Alain, his younger brother Sacha, his extended family here in Victoria and so many friends – so many friends. He was only at the beginning of his story, a young man with optimism in his smile, adventure in his spirit and kindness in every action.

Neal and Vadim were at different stages of life – one just a week away from completing a long and decorated career with Victoria Police, the other a young man still in the early years of service. But they were united by courage and by a calling to serve – and now, tragically, by sacrifice. They leave behind families whose grief we cannot begin to measure.

We know the dangers of policing have always been real, but in recent years new pressures have emerged. Officers today not only face the traditional risks of the job but also the weight of rising conspiracy and creeping extremism. They do not put on a uniform to referee global conflicts on suburban streets or to argue with misinformation at a roadside stop. They do this work to protect people, to help people, to keep communities safe. And when that mission is clouded by rage or ideology, that risk grows.

We know that this is not just a challenge for Victoria; it is a national problem, indeed an international one. But this is not who we are. Australia was not built on conspiracy or division. It was built on service, on respect, on hard work and on the idea that we look out for one another and care for one another. Those values are stronger than any fringe ideology – stronger than any conspiracy – and they will outlast this moment. They are values we must defend. It is this responsibility we all share, because every community deserves to feel safe and every police family deserves to have their loved one come home safe. We also have a duty to Neal, to Vadim and to every officer who serves to see justice done, to ensure that those responsible are held to account and to make clear that violence against police will never be met with silence or impunity.

We have seen how this tragedy has shaken our entire state, but I want to acknowledge that its impact has been particularly felt in Porepunkah, a tight-knit, resilient community now carrying the weight of something they should never have to endure. It has shaken their sense of safety, disrupted daily life and cast a long shadow that will take time to pass. Our state will stand with Porepunkah today and tomorrow and for as long as it takes.

Just as that community has rallied around one another, so too has Victoria Police. In the days since this tragedy the Victoria Police community has shown exactly what it means to stand together. Officers from across the state have stepped in, have supported one another and have wrapped their arms around Neal and Vadim’s families in the best of the police tradition. They have looked after each other. Let us remember they have also continued to look after us. That includes those still on duty, particularly those in Porepunkah and in the north-east, working long days in difficult conditions while still grieving the loss of one of their own.

To every member of Victoria Police, I say thank you for the work you do, for the risks you take and for the strength you have shown through these incredibly difficult weeks. Nothing can undo the loss or take away this grief. But we can say clearly and with conviction that Neal and Vadim’s service will not be forgotten and their sacrifice will not be in vain. We will remember their names, we will honour their lives and we will carry their memory with us as both a blessing and a responsibility.

On behalf of this Parliament, our government and every Victorian, vale, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson; vale, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart.

Brad BATTIN (Berwick – Leader of the Opposition) (12:15): Today I join with the Premier in this condolence motion for two of Victoria’s finest, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal ‘Thommo’ Thompson, 26182, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 44954, and I acknowledge another officer who was injured here in Victoria, who was out there on the front line. Unfortunately this is not the first time we have done a condolence motion in my time here in Parliament for a Victoria Police officer who has died on duty. But I want to remind the house in this speech, as I did then, of the significance of a police number. It is your membership to a new family for life. Still today, when I meet coppers, the first question I get asked is, ‘What’s your number?’ Today we are sending off two officers, numbers 26182 and 44954, Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart.

Today, as a Parliament, we pause in solemn respect to remember and honour two members who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty. These men of service, men of courage, men of dedication to the safety of our community will never be forgotten. In their sacrifice they remind us of the dangers every police officer accepts each and every day. When they put on the uniform they go out without knowing what is going to happen. In their memory we commit ourselves and recommit ourselves to supporting the men and women of the Victoria Police and the families who stand behind them.

It was an honour for me to attend both funerals, two celebrations of lives, and to stand alongside their families, friends and colleagues as we paid our respects. To see the full honours of Victoria Police bestowed upon these men and to hear the tributes of loved ones was to be reminded of the real people behind the uniform. At both funerals Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were posthumously awarded the Victoria Police Star, recognising service above and beyond and sacrifice in the course of duty. That honour will stand as a lasting mark of their courage and commitment to Victoria.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson devoted almost four decades of his life to the Victoria Police and to policing. He joined Victoria Police in September 1987, beginning with seven years in general duties, as stated before, in Collingwood. He then gave around a decade of distinguished service as a detective in the major fraud squad and the state crime squad, tackling some of the most complex and challenging cases in our state. From July 2007 Neal was posted to the Wangaratta criminal investigation unit. It was here that he became not only an investigator of skill and determination but also a mentor to guide younger detectives, passing on his deep knowledge and steady judgement. In total Neal Thompson served Victoria Police for 38 years. He was within days of retirement, looking forward to time with family and the next chapter of his life. His loss is a cruel reminder of the risks that never leave our police, no matter how experienced they are.

I spoke to many at the service who worked with Neal, from a squadmate of his all the way through to his current posting with Chris Hill. Chris Hill worked with Neal for many years. He spoke of a guy who was dedicated not only to his job but his team, his family and his community:

[QUOTE AND NAMES AWAITING VERIFICATION]

Neal was more than a copper; he was a great bloke.

I spoke to Daz. Daz played football with Thommo in the late 1980s. In one of the photos on social media Daz – excuse all the nicknames – is with Slick and Gary, Daz’s brother, and they spoke of this outgoing, amazing bloke who was friendly but tough. He may have been, as the word is used, a bit gruff, but all the boys in the team up in Bendigo loved him. Before joining the police force football was a huge part of Thommo’s life, and he played at the Golden City Football Club, where he was a known left-footer. The one common thing was he had no right.

The stories told at the celebration of Neal’s life highlighted a guy who lived life to the fullest. I have to be honest, I would love to hear more about the stories that could not be told at the service, not just the ones that were told there, because I am sure there are plenty.

Neal is remembered as a loyal colleague, a calm presence and above all, a man of integrity. His partner Lisa, herself a serving sergeant, and his wider family now carry a grief beyond words. We extend to them our deepest sympathy, and we recognise the enormous contribution made through the support they gave Neal across his career.

