Tony Abbott is the Australian Health Minister, he ignored travel warnings and went for a holiday to Bali, he is also staying on in Bali. He said on the news in a interview this morning It is travel advisory not travel mandatory warnings! He fobbed it off by saying it is just not my decision but my wife and childrens too.
The Daily Telegraph today;
All injured Aussies out of Bali: Abbott
October 03, 2005
SOME ofthe Australian victims of the latest Bali bombings have suffered serious injuries, including horrific shrapnel wounds, but are coping well under the circumstances, Health Minister Tony Abbott says.
Mr Abbott, who is in Bali holidaying with his family, says those Australians injured in the blasts have now been evacuated from the island resort, and are being cared for in either Australia or Singapore.
At least three Australians are among the 26 people killed in the near simultaneous explosions at three busy Bali restaurants on Saturday night.
More than 120 people were injured.
Mr Abbott says some Australians sustained serious injuries, but were bearing up well.
"Obviously they were pretty upset about what had happened to them, but under all the circumstances, I think they were bearing up quite well," he told the Nine Network.
"I'm no doctor, but they were pretty cut up, many of the casualties.
"I'm told that there were some very serious abdominal injuries with some, but these bombs were apparently packed with ball bearings and shards of metal, and some of them were scarred right over their bodies."
All Australian patients have seen been flown out of Bali, Mr Abbott said.
"All of the injured Australians that we knew about yesterday are now either in Singapore or about to get to Darwin," he said.
He said the injured Australians had been helped by Newcastle doctor Adam Frost, who volunteered his services in the aftermath of the terrorist attack.
Dr Frost, also holidaying in Bali, had been helping at the island's main Sanglah hospital.
"(He's an) amazing man ... led the group yesterday in terms of keeping their spirits up and also in trying to ensure that they were getting the very best medical attention ... I think this man is a genuine Aussie hero," Mr Abbott said.
Prime Minister John Howard yesterday warned Australians to "think very hard" before planning a Bali trip.
Mr Abbott said he had no plans to cut short his holiday, but added that all Australians should be prudent.
"I'm just not sure that I want to send the signal to the people of Bali, that because of what's happened the other night, we're off," he said.
Mr Abbott said he was appalled at the "sheer wickedness" of the attack.
"But on the other hand, you can't help but admire the fortitude and the stoicism at which the Australian victims have coped," Mr Abbott said.
"No person on earth is as well disposed towards his or her fellow humans as an Australian tourist abroad.
"And I guess that's the kind of innocence which is always shattered when something like this happens."