Post by Chips on Jul 20, 2009 5:30:56 GMT 9.5
Private Benjamin Ranaudo, a member of the Force Protection Combat Team, was killed and another soldier seriously wounded when a bomb went off while they were on foot patrol at a "compound of inter-est" during an operation in the Baluchi Valley.
Three Afghan civilians, including an eight-year-old child, were also injured.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd paid tribute to a "fine Australian soldier".
"This brave Australian soldier has paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country," Mr Rudd said.
And, just two days after three Australians were killed in a terrorist attack in Jakarta, Mr Rudd said it was important to remember Afghanistan had long been a training ground for terrorists worldwide.
"(It reminds) us of the reasons that we are in that field of combat," he said.
"It is in our long-term interest that we remain absolutely rock solid in our commitment there."
The Saturday morning incident occurred 25km north of Tarin Kowt while the soldiers were carrying out a cordon and search operation.
Pte Ranaudo was based at the 1st battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment in Townsville.
He had been in the military just over three years and had previously served in East Timor.
Australian Defence Force head Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said Pte Ranaudo had served "enthusiastically and with distinction".
"He died ensuring that terrorist groups do not have Afghanistan as a base from which they can plan and mount attacks," he said.
Pte Ranaudo is the 11th Australian digger to be killed in Afghanistan since the war began and the fourth this year.