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart will be remembered with a profound sorrow. Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart was a young man whose policing career, though tragically cut short, was already marked with dedication and promise. Vadim entered the Victoria Police Academy in December of 2018. He began his career at St Kilda police station, where he served for three years. In April 2023 he joined the public order response team, a demanding and vital role to make sure we can keep Victorians safe through protecting public safety in times of greatest need. At the time of his death he was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta, serving side by side with his country colleagues. He was just 34 years old. In those years of service, he demonstrated the very best qualities of a police officer: professionalism, courage and an unwavering support for his community.

We heard from Vadim’s family, through his brother Sacha, that they were proud to see him serve here in Victoria. Sacha spoke about his brother as having been his protector, and as they got older Vadim went on to be a protector of the broader community. He was a traveller and lived an amazing life for those 34 years. Many at the service witnessed the photos, the stories and the videos of a life well lived. Sacha mentioned in his speech the happiness his brother Vadim had and shared with everyone. He believes maybe it is possible that we only have so much happiness in our life and Vadim was so happy in his 34 years that he had used it all up early. He spoke bravely about the need to never forget Vadim: every rainbow or ray of sunshine is Vadim remaining still with us. His colleagues described him as a man of warmth and humour who lifted the spirits of those around him, and his sudden loss leaves a hole in the heart of every person he served with. We send our condolences to all his colleagues and his family.

The Porepunkah community has had to endure a lot through this. To Victoria Police – I note Wayne Gatt from the Police Association Victoria is here today – we openly say: no matter where we sit in this place, we will stand with the Victoria Police as they go through this investigation to find the person who committed these crimes. Every time the media ask any person in this place ‘What is the cost?’ or ‘Can you continue to do it?’ the answer is yes. There must be a commitment that we continue down the path to find the person who has committed these heinous crimes. That would be in honour of those two that have lost their lives.

This was the first time I have stood in a guard of honour, and the one thing that will stick with me forever from when I stood in that guard of honour was walking out of the police academy chapel and seeing the thousands of faces of police who had lost a brother – young, old, senior ranks, new constables, former members and community members who all shared in the grief.

In mourning Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart we acknowledge the profound debt owed to every member of Victoria Police. These officers did not simply wear a uniform; they embodied the values of duty, courage and sacrifice. On behalf of the opposition, I extend my condolences to their families, their colleagues and all who grieve them. Their names and their service will live on in the story of Victoria Police and the memory of this Parliament.

I would like to read into the chamber today the Police Ode in honour of two of Victoria’s finest.

As the sun surely sets:

dawn will see it arise,

for service, above self,

demands its own prize.

You have fought the good fight:

life’s race has been run,

and peace, your reward,

for eternity begun.

And we that are left,

shall never forget,

rest in peace friend and colleague,

for the sun has now set.

We will remember.

We will remember.

Hasten the dawn.

Thank you for your service, Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson, 26182, and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 44954.

Anthony CARBINES (Ivanhoe – Minister for Police, Minister for Community Safety, Minister for Victims, Minister for Racing) (12:25): Our reflections start in the hauntingly beautiful north-east Victoria on a Tuesday morning, 26 August. Country coppers and a member on secondment from Melbourne, professionals doing police work, were actioning a search warrant. Among a team of 10 officers there were a veteran of 38 years service working up until his retirement day, planned for the Friday week, and an officer with nearly seven years service behind him and a long and promising career still ahead of him. In Porepunkah that morning both officers lost their lives in the service of their state, upholding the right, laying down their lives for an oath they swore, which reads in part:

… that I will see and cause the peace to be kept and preserved, and that I will prevent to the best of my power all offences, and that while I continue to be a police officer I will to the best of my skill and knowledge discharge all the duties legally imposed on me faithfully and according to law.

Serving police officers they will remain for all time. Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, aged 34, and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, aged 59, represented the very best of Victoria Police, and they have sadly joined the ranks of 175 former police officers to lose their lives in the line of duty.

It is important to read the service history of Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart into Hansard for all time. Registered number 44954 entered the Victoria Police Academy on 10 December 2018, was sworn in as a constable on 15 March 2019 and graduated on 23 August 2019. Vadim was stationed at Maryborough police station as a probationary constable from 25 August 2019 to 25 January 2020, and on 27 January 2020 Vadim moved to St Kilda police station. He was promoted to senior constable on 15 March 2023. Vadim transferred to the public order response team, the PORT, on 10 April 2023. He was attached to the PORT on a temporary assignment to Wangaratta when he was tragically killed while performing policing duties near Porepunkah on 26 August 2025. He was awarded the Victoria Police Star, the National Police Service Medal, the National Medal and the Victoria Police Service Medal.

Last Friday at the Victoria Police Academy chapel Vadim’s brother Sacha reflected:

My brother was just this ray of sunshine that he brought to everyone every day … Since I learned of his passing, it’s been raining every day, and today it’s beautiful sunshine. Almost no clouds in the sky, which fits my brother’s personality.

…

I want you to think of him every time you see a perfect blue ocean, or a perfect blue sky like we have today that mimics the colour of his perfect blue eyes.

I want you to think of him every time you see a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, or when you see a rainbow.

To Vadim’s parents Alain and Carolina, who travelled from Belgium, and brother Sacha, we express our deepest condolences.

Yesterday thousands of mourners, mostly fellow police officers, sadly gathered once again to honour the life and decades of service of Neal Thompson – a fisherman, a hunter and a provider who loved catching crooks and was good at it too. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson’s service history: Neal John Thompson, registered number 26182, entered the Victoria Police Academy on 14 September 1987. He was sworn in and graduated as a constable on 20 January 1988, and on 6 November 1988 Neal moved to Collingwood police station. He was promoted to senior constable 13 July 1992. Neal commenced at crime command on 11 December 1995, where he moved to a number of detective roles before commencing at Wangaratta criminal investigation unit on 23 July 2007. Neal was awarded the Victoria Police Star, the Victoria Police Service Medal, fifth class, for 35 years service, the National Medal, second class, for 35 years service, the National Police Service Medal and the 35 years service award.

