AMA MEDIA RELEASE - Christchurch Mosque Shooting Tragedy
A week on from the Christchurch mosque shooting tragedy, the AMA extends its sincerest condolences to all New Zealanders, the brave people of Christchurch, and especially the Muslim community who lost loved ones and witnessed friends and family suffer horrific injuries.
AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, paid tribute to the expertise and professionalism of the doctors and health workers who reacted with speed and skill to treat the victims of the attack.
Dr Bartone last week contacted the New Zealand Medical Association to express sympathy to all those affected by the shooting, directly and indirectly, and to praise the efforts of the doctors and all hospital and health workers who worked around the clock to save lives and ease suffering.
Some Australian doctors and registrars were working in Christchurch at the time, and other Australian doctors travelled to Christchurch after the event to offer their assistance. The AMA thanks them for their efforts.
Dr Bartone congratulated New Zealand Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, for her swift compassionate and inclusive response to the tragedy, and for her subsequent actions on gun control to prevent further atrocities.
“The AMA opposes and condemns racism in any form,” Dr Bartone said.
“The AMA extends its hand of friendship to the Muslim communities in New Zealand and Australia, and welcomes all faiths and races to the successful multicultural societies in both countries.”
The AMA Anti-Racism Statement 2018 is at https://ama.com.au/equity-inclusion-and-diversity
The AMA has called for further tightening of gun laws in Australia, and the establishment of a real-time national firearms register.
The AMA Position Statement on Firearms 2017 is at https://ama.com.au/position-statement/firearms-2017