Tuesday, 9 September 2025

Motions

Victoria Police deaths

Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Treasurer, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Regional Development) (13:14): I move, by leave:

That this house:

(1) 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;

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

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

I will now speak as one of the government members on this condolence to honour the lives of Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, who gave their lives in the line of duty while protecting the Victorian community.

Vadim began his policing career at the Victorian Police Academy in December 2018. Once graduated from the academy, he 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. At the time of his passing, Vadim was on temporary assignment in Wangaratta.

Neal joined the force in 1987 and spent seven years in general duties at the 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, in July 2007. I would also like to acknowledge Neal’s partner Sergeant Lisa Thompson from Benalla police station. I was privileged to be able to visit members of the Benalla police station recently with the Minister for Police Anthony Carbines and Acting Chief Commissioner Rick Nugent when we opened the new police station.

Local police are a cornerstone of country communities. They are very well known, often on first-name basis with the community, and I want to take the opportunity to thank them all for the crucial work that they undertake. I also thank the contingent of Victoria Police officers who have come from across the state to support their colleagues in the broader north-east region as they maintain their search for the accused and also provide relief for officers, particularly yesterday and last Friday, for those that were able to be relieved to make the trip to the police academy to attend the funeral services.

Buildings and landmarks around Melbourne have been lit up in blue. Landmarks in Beechworth, Wangaratta and other towns have also shone blue, and the Bright Memorial Clock Tower in Island Street is adorned with blue ribbons. Wangaratta and the alpine area police stations have been inundated with floral tributes and visitors, including donations of food and just ongoing support. The terrible tragedy has had a significant impact not only on those directly affected but the whole community of Victoria.

There are many, many people that will, in the weeks to come, deserve thanks in relation to the response to this tragedy, and I will just take a brief opportunity to mention a few. The first person I called when I heard about the tragedy was Janelle Marsden. Many of you will be familiar with Janelle because she runs Feathertop Winery, which was the host of a reception for our regional sitting in Bright just a few years ago. I would like to thank Janelle and her team for providing their property and facilities to host a staging area for officers in the early days following the event. I would also like to acknowledge the Alpine Shire Council for their leadership and coordination of support services for residents. I have been in communication with CEO Will Jeremy and Mayor Sarah Nicholas and thank them for their unwavering commitment to their community and support.

Every Victorian police officer should return home at the end of their shift. It is with deep sorrow that I note this did not occur on the morning of 26 August. It is simply unfathomable what has occurred, and as a government, we stand with Victoria Police as they continue to pursue the alleged offender. We hold the entire Victoria Police community close during this time and remember with honour the sacrifice made by Vadim and Neal. On behalf of the government, vale these two men who gave their lives in the line of duty.

David DAVIS (Southern Metropolitan) (13:19): It is my duty, but a sad one, to associate with this motion, and I thank the Leader of the Government for bringing this motion today. It is something that genuinely unites the chamber and expresses as it does sorrow and heartfelt condolences for Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who were tragically killed in the line of duty, as the motion says, and another officer who is still seriously injured. The truth is our police men and women put themselves in harm’s way for us every day, and we should never forget that. We should remember their selfless steps. I can only say that, as with so many Victorians, I watched this series of reports with foreboding and incredible sadness, thinking how those families would feel when people do not come home. Those officers, Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Neal Thompson, on 26 August went to the property of Dezi Freeman to execute a warrant. It is alleged that he opened fire on them, killing the two of them and injuring a third officer. Obviously Mr Freeman is still sought, and our thoughts are with all of the police men and women and all of their supporters who are seeking to find that individual in the High Country.

Mr Thompson was a police veteran of 38 years, days away from retirement. He had previously dealt with Freeman. He had chosen to serve the warrant, was first to knock at Freeman’s door and was shot dead. His funeral was held on 8 September at the police academy, and so many people attended. I heard reports from the Leader of the Opposition about that funeral and the huge number of mourners. He was a person who I think had wide support within the police. As the Leader of the Government has pointed out, his partner was Lisa Thompson, a sergeant at Benalla, and he had been at Wangaratta. He joined Wangaratta in July 2007 and was stationed there until his death. He was fond of fishing and hunting and spending time with family. The chief commissioner saying that he was highly respected, highly regarded, very capable and a very experienced member of Victoria Police describes how I think we all can see this as a huge loss.