Fellow police officer and friend of 25 years Jason Williams had a message for the blue family, for fellow police members:

Never blame yourself for what happened – we know who to blame …

Thommo died doing the job he’d devoted his life to.

Here lies one of the most loyal, generous and kind-hearted mates you could ever ask for.

You were like a brother to me, Thommo …

Life will never be the same without you.

To his partner Lisa, a sergeant at Benalla police station, and her children and their family: the deepest sympathies and grateful thanks of all Victorians are yours. It was generous of you in your grief to sit alongside me, the Premier and the Chief Commissioner of Police to speak of your love, devotion and memories of Neal. I will never forget it. You are brave and inspiring beyond measure, and we thank you for your service to our state.

Our thoughts also go to our injured officer, who despite gunshot wounds and extended hospital care was there to honour Neal Thompson yesterday. We draw strength from your fortitude. We wish you a swift recovery. We thank you for your courage and your devotion to your colleagues and your community.

Lisa read a police poem, The Final Inspection. I want to share it with the house:

The policeman stood and faced his God,

Which must always come to pass.

He hoped his shoes were shining.

Just as brightly as his brass.

“Step forward now, policeman.

How shall I deal with you?

Have you always turned the other cheek?

To My church have you been true?”

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,

“No, Lord, I guess I ain’t,

Because those of us who carry badges

can’t always be a saint.

I’ve had to work most Sundays,

and at times my talk was rough,

and sometimes I’ve been violent,

Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,

That wasn’t mine to keep …

Though I worked a lot of overtime

When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,

Though at times I shook with fear.

And sometimes, God forgive me,

I’ve wept unmanly tears.

I know I don’t deserve a place

Among the people here.

They never wanted me around

Except to calm their fear.

If you’ve a place for me here,

Lord, It needn’t be so grand.

I never expected or had too much,

But if you don’t … I’ll understand.”

There was silence all around the throne

Where the saints had often trod.

As the policeman waited quietly,

For the judgment of his God.

“Step forward now, policeman,

You’ve borne your burdens well.

Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets,

You’ve done your time in hell.”

On a personal note, can I acknowledge the dignity, grace and humanity of Vadim’s parents, who returned to the Victoria Police chapel yesterday to join mourners for Neal Thompson. To Vadim’s colleagues at the public order response team, the PORT: we know you are hurting. You did your duty in trying circumstances Sunday week ago, when neo-Nazis and other thugs brought violence to our city streets. You did your duty with professionalism and honour, and we are deeply proud of you.

To members at Wangaratta police station: to spend time with you Friday a week ago with the chief commissioner and the Premier was a privilege. The members without question went to the aid of 10 of their colleagues pinned down under gunfire, wounded and not knowing what dangers lay ahead. That is courage. Just as we heard many times that Neal Thompson was always first through the door at a search warrant, you did not hesitate to step up and step into the unknown.

I have observed also, when members are lost in the line of duty, it brings back memories for other officers who have endured these tragedies previously – Eastern Freeway and Cochranes Road, Moorabbin, to name but two. We see you, we are here for you and we thank you for your service. Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt was alongside chief commissioner Mike Bush in Wangaratta that fateful Tuesday night when he reflected on the fact that police officers around Victoria would keep busy doing their jobs but eventually crash in the quiet and silence of their homes. They will have to deal with the loss of their colleagues, they will hug their loved ones a little tighter – something, sadly, two of our members tonight have missed the opportunity to do forever.

I finish with the words of our chief commissioner Mike Bush, who joined Victoria Police a mere 10 weeks ago:

It’s not just the Victoria Police that are hurting at the moment – it’s the entire police family.

So often police are the doers; everything often ends at their feet. In operational settings they are the meat in the sandwich, picking sides, maintaining order and the peace. The government, the Parliament and the people of Victoria mourn the loss of our police members. We stand by our members, who keep Victoria safe 24/7. We thank them for their service. We thank their families every day. Vale, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, and vale, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson.

Danny O’BRIEN (Gippsland South) (12:34): I rise on behalf of the Nationals and indeed all people from around regional Victoria to pay our respects and extend our condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. We know that police are critical parts of our communities, and no more so than in regional areas, where they are often the thinnest of thin blue lines, members of our community, members of our social society and absolutely critical parts of particularly smaller communities.

The Leader of the Opposition outlined some of the sporting exploits of Neal Thompson. The Premier has outlined both officers’ contributions, and thank you to the Minister for Police for reading in the specifics of their service, which is important to be on the record and to be remembered.

We know that every day these officers have been out there serving us, just as every one of their colleagues has. It is easy sometimes to hear stories on the news and move on, but a story such as this from two weeks ago I think touched us all. What really got me this morning was opening the Age and seeing the photo of Sergeant Lisa Thompson grieving at the service yesterday for her partner, really bringing home that impact on families. As a police officer herself, clearly she is also putting herself at risk every day.

We know that there are children, wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters every day who do not know whether their loved one is going to come home from the job they do, and this tragedy has brought that home for all of us and for everyone connected to the force in Victoria. I say ‘tragedy’, and it is a tragedy, but also I think that word has connotations of an accident, and this was not an accident. This was a heinous act that we all condemn. Again, I endorse the comments that the Premier made in respect to the ideology and the thoughts that are behind this tragic event.

I extend my thoughts and condolences on behalf of the Nationals to those officers who are still there in the bush today searching. I think regularly in the last couple of weeks we have all thought, ‘This is not a search for a missing bushwalker; this is not a search for a child that has wandered off or someone who wants to be found, who will rejoice in being found. This is dangerous work.’ It could never be more obvious how dangerous this work will be for those officers who are there in the High Country at the moment trying to find the protagonist of this horrible event. We extend our thoughts to them and our best wishes, and we hope that they can bring this sad saga to a safe end and that no more officers will be threatened in the line of work that they are doing. On that, I extend our thoughts also to the third officer who was injured in this horrible event – we wish him a speedy recovery – and to his family and friends as well.

