Death Of A New Zealand Soldier
SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER Minister for Defence
5 August 2010: Today I spoke to the New Zealand Defence Minister, Dr Wayne Mapp, about the tragic death of a New Zealand
soldier, Lieutenant Timothy O'Donnell, in Afghanistan.
This is the first New Zealand casualty in Afghanistan. Lieutenant O'Donnell was a member of the Provincial
Reconstruction team in Bamiyan Province, doing much the same reconstruction and security work as our soldiers carry out
in Uruzgan Province.
Australia and New Zealand have served together in military operations over a very long time, including in Afghanistan.
As Minister for Defence I offered Australia’s sincere condolences to the New Zealand people and the family of Lieutenant
O’Donnell for their tragic loss. Our thoughts remain with them all at this difficult time.
ENDS