Vadim de Waart-Hottart’s funeral was also very significant. It was held on 5 September. Again the Leader of the Opposition Brad Battin attended that event. He reported to a number of us the enormous outpouring of grief and the huge support for the work that Vadim had done. He was described as upbeat, quick-witted, honest and hilarious. He had served in the force for six years. Described by the chief commissioner as one of the finest officers, he was fluent in English, French, Spanish and Flemish. He had travelled around the world but was on secondment in regional Victoria when he was killed. His family are going to feel very sad after this. His younger brother lives in Switzerland, and the extended family is in Melbourne.

I want to just reiterate that our police men and women step forward every day on our behalf, and it is an inherently dangerous business, perhaps becoming more dangerous at the moment. But either way, our love and affection are there for the families of the two who have been lost so tragically, and our wishes for them are very strong.

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (13:24): On behalf of the Greens, I rise to express our condolences for the family and friends of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. We know that these events have been devastating for the broader police community, and our thoughts are with them and all the workers who are involved in the ongoing and incredibly challenging search for the person responsible for these deaths. Our emergency services workers face risks every day in order to keep the rest of us safe, and we owe them our deepest gratitude for that. But no-one should die at work. Everyone should return home to their families and friends. Our hearts also go out to the communities of Porepunkah and north-east Victoria. The close relationships in rural communities are unique and mean that events like this hit hard. But that closeness is also a tremendous strength, and I know that they will support one another during this difficult time and know that we stand with them. Vale, Neal and Vadim.

Enver ERDOGAN (Northern Metropolitan – Minister for Casino, Gaming and Liquor Regulation, Minister for Corrections, Minister for Youth Justice) (13:25): On 26 August this year, in Porepunkah, our state was shaken by the devastating loss of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. Both men made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. A third officer was also injured and remains in hospital, and I do wish them a full recovery.

Today we all stand united with heavy hearts. We honour Neal and Vadim and acknowledge the immense grief felt by families, friends, colleagues of Victoria Police and indeed every single Victorian. Their loss is not just a blow to those that loved them most but a loss for our whole state. As the Treasurer touched upon, Neal devoted nearly four decades of his life to protecting Victorians, beginning his service just down the road from this building at Collingwood police station and for the last 18 years being part of the crime investigation unit in Wangaratta. His career – and I have been reading a lot about him over the last fortnight – speaks of loyalty, perseverance and courage. Neal was known as a detective of immense skill but also as a colleague of humility and kindness. He was a steady presence in a demanding role and someone who showed that justice is not only about enforcing the law but also about compassion, fairness and humanity.

Vadim represented the future of Victoria Police, and as has been touched upon, he spoke many languages and was well travelled. He joined the academy in 2018 and went to serve at St Kilda police station as part of the public order response team. At the time of his death he was on temporary secondment in Wangaratta. He was still early in his career, but he had carried himself with enthusiasm, professionalism and deep commitment. He had so much more to give to his colleagues, to his community and to the people of Victoria. His passing is tragic not only for his loved ones but also for the countless lives that he would have touched over the years.

Since this tragedy the grief has been far beyond Wangaratta and Porepunkah. Across Eyewatch pages and at local stations we have seen the outpouring of love from our community, cards pinned to noticeboards, children’s drawings taped to station doors, flowers laid on steps and trays of baked goods carried in by strangers to stations across our state. These acts may seem small, but they are powerful reminders that Victorians feel this loss deeply. They remind us that our police are not distant figures in uniform. They are neighbours, mentors, friends and protectors of all. When tragedy strikes, Victorians come together to hold up those who hold us safe. Behind every officer is a family who shares in their service – partners, children, parents, friends – left to live with the quiet fear of what each day may bring, and they all carry the burden of that uniform. To the families of Neal and Vadim, we say: we cannot know the depth of your grief, but we honour it. We will always walk with you in the months and years ahead. Your loved one’s sacrifice will never be forgotten.

This tragedy reminds us that policing is not just a job, it is a calling. Every day Victorian police officers confront risk so that the rest of us may live in safety. Their work extends beyond emergencies and crime scenes. I have seen it firsthand in their work in youth justice. They guide our young people through programs like Blue Light, work hand in hand with communities through neighbourhood policing and offer support and reassurance when they are needed most. Their presence strengthens our communities in ways that are not always visible but which are profoundly felt when they are taken from us.

Victoria is stronger because of the service of these two brave men. Their courage will echo in the memory of their colleagues, their families and the communities they served. As parliamentarians and as people, we stand in gratitude. May their memory be a blessing, may their service be remembered with pride and may their families find comfort in the love of a grateful state. Vale, Neal and Vadim.