I extend our thoughts to the Police Association Victoria and to Wayne Gatt and his team, who I know mobilised very quickly to support their colleagues in the north-east, and also to the Chief Commissioner of Police Mike Bush. As the Minister for Police indicated, he has only been in the job 10 weeks. No chief commissioner wants to deal with this sort of news, but they all know that it is a possibility in their role. To be dealing with it so early is very difficult for him, and we extend our thoughts to him as well.

I have a family member who has been in the force; in fact he would have graduated from the academy at about the same time as Neal Thompson. He had the privilege last week of representing Victoria Police at a New Zealand graduation ceremony. As the Minister for Police indicated, this is not just an issue that affects Victoria Police. My family member sent a video to us of the graduates from the New Zealand Police force performing a haka, and as they did so they held photos of Neal and Vadim. We thank the New Zealand force for that measure of solidarity. It was touching and incredibly moving in fact to see that wonderful haka on behalf of the New Zealand force sending love across the Tasman to us here.

I would like to also acknowledge the people of Porepunkah and the wider Ovens Valley. This has been a very difficult time for them, and it continues to be a difficult time for those communities. We stand with you and understand that this is difficult, that it is tense and that this is going to potentially go on for a period of time and again hope that it is brought to a conclusion quickly. I pay tribute also to the member for Ovens Valley, who has been supporting his community through this and standing, as a good local member does, with them.

This is a reminder not just of the sacrifice of Neal and Vadim but of the sacrifice that every officer undertakes for us every day in upholding the right. We say vale to Detective Leading Senior Constable Thompson and Senior Constable de Waart-Hottart. We thank them for their service. We grieve with their family, their friends and their colleagues. We thank every police officer every day for what they do for us.

Anthony CIANFLONE (Pascoe Vale) (12:40): I rise with a heavy heart to convey the condolences, sorrow and sympathies on behalf of my community, the people of Pascoe Vale, Coburg and Brunswick West, to Victoria Police and the families of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who tragically lost their lives in the line of duty in Porepunkah on 26 August.

Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart were part of a group of police who attended a Rayner Track property on Tuesday 26 August. The officers were executing a search warrant as part of an investigation by the Wangaratta sexual offences and child abuse investigation team when they were confronted by the alleged offender at around 10:30 am, resulting in the two officers being fatally shot through a heinous act. A third officer was seriously injured after being shot in the lower body and continues to recover while more than 450 Victoria Police members, including from our own community of Merri-bek, remain seconded in undertaking an active investigation, significant search and manhunt for the alleged offender to help bring this tragic matter to a close.

Since this heartbreaking incident, our state has seen an extraordinary outpouring of grief, love and respect for these two remarkable officers, because along with being police members they were of course sons, brothers, partners, friends, mentors and protectors to many. They were two Victoria Police officers who put on the uniform each day, every day, knowing the risks but believing in something bigger than themselves: the safety and wellbeing of all Victorians. Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart represented the very best of all of us, and their bravery will never be forgotten, nor will their memory be defined by this one moment of tragedy. It will be commemorated through their lifetime of service to Victoria Police, their service to our community and their broader appreciation of making the most of life, as we have heard.

Neal Thompson had served Victoria Police for nearly 40 years. The 59-year-old had spent seven years at Collingwood police station. For the next decade, Neal worked as a detective at the major fraud squad and the state crime squad before beginning his most recent post at Wangaratta in the crime investigations unit, CIU, in July 2007. Having recently built a new home, Neal was planning for his imminent retirement with his partner Lisa – also a Victoria Police member – and planning to spend more time with his family, enjoying the great outdoors and enjoying more of his adventuring.

Vadim de Waart-Hottart had been a Victoria Police member for seven years. Vadim began his policing career at the Victoria Police Academy from December 2018. Once graduated from the academy, Vadim joined St Kilda police station, where he was stationed for three years before joining the public order response team as a senior constable in April 2023. The 34-year-old had previously studied in Europe and was fluent in English, French, Spanish and Flemish and enjoyed travelling the world. He had a passion for scuba diving and motorcycling with his friends and colleagues. Senior Constable de Waart is survived by his parents Alain and Carolina, who are from Belgium, his younger brother Sasha, residing in Switzerland, and his extended family here in Melbourne. At the time of his passing Vadim was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta.

Each shift they worked, each call they attended right to the very end was a testament to their courage, commitment and selflessness in wanting to keep us all safe. As this Parliament gathers to reflect on their sacrifice, we say to their heartbroken families: we are with you, and we grieve with you. Your sorrow is shared by every Victorian, every Australian and every person who values the quiet heroism of those on the thin blue line who stand between all of us and harm or extremism. Neal and Vadim’s names will never be forgotten, their service will never be forgotten, and their sacrifice will never be forgotten. These sentiments have very much been reflected through the moving funerals, the farewells and the outpouring of grief that has been displayed over recent days at the Victoria Police Academy but also through our local communities at many of our local police stations, including mine in Brunswick and Fawkner, through many community members leaving flowers, condolence cards and tokens of appreciation. As the Prime Minister stated:

Every time they put on their uniform, police officers put themselves on the line, for us.

…

… we grieve for two lives that should have been filled with future happiness.

We mourn the joyous memories that should have been made and treasured with others.

We stand with the entire police family, who have lost two of their own in the line of duty.

Detective Leading Senior Constable … Thompson was a hero.

Senior Constable … De Waart-Hottart was a hero.

They will be honoured – and remembered – as heroes.

…

With honour they served.

As the Premier has said as well, what has occurred in Porepunkah is shocking and utterly heartbreaking. Policing comes with danger, and every day our officers meet that danger with such enormous courage and dedication. This is a tragedy and a painful reminder of that bravery. Our government and indeed this Parliament stand with Victoria Police, and we stand with the community of Porepunkah, who are now carrying the weight of this horrific day. I acknowledge the work and the support being provided through the member for Ovens Valley as well to his community.

