Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he “feared the worst” yesterday when the security car trailing behind him in Tasmania was involved in a crash.
Speaking briefly to reporters after an Easter Friday service at Syndal Baptist Church, in the marginal Victorian electorate Chisholm, Mr Morrison said one of the AFP officers involved in the accident was expected to be discharged from hospital today.
The other three officers, including another AFP officer and two from Tasmania Police, are still being cared for but “are doing well”.
“I want to thank everybody for the very kind messages they have sent in relation to the four officers who were hurt yesterday in a terrible car accident,” said Mr Morrison.
“It was a terrible accident, and a reminder that we’ve got to be safe on our roads as we’re moving around. But you know, I do want to thank everybody for their kind messages.
“They’re making a good recovery.”
He said the accident had happened “right behind us”, and went on to thank hospital staff and the first responders, who arrived at the scene “incredibly quickly”.
“We obviously feared for the worst. But thankfully, thankfully, everybody is okay, and obviously in good care.”
The Prime Minister said he had sent messages to the officers, but hadn’t yet spoken to them. He hoped to do so at some point today.
They did get to speak to their families yesterday.
Four members of Mr Morrison’s security detail were rushed to hospital on Thursday afternoon after a smash in Tasmania.
The car was following the Prime Minister on the way to a campaign event before it crashed with another car and rolled off the road just outside of Elizabeth Town in northern Tasmania.
Pictures show the car flipped on its side while officers lay on the ground being tended to by emergency services.
Two Tasmanian police officers and two Federal Police officers were conscious and taken to hospital to be assessed for non-life-threatening injuries.
A second car was involved in the accident, but the driver was uninjured.
An investigation into what caused the incident is ongoing, but Tasmanian police said in a statement that initial inquiries indicated the second car hit the rear of the unmarked police car while attempting to merge.
Mr Morrison was not involved in the crash.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister said family members of the officers had been contacted and were being kept informed of their condition.
“The PM is always extremely grateful for the protection provided by his security team and extxjmtzywends his best wishes for their recovery and to their families,” they said.
Campaign events for the remainder of the day have been cancelled.
Responding to the incident on Sky News, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said it was a “great relief” that the officers were conscious when taken for treatment.
He paid tribute to the “brave individuals … working in the service of our nation”.
“The fact in this case that there doesn’t appear to be any serious injuries, that’s a great relief,” he said.
“We hope for speedy recoveries for all involved.”
Opposition frontbencher Stephen Jones said the entire Labor team sent their best regards to the officers involved.
“I know the entire Labor team, from Anthony Albanese, Richard Marles and everyone down, wants to extend our wishes, best regards and hope for a safe and speedy recovery,” he told Sky News.
“(The crash) looks horrific.
“I am pleased campaigning has been called off for the day. All efforts should be going into ensuring these families and these officers are supported.”