Wendy LOVELL (Northern Victoria) (13:29): It is two weeks today since were in this chamber when the tragic news came through, and I think many of us collectively gasped when we saw the banners come up on our phone to say that at that stage that there had been an incident – in Bright, it was reporting – where two officers were missing and one officer had been wounded. As we moved through the day we learned that it was far more tragic than that. We learned that it was more specifically in Porepunkah, and we learned that two of the officers had been shot and killed. They were Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. We must remember that not only were Neal and Vadim killed but another officer was seriously wounded and has spent time in hospital recovering from his wounds. We wish him all the best for his recovery.

Neal and Vadim will go down as heroes. Neal had been a long-serving member of our police force. He was 59 years of age and had spent 38 years in the force. He was, ironically, due to retire from the force last Friday. Neal had grown up in Bendigo, also in my electorate and a town that is quite familiar with police tragedies, being the home of Steven Tynan, who was shot in Walsh Street. Neal’s sisters Lois and Dianne have survived him, as does his partner Sergeant Lisa Thompson, and our hearts go out to the family of Neal in this tragedy.

Vadim was a young man, and you could see from his photos his joy and his love of life. Only 35, he had moved to Melbourne from Belgium and became a member of Victoria Police in 2018. Vadim was someone who loved travelling, and he was fluent, as Mr Davis said, in French, Spanish, Flemish and English. He scuba-dived all around the world and did motorcycling trips with friends and colleagues. He had a real joy for life, and it is just so tragic that that life has been cut short.

Both officers have been awarded the Victoria Police Service Medal, the National Police Service Medal and the National Medal, as well as the Victoria Police Star, which is a medal that is reserved for those killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. I extend my deepest condolences to Neal’s partner Lisa, his sisters Lois and Dianne, his extended family and friends and the entire police community. I also extend my condolences to Vadim’s parents Carolina and Alain, his brother Sacha, his extended family and friends and the entire police community.

My own home town of Shepparton has felt this tragedy quite deeply. We have had two services over the last week. The first one was on Sunday 31 August at St Augustine’s, and then we had one last Thursday, 4 September, at St Brendan’s church, which was an interfaith service. We do this because our town is a town that has been seriously touched by the loss of police over many years. The first loss of a policeman from the Greater Shepparton region was on 26 October 1878 when Constable Michael Scanlon was one of three officers ambushed and murdered by Ned Kelly and his gang at Stringybark Creek. Before he left Mooroopna, where he was stationed, Constable Scanlon obviously knew that he was in severe danger, because he told his mate that he could have his dog if he died while he was chasing the Kelly Gang.

The second loss of life of a policeman in Greater Shepparton was Constable Victor Nelson, who died of a blood infection that was caused by an altercation he had with an elderly man who was refusing hospital treatment. That was on 12 July 1925, and both Constable Nelson and the man that he was attempting to help died due to the infection that passed from one to the other. The third death was the father of a friend of mine. Gail Jenkins is my friend and her father, First Constable Ray Denman, was killed on 3 May 1964 by an accidental discharge of a shotgun while he was attending a domestic incident in Numurkah. And of course the fourth was a very dear friend of mine, Constable Damian Eyre, who was only 20 years old when he was lured to Walsh Street in South Melbourne, deliberately lured there to an abandoned car by people who ambushed and murdered him on 12 October 1988 alongside Constable Steven Tynan, who was only 22 at the time. So our town has been seriously touched by this. I know that the entire Victorian police community are seriously touched when somebody is killed in the line of duty. The police stand between us and those who would hurt us. We must support them and we must give them every opportunity to defend themselves as well. My condolences, as I have said, go out to the family of Neal and Vadim and to the entire police community.

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (13:36): It is my sad duty to associate myself with this motion. Neal Thompson and Vadim de Waart-Hottart were murdered on 26 August 2025 and another officer was seriously injured. The funeral for Vadim was on 5 September and the funeral for Neal was on 8 September, both at the Mount Waverley Victoria Police Academy chapel. The honour guard was all the way down View Mount Road and to the roundabout, which was a fair effort, because all the people that were on duty were unable to make it and obviously were not there, but there were so many. From the contributions made, they were two very different people on a very similar path. Vadim was young, idealistic, effective and appeared to be a bit of a lad, but he was also worldly and travelled. It has been mentioned how many languages he spoke. He was going somewhere. He had a good future, which was stolen from him.