As the Minister for Police has said, we offer and extend our deepest thoughts and sympathies to everyone affected by this horrific crime and our utmost gratitude to the emergency services, who are continuing to respond and investigate. As Chief Commissioner of Police Mike Bush has said, this is a terribly tragic event for the police family, not just here but across the country, and touches every police member and their families. As Police Association Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt has said, both officers wore the Victoria Police uniform with honour and represented it with kindness, compassion and a just heart.

I would like to just also pay tribute to the ongoing work of all Victoria Police officers, including those from Merri-bek in my community, who work across Brunswick and Fawkner police stations 24 hours a day, seven days a week to keep our community safe, many of whom have been seconded to support the search operations in north-east Victoria to bring this matter to a close, including Inspector Andrew Markakis, Acting Inspector Rajitha Tillekeratne and Senior Sergeant Emma Lobb and the entire team at division 4, north-west metro.

On behalf of my community I again extend our deepest condolences to Neal and Vadim’s families, loved ones and colleagues in Victoria Police. We hold you in our hearts, we share in your grief and we honour the memory of these two extraordinary officers, who gave their lives in helping keep all Victorians safe. Vale, Neal Thompson, and vale, Vadim de Waart-Hottart.

David SOUTHWICK (Caulfield) (12:47): Two weeks ago today two members of Victoria Police went to work and did not come back, and today I stand here to pay my condolences to Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. We all remember because were sitting in this chamber just gone two weeks ago when the messages came through. Initially, we did not know what was happening – shootings, more – and we just could not believe that something like this would happen. I think back to five years ago, when a similar occurrence happened with the Eastern Freeway killings, and also, the night before, getting a call from the then minister Lisa Neville to say that this had happened and she was heading out, and we again lost four of our own – four members. This is a very, very different circumstance, when somebody goes out to kill those that are doing nothing other than serving us, serving their community – a murderer, a killer. As the Leader of the Opposition has said, we just cannot stop until we find that individual.

I think, as difficult as it is for all of us to comprehend what has gone on and what has been left behind, about two people at very different ends of their lives, although Neal, still with so much more left – 59, about to retire, three days off retirement, young children – lived life like there was literally no tomorrow. If you think about both of them, there were so many similarities. They both loved adventure. Neal loved to hunt, to fish, to shoot – just living life, a guy that enjoyed a joke. Vadim was very similar. He tried everything – diving, riding bikes, motorbikes; everything he tried. You think about someone like Vadim that has come from Belgium to make Victoria his home to join Victoria Police and then going after only seven years, not able to live the rest of what he would have been able to potentially give not only to policing but to a family that he never had the opportunity to have.

One of the reflections for me – being able to join the Premier, the Minister for Police and the Leader of the Opposition in the honour of attending both of the funerals – was that they were two characters larger than life. Vadim spent three years in one of my local stations in St Kilda, and I heard the memories when I went down on the Friday to talk to many of the members. One of the first things that Sergeant Kim Bramwell said to me was, ‘You know what, St Kilda is a great station. We hardly have any members leave. At the moment we’ve got really, really high turnover, and I’m glad we do because I couldn’t bear to have all the members that had worked with Vadim working now.’ The fact that many members that are there did know him meant they were able to offer that support to one another. She also shared a number of really good memories about Vadim, and a number of police colleagues did as well. You would have all seen the painting of Vadim. That is a really interesting story, because the first day that Kim attended the station and started work, she thought, ‘I’m going to clean up the office and clean everything.’ She found these two paintings and she thought, ‘What am I going to do with these? Should I throw them out or should I keep them?’ For whatever reason, she decided to keep them. There were a number of times when she was going to throw these paintings out. She never knew who was in the picture of one of those paintings. It was painted by a young girl experiencing mental health traumas, and she painted these pictures of two police officers. When Vadim passed, the next day the other police officer sent a message to Kim and said, ‘You know what, that picture was of Vadim.’ She kept that picture not knowing who it was of. So that picture now has been passed on to Carolina and Alain to be able to take back with them.

Nigel McGuire White, who was the local area command at the station when Vadim first joined, shared a number of stories in terms of what Vadim was like. He was a joker. He was pretty ambitious, but he was pretty aloof. It was interesting, both Neal and Vadim did not like paperwork. They hated paperwork; they just loved catching crooks. When Nigel went and spoke to Vadim in the watch house, they had a chat and he said, ‘Well, great. What are you looking at doing here?’ and Vadim said, ‘Yeah, I like it here, but I’m looking at potentially the AFP. I’ve got four languages, so I’m looking at potentially some international work.’ Nigel said, ‘Don’t get ahead of yourself, buddy. You know what, the AFP are just the plastic fantastic. We’re here; we do the real work in Victoria Police.’ I think he learned that, and he went on to be part of the public order response team thereafter.

Both of them were absolutely focused on their jobs but also focused on their friends. I think that came through in terms of what we learned from both of the really beautiful services that we got to experience. For Lisa it is very, very difficult for her in the job. As she said, ‘How does one continue when your life partner was three days away from retirement? How do you carry on?’ But she knows that is what Neal would want her to do. Neal would want us to all remember the good times and the celebrations of life that he had. It is the same with Vadim. Vadim’s brother Sacha said some beautiful things, as did also Alain and Carolina.

Can I just finish by saying, as many have said today, that there is nothing quite like the work of Victoria Police, because Victoria Police go to work every single day to protect us and what we do. They do not know what is behind that door; they do not know what they are going to confront. Sure, most days are great days, but they do it because they love the job and they are focused on what they do – that is what they signed up for. It is really, really tough, what we see. I think in recent years police have had a really tough time, because we have seen what has happened in the job and a lot of people have blamed police in terms of what they have had to do. What has really been probably the only beautiful thing out of all of this is the beautiful wishes of the public that have come together and understood what police actually do and the sacrifices they make.

