Martin Ferguson (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Transport, Roads and Tourism) Share this | Hansard source

to move:

That the House believes that the Australian Government should declare 3 September each year as Merchant Navy Day in Australia as a means of:

(1)

recognising the heroism of Australian seafarers in times of war;

(2)

acknowledging that, during World War II, one in eight Australian merchant seafarers perished;

(3)

noting that, in her address to the 2005 US National Maritime Day memorial service, US Secretary of Labour, Elaine L. Chao, called on all Americans to honour the brave men and women who served the country in times of war and said: “American merchant mariners have a rich history in this nation … They have served in every American war since the United States was born. With their tradition of courage, patriotism and perseverance, merchant mariners have proven that they stand by this great nation no matter what the challenge. And in so doing, they have served as an inspiration to every generation of Americans”; and

(4)

recognising the debt that all Australians owe to Australian merchant seafarers for the contribution they have made to the defence of this nation, particularly their role in the allied victory in World War II.

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