Neal was a very different person, doing exactly the same thing. Neal was older – a little bit older than me. He loved his outdoors, he loved his fishing, he loved his hunting and he loved his family, but he was also quite obviously an effective police officer. It was said a number of times that he was always first through the door. But Neal also had a funny side to him. There were some very funny anecdotes, which I will not go through, but it was clear that Neal lived his life to the fullest, and to have his retirement stolen about a week before is unbelievable. My heart goes out to the families, the friends and of course the colleagues of the two boys. Vale, Vadim and Neal. And to the other members out there, particularly in Porepunkah: take care, please.

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, Minister for Housing and Building, Minister for Development Victoria and Precincts) (13:38): I rise to associate myself with this motion, and in doing so I want to emphasise the humanity and the care that has been shown to the entire police community and to the communities across rural and regional Victoria, who are in the midst of such uncertainty, so much ache and so much grief at this time.

When police get into the profession it is with a sense of duty and a sense of calling. We see this time and time again, and we saw this no more evidently than in the careers and the work of Detective Leading Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. These two members of Victoria Police gave of themselves in the most extraordinary of ways: in their service, in the relationships that they fostered and in the way in which they met people where they were to provide support, assistance, information and intervention. Policing is hard and often thankless work. It often involves problem-solving, the need for dexterity, thinking on one’s feet and teamwork at the heart of it all, to the ends of the greater good, of community safety, of dignity and of broader responses to making sure that people are made and are kept safe.

That is exactly what these two members of the force did and were doing when they lost their lives, and across Victoria and around Australia and around the world, people are united in grief. Those people who continue in the field, in the search for the accused at the moment, continue to feel the sting of loss and of grief, even while they continue their work on the front line. I want to extend, again, thoughts to that third member who continues to receive treatment, and we wish him a speedy recovery and all of the support and the care that is needed now and also into the future.

The partner of Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, Lisa, gave the most extraordinary contribution in memory of the love of her life’s contribution. In talking about him and about their relationship she paid tribute to what was and can only be described as a great love. She aspired to be a farm wife while they were in the process of making sure that their new farm could be up and ready for scratch. The wonderful place for him to retire to was testament to their wonderful bond and the bond that they created and shared through the force and their work as well. To Lois and Diane, his sisters – again, the grief that has been described is one that is palpable, one that for so many of us is unimaginable and one that deserves to be recorded and part of the work that we do in committing to support the force now and into the future.

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, 34 years old – a man of worldliness, a man of humour, a man who loved Batman and a man who aspired to do good in all that he did. To his parents Carolina and Alain and his brother Sacha, our condolences, our love, our respect and our gratitude. As Wayne Gatt, secretary of the Police Association of Victoria, said about both men:

You wore the uniform with honour and you represented it with kindness, compassion and a just heart …

We across our communities are so grateful for those attributes. Flags have been at half-mast across every police station around the state, from the tiniest of rural stations right through to the middle of Melbourne. Gifts, tributes and condolences continue to flow, and they flow because we as a community continue to feel grief and continue to feel a sense of determination and purpose to make sure that these two extraordinary lives are reflected, are remembered and are respected. Vale, Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, and vale, Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart.

Gaelle BROAD (Northern Victoria) (13:42): On behalf of the Nationals and as the representative for Northern Victoria I would like to extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends, colleagues and community who knew Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, who paid the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. Last week was Legacy Week. Legacy embodies the true Australian spirit of mateship, loyalty and compassion, the same spirit that was reflected in each of these men. Today we reflect on two individuals who shared the same values and gave the ultimate sacrifice for each one of us. We gather today in this chamber from all sides of politics to pause and reflect on their sacrifice and honour their legacy.

Neal has been remembered as an adventurer and lover of the great outdoors, described as someone larger than life, who enjoyed being with his mates. He was a hunter, a fisherman, a rock climber, a hiker, a farmer and a mentor. He joined the force in September 1987 and was soon due to retire. He was looking forward to the next chapter together with his partner Lisa and more time with family and friends. Vadim, just in his 30s and on secondment in the north-east, had only been in the region for one week. He spoke several languages, loved learning, was a keen scuba diver and had recently bought his first home in Melbourne. He has been described as someone who loved helping people and, by his brother, as a superhero. Over this last week family, friends and colleagues gathered to remember their legacy, lives given in service to others. John 15:13 in the Bible states:

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Today we reflect on the enduring impact of their service. To all those who knew them and loved them we extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences. As we reflect on the service and the lasting legacy of both of these officers, we are reminded that as Australians we have a shared responsibility to support those who give so much for our freedom and to uphold the values of care and respect that define our regional communities and us as a nation. To the local residents who feel this loss and continue to face uncertainty, we acknowledge the pressures you are under and we will continue to stand with you.