Every one of our stations has had flowers and memorials and dedications and beautiful wishes – and probably too many doughnuts and everything; that is what police tell me. They are over all of the food that they are getting, but they are getting such beautiful, beautiful wishes. I think that is important.

Police, as I say, have I think one of the toughest jobs in the world. We have got to back them. For you, Wayne, and for your members, it is tough, and you do it, and we just thank you for what happens. It is horrible to have to thank you at these times. We should be thanking police each and every day for what they do. To Police Legacy, to the Blue Ribbon Foundation, to police veterans – Karl David, who I sat next to, said it is one thing to thank somebody in the job, but a retired cop, who sometimes people do not remember, is also someone who has given service. We have got members here today like the member for Benambra and our member for Berwick and a number of members in here that have served. We thank you for your service and what you have done.

As I finish I just say to the families that are grieving at this particular time: we are with you. We thank you for what you have been able to do to give your members to us to keep us safe. We will not stop until the killer is found. To the people of Porepunkah: hopefully you will be able to get through things in this difficult time. To the member for Ovens Valley: thank you for what you have done as well. Victoria Police: thank you. To Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart: vale to both of you. May your memories be a blessing.

Daniela DE MARTINO (Monbulk) (12:57): On 16 August Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, two police officers with courage beyond measure, made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty when their lives were brutally taken from them. I stand here to express my deepest condolences to their loved ones, colleagues and every police officer touched by this tragedy, and I pay my respects to the third police officer, who was injured and is still recovering. On behalf of the Monbulk community, I would like to send our thoughts and condolences to the community of Porepunkah, so deeply affected by the horror of the events that took place. I know this will leave an indelible mark on them forever.

It is beyond heartbreaking that two dedicated officers working every day to keep our community safe will never return home. Their families and loved ones will never see them, hold them, laugh or cry with them again. There will be no more adventures or shared experiences together. Their futures have been stolen from them. It is profoundly unjust and cruel. For those who experienced or watched any part of the two funerals of these officers, it was impossible to not be deeply moved and share the pain, the grief and loss that their loved ones and friends were feeling. When a life is extinguished so quickly, so brutally and so senselessly, the shock reverberates far and wide and across time, touching many beyond that person’s own circle of family, friends and colleagues.

We all feel a profound sense of injustice that someone’s future can be wrested from them in such an act of violence. For Neal Thompson it was on the cusp of his retirement, just as he was getting ready to hang up his uniform and spend some well-deserved time enjoying life with his partner Lisa and her children. Vadim de Waart-Hottart’s life was taken from him during his prime. He had so many years ahead of him, which he should have been able to enjoy but now never will.

I have kept in touch with a number of police officers across the Dandenongs over the past two weeks, and needless to say, the impact of this tragedy has had a profound impact on each and every one of them. Many have travelled north to assist their fellow officers over the past fortnight. This has hurt them all, and I know I can say unequivocally that the thoughts of everyone in this place are with them.

Senior Sergeant Cass Forbes just returned from working in Wangaratta for the last week and told me that the impact on Neal’s partner and stepchildren was devastating to see. She feels so deeply for Vadim’s family, who had to travel such a long distance after receiving the tragic news. She said the police service across that area will never be the same and a lot of surviving members present may never return to work again because of what they witnessed. She concluded that as a blue family, police officers will honour Neal and Vadim and be there to support their families forever.

The trauma of an event like this will continue for many years to come, just like the Russell Street bombing, which is nearly approaching its fourth decade. Constable Angela Rose Taylor, the 21-year-old police officer with the brightest future ahead of her, the dux of the police academy and the first female officer killed in the line of duty when she died of her injuries from the bombing, is still grieved so deeply to this day by all who knew and loved her. The death of Neal and Vadim has brought back the memories of Angela’s death again. Her nieces, one of whom is my son’s fiancée, feel profound sadness that they never had the chance to get to know their beautiful aunty, a victim of a senseless and cruel crime like this. The grief Angela’s family feels has transcended time. The grief that Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart’s loved ones feel will also undoubtedly be present with them for all their years to come. Since 1989 a memorial run-walk has been held in Angela’s name around Albert Park Lake, and it continues to be held in her honour and for all Victoria Police members who have lost their lives serving and protecting our community. I had the chance to join them last year on that walk, and I plan to do so again next year with the family. This time, though, there will tragically be two more officers added to the list of those who have fallen in the line of duty. And when officers die in the course of their work, it serves as a stark reminder to us all that every time they don their uniform and go to work to keep us safe, they risk their safety and lives to do so. That is the definition of courage. And for that we are eternally grateful and forever indebted to them.

Some of the most important interactions that the police do have are the quiet ones. It is the community engagement – speaking with students at schools, walking the streets to chat and connect with locals and be a calm presence and sense of order. Every day that police officers go to work they demonstrate bravery. They deal with some incredibly difficult situations, and that has an impact not just on their physical, spiritual and emotional selves but on their families back at home. So I would like to express my gratitude to the families of all officers, who support them so they can perform their duties – those families who wonder how their loved ones will be when they return or if they will at all, those who are there when their partner or parent returns from work having experienced and seen disturbing or distressing things many of us will never need to encounter, lending them support so they can put that uniform back on again the next day and turn up and serve and protect us all to uphold the right. Thank you to all of them.

To the families and all those who loved Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, my profoundest, sincerest and deepest condolences on the loss of your beloved men. I hope that the memories of the times you shared, and the joy and the love that Neal and Vadim brought into your lives, will be a balm to soothe your broken hearts over time. You are in our hearts now and forever. May they rest in peace. Vale, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson. Vale, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart.

Tim McCURDY (Ovens Valley) (13:04): I rise today with a heavy heart to acknowledge the tragic loss of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who lost their lives in the line of duty – a sacrifice that words cannot do justice to. To their family and friends and colleagues, on behalf of the Ovens Valley community, I extend my deepest and most heartfelt condolences. Every day when our police members put on their uniform and walk out the door, they’ve made a pledge to keep us safe, and they honour that pledge.

