The 40-year-old and 28-year-old from Brisbane-based 7th Brigade died when their truck rolled on Dotswood Road near a military training base not far from Charters Towers, southwest of Townsville, on Monday.

Defence rescue and medical teams attended, but the two were declared dead at the scene.
No one else was injured.

Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr has offered condolences and support to the soldiers’ families.

“Our highest priority is caring for the families, friends and loved ones of our soldiers and we ask that you respect their privacy during this difficult time,” he said on Tuesday.

“It is with this in mind that we will not be releasing the names of our soldiers at this time.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the deaths were tragic.

“I send my sincere condolences to their family and friends and the entire ADF community, who are mourning the loss of two of their own in such tragic circumstances,” she told state parliament.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton acknowledged the efforts of defence rescue and medical teams who “attended that scene in the most difficult, traumatic of circumstances”.

“I want to say to all of those at Gallipoli barracks and to all of those in particular at the 7th combat brigade that this Parliament and all Australians feel for you today,” he said in federal parliament on Tuesday.

“For the families of those lost and we know that there will be very significant grief at Gallipoli barracks today and at Lavarack barracks and indeed around the country.

“The Defence family is a very tight one, and we know that not only the families but the Defence families of these two men will be greatly mourning their loss, and we pay tribute to their service.”

Defence is working with Queensland Police to investigate the cause of the crash.