Trung LUU (Western Metropolitan) (13:45): I wish to rise and offer my deepest respects during this condolence motion and pay tribute to my two fallen colleagues Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart and Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson. I expressed my sorrow in this chamber on Tuesday 26 August when I first heard the news. There is nothing more profound and distressing for the policing community, the policing family, than news of an officer killed in the line of duty. Those in this job would understand that you never cease to be a police officer. As the saying goes, ‘Once a copper, always a copper.’ You always feel connected to those who serve.

This event is particularly close to home, especially because I worked in the same area as one of the officers who was killed. When Thommo was serving in Collingwood I was stationed in the neighbouring station in Fitzroy. Those in the job would understand the connection between the two stations’ members. They would understand the night shift, the midnight barbies by the Yarra and the early openers between the stations. Thommo and I again crossed paths in the late 1990s in the major fraud group.

But firstly, I would like to speak about the young and enthusiastic police officer who had been in the job for only six years, Vadim. Vadim was awarded the Victoria Police Star, a medal for those who are killed in the line of duty. He was also awarded the Victoria Police Service Medal, the National Police Service Medal and the National Medal. After the 34-year-old graduated from the academy in 2019 he was stationed in Maryborough and St Kilda before joining the public order response unit. My deepest sympathy goes to his family, especially his parents and brother Sacha. No parents should have to experience the funeral of their child, let alone witness their son’s life being taken away in the way it was. Though Vadim was in the job for only six years, those who knew him recognised that he wore the uniform with honour and had a kind and compassionate heart.

On the opposite scale of a policing career, Thommo, a 59-year-old veteran officer, was just days away from retirement. Similarly, he was awarded the Victoria Police Star; the Victoria Police Service Medal, with a 35-year clasp for service; the National Police Medal; and the National Medal. Thommo began his career in 1987, starting with general policing in Collingwood and later serving in the major fraud and state crime squads before settling at Wangaratta in 2007. As most police like to do, he wanted to finish off his career where he loved to be – at home. He will be remembered by his colleagues and those who knew him as a man of courage, integrity and deep commitment to serving the public. My heartfelt sympathy goes to his partner Sergeant Lisa Thompson.

The courage, dedication and commitment of both officers to protect their community will never be forgotten. This disastrous loss is a stark reminder of the dangerous life police officers face every single day in the line of duty. When we go out to serve, when we get out of the van, the last comment from your colleague is ‘Be safe; come back safe’. My thoughts and prayers are with their families and the families of the entire police community as we mourn the passing of those brave officers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the community.

Rikkie-Lee TYRRELL (Northern Victoria) (13:51): I rise today to pay my respects to the two Victorian policemen who were killed in action at Porepunkah on 26 August: Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart. No doubt both men started their day just as routinely as any other, yet still fully aware that in their line of work they face risks that many of us do not need to face on a daily basis. It is because of these frontline workers that we can go about our own daily business, knowing that our police will have our backs when we need them.

Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson was only moments away from 40 years of service with the Victorian police force. With the finish line in sight, he was eagerly counting down the weeks until his retirement; he had planned to spend the rest of his days hitting personal goals with his partner Lisa. He was a keen outdoorsman and embraced the beauty of his home in the north-east of Victoria. From listening to the eulogies given by his family and friends, Neal was a true blue, genuine bloke who was always there to lend a helping hand when needed. I would like to send my sincerest condolences to Neal’s partner Lisa and to each and every one of those mourning his loss at this time.

Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart, although European born, chose Australia as his home and committed to bravely serving Victorians under the Victoria Police badge, Vadim was full of life and loved dearly by all of his family and friends that are now gravely mourning his life, which was taken way too soon in the line of action. His younger brother used to call him his Batman because Vadim was his hero, always there for him. Vadim had a zest for life, a love for the outdoors and a gift for cheering up those who needed a smile.

These men were providing the Wangaratta community with their invaluable service and will be remembered for the joy they brought to those they knew and deeply respected by those of us who have only just learned about the lives that they gave in the line of duty. Their duty to the people of Victoria will never be forgotten. May they rest in peace.

The PRESIDENT: I ask members to signify their assent to the motion by rising in their places for 1 minute’s silence.

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