Neal Thompson, known to many as Thommo, was nearing the end of a remarkable 38-year career. He was preparing to retire last week and was looking forward to a new chapter of travel, fishing trips and time with family and friends.

Neal was respected both professionally and personally, generous, good-hearted and always willing to help others. He was a mate, a mentor and a protector in his community, and his absence leaves a void that will be deeply felt. Neal will be particularly missed in the community of Moyhu, where he would often stop in. It was his regular stop-in for a coffee, where he was welcome. He spent much of his spare time in the High Country, so he always went through Moyhu. The community of Moyhu always felt safer when Neal stopped by. Over the years, Neal would stop and have coffee and his dog Jimmy would consume an egg and bacon roll while Neal enjoyed a coffee in Moyhu.

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, just 34 years old, was a young man remembered as upbeat, quick-witted and deeply committed to his role in Victoria Police. His brother described him as a superhero, someone who brought light to those around him and lived with joy and courage. Vadim was awarded the Victoria Police Star and other service medals, recognising not only his years of service but the many years he would have given had his life not been cut short. Vadim was on secondment in the Bright region, and some say he was the unluckiest of cops to even be in the Porepunkah area on this fatal day. But on behalf of the Porepunkah community, we thank him. We thank him for his commitment, and we will honour his service. Again to the families of Neal and Vadim: words cannot describe the sorrow we feel. Your brave men put their lives in harm’s way, and they paid the ultimate price. In time, we hope our community can welcome you and show you all our hospitality and our beautiful region in the future.

I also want to mention Inspector Ash Mason, who leads the north-east Victoria Police force based in Wangaratta, an officer who puts his people first and works tirelessly to ensure our community is safe. Like all Victorian police, Ash has taken this personally. I want to say in this forum, ‘Thank you, Ash, for pushing through the last two weeks and leading your police force while you all carry the heaviest of hearts. Your job is never easy, and it’s never done.’

What happened in Porepunkah is unacceptable. As MPs in this place, it is our responsibility to provide the resources needed to see this never happens again. The service of these two fine men was outstanding. Gentlemen, your shift is done. Rest in peace.

Paul EDBROOKE (Frankston) (13:07): Today we pause in this place to acknowledge and honour the lives of two brave members of Victoria Police who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Last Friday family, friends and colleagues farewelled Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 44954, at a service that reflected the profound impact he had on those around him. Yesterday families gathered again to honour Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal ‘Thommo’ Thompson, 26182, a man described by his colleagues as ever reliable, who put his crew first and who was always the first one to step forward with purpose, as he was doing when executing this warrant related to sexual offences and child abuse on 26 August.

These are not just words. In the emergency services, whether you wear blue or yellow or red, you know the people who will run towards danger when others run away. You know the colleagues that never back down until the job is done. They are the glue of a team, the steady hands in chaos and the moral compass when decisions have to be made in a split second. It is very obvious to me that both of these officers embodied that spirit every single day of their service.

Like all other speakers, I have sought to learn about Thommo and Vadim. Thommo was a man who did not wait to be asked, a man who saw a need and filled it, a man whose natural instinct was to protect others before himself. Vadim too was a dedicated and brave officer, deeply respected by his peers and his community. Together they stood as guardians of our safety. As someone who has worn a uniform and stood shoulder to shoulder with my own platoon, I know the unspoken bond that exists between emergency service workers. When one falls, we all feel it. That ripple of grief moves through every station, every shift and every family dinner table because we all know that next time it could be someone we know – one of our own.

This tragedy has left a third officer seriously injured, and we stand with him as he faces what could be a long and very difficult road to recovery. I want him to know that he is not alone. The entire policing family, obviously, and indeed all Victorians are willing him forward in his recovery every step of the way.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the broader policing family, including the Police Association Victoria and secretary Wayne Gatt. Every police member inevitably will feel the weight of this tragedy. I have spoken to my friends who are current serving officers in the force, and they were comfortable to admit that this has affected them. Yet, despite their grief and despite the effect on them, tomorrow, the next day and the day after that these police officers will pull on the uniform and head back out on our streets. That quiet heroism is extraordinary, and it is something we must never take for granted. That quiet heroism deserves our deepest gratitude. When the sirens fade and the flags rise again, there will be quiet moments of grief in stations across our state – quiet reminders of the incredible price that comes with keeping our community safe.

To the families of Vadim and Thommo: there are no words that can take away your pain; I know that. But please know this: your sons, your partners, your brothers and your colleagues will forever live in the blue fabric of Victoria Police and in the hearts of those they served. Their courage is not a moment in time; it is a legacy that will ripple through generations of officers yet to come. Their courage and dedication are etched into the story of this state. They will not be forgotten.

In their service Vadim and Thommo showed us what true courage looks like. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is the action you take in the face of fear. They walked into darkness so that others could live in the light. They stood at the thin line between chaos and safety, between fear and reassurance, and every single day they chose to stand on that line for us. Their lives remind us of an eternal truth – that safety is never free. It is earned every day by the service and sacrifice of those who are willing to lay down their lives for others. This Parliament says thank you – thank you for your bravery, thank you for your commitment, thank you for your passion and thank you for your sacrifice and for showing us the best of humanity. May their families and colleagues find strength in the love of a grateful state, and may we never forget that the price of our safety is paid by heroes like them. Your shift is complete, men. Thank you for your service. Vale, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson.

James NEWBURY (Brighton) (13:13): I rise in condolence of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. On walking into the chamber today, I looked outside and saw a dark sky, and I made sure to look up because I was struck by the words of Vadim’s brother: when we look into the sky, if we see a blue sky, we know he is there. Today it is a dark sky. For two weeks Victorians have held their breath after learning of the terrible, senseless tragedy that occurred two weeks ago, like we remember every time, as a number of members have said, when we have lost one of the 175 officers who have been lost in service and 30 who have been murdered.

It is a dark sky today because Victorians are holding their breath. It is a dark sky because we know that the alleged murderer is still on the run and has still not been caught. So we as Victorians grieve for the loss of these officers but also for the officer who was injured and for every officer today who is searching in the most dangerous environment on our behalf.

23,000 good Victorians put on a police uniform, and when they do – I am sure we all remember the first time we saw a police officer, looking up, probably as kids when we first saw them – that uniform represents honour, justice, community service and, as Sacha, Vadim’s brother, said, heroism and a sense of invincibility. Every time we sadly lose a member of our emergency services or police, we know that they are not invincible, these good people who put on that uniform and step out to protect each and every one of us as Victorians.

I think what is so difficult at this time, as the Premier rightly said, is that Victoria Police especially are now working at a very, very difficult time – as the member for Caulfield said, at a time when we are seeing a sickness in our social cohesion, and not just a sickness in Victoria, as the Premier said, but one that is here nevertheless. The police are stepping out into the centre of that environment and protecting us from that sickness. I am sure every member of this place has seen over recent weeks that sickness playing out through people using images that would make us all sick, as part of those weekly protests, of the individual involved in this crime. I find it repugnant, and I think that needs to be called out.

This is the most difficult time for Victorians and for the police community, and we should take every opportunity as community representatives to remind Victoria Police and the emergency services more broadly how strongly we support everything that they do, how much they are in our thoughts every day they put on that uniform and how each and every one of them, though they are wearing their uniform of invincibility, are not but are doing that job and doing that work on behalf of all of us. They are humans; they are people – people who hurt, people who love.

The words of both of their families were so incredibly beautiful. Vadim’s mother talked about Vadim being a white butterfly that we see when we next see a white butterfly, and Lisa, Neal’s partner, talked about the fact that he had taught her to love without fear. These are the truths of these wonderful officers. On behalf of the people of Bayside, I send my sincere condolences to the family and the friends of the officers involved. Vale, Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart, and may their memories be a blessing.

Nina TAYLOR (Albert Park) (13:19): It is an honour to rise today to pay the deepest respects to Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. There is both collective admiration for their courage, integrity and service and profound sorrow for the tragic circumstances under which their lives were taken on 26 August 2025 in Porepunkah.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, affectionately known as Thommo, was 59 years old. He joined Victoria Police in September 1987 and went on to give 38 years of dedicated service to the people of Victoria.

Over nearly four decades he worked across a variety of roles in policing, bringing with him not only professionalism but a deep care for the communities he served. He was known for his courage, his calm presence and his unshakable commitment to keeping others safe. Community members have spoken movingly about his impact. Anita Cook, who first met him when she opened a cafe in Moyhu, said:

You just felt a lot safer knowing he was around … his strength and courage and bravery was just something you could see in him.

A former teammate at his old soccer club recalled:

He was willing to talk to anybody and treat them equally, he was just a beautiful person.

Neal Thompson was only days away from retirement. He had looked forward to travelling abroad, to exploring the Australian bush he loved so dearly and to spending more precious time with his family at their King Valley home. In true character, he continued to give his all right up until the end. His partner Sergeant Lisa Thompson, also a police officer, shared at his memorial service:

Words cannot convey the depth of sorrow and grief that his loss brings

…

He taught me how to love without fear and how to be brave when I’m scared.

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart was just 34 years old, with a promising career ahead of him. I thank the Minister for Police for detailing his service, which included spending three years at St Kilda police station, one of the stations that serves my electorate, before being selected in April 2023 for Melbourne’s public order response team. His skill, professionalism and leadership earned him this position. He was recently seconded to north-east Victoria, where he had been serving for just one week before this tragedy occurred. Vadim de Waart-Hottart was multilingual, a keen scuba diver and an adventurer who loved to travel. Those who knew him describe a man with a zest for life, devoted to both his family and to his fellow officers. He is survived by his parents Carolina de Waart and Alain Hottart, who travelled from Belgium, and by his younger brother Sacha, who lives in Switzerland. Their immeasurable grief is shared by extended family here in Melbourne and by the entire police community. At the memorial service Sacha described his brother as his superhero:

He was my very own … Batman.

… when … I didn’t need his protecting anymore, my brother found 23,000 new brothers and sisters in blue to keep protecting.

Such was the esteem in which he was held that the chapel at the Victoria Police Academy could not hold all those who came to farewell him.

Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police Mike Bush described the loss of both officers as a shocking and tragic day for Victoria, and indeed it was for Victoria Police, for the community and, most profoundly, for the families who have lost their loved ones.

This tragedy is a stark and sobering reminder of the sacrifices our police officers make each and every day to protect our community. Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart embodied the very highest values of Victoria Police: courage, integrity, service and humanity. On behalf of this chamber I extend our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues and our enduring gratitude for their service. Their memory and their sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Ellen SANDELL (Melbourne) (13:24): On behalf of the Greens I want to add our voices to those sending condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and loved ones of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and also to the other officer injured at the same awful shooting attack in Porepunkah. We also want to send our thoughts to others in the police force, their families and their friends, who are still reeling from these horrific events. Everyone deserves to come home from work safely, and too often our emergency service workers are faced with danger when doing their jobs, which they do on behalf of all of us. We are thinking today too of all the emergency services workers still out there in the north-east in very difficult circumstances looking for the person responsible for these deaths and how difficult it is for them right now, and we thank them for their work.

I also want to send my thoughts personally to the community of Porepunkah, the north-east and the High Country. This is somewhere that holds a very special place in my heart. My own father is buried at Harrietville Cemetery. It is a beautiful, peaceful place; it is a community I know well. I have spoken to people in that community, and I know that they are still deeply shocked by these events. They tell me these events do not define the north-east, just as the extremist views of the individual involved do not represent the views of Victorians. The community of the north-east and the High Country is strong, and it is resilient. It is an incredible part of the world, and I know that as soon as it is safe to do so, Victorians will be back visiting these areas, supporting the community and helping them to recover.

Motion agreed to in silence, members showing unanimous agreement by standing in their places.

The SPEAKER: Members, the house will be suspended until 2 pm as a mark of respect.

Sitting suspended 1:27 pm until 2:02 pm.

Business interrupted under sessional orders.