Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to join with others to commemorate the tragedy of the MontevideoMaru and to remember those many brave Australians who gave their lives in the service of their nation in circumstances which even today are shrouded in some mystery. A number of other speakers have raised individual cases of tragedy and the very personal stories of families who lost loved ones, families who were devastated by those events. I do not intend to go to the question of individual tragedies. Instead I would like to put a couple of points on the record as I think they highlight the scale of the tragedy. I would also like to remember the activities of some who in recent years have worked hard to ensure that the nation and government understand what took place by ensuring those tragic events are commemorated not only for now but into the future.

As we know and as other speakers have said, this was Australia's greatest single maritime tragedy, with the loss of some 1,053 Australian lives. If you go broader and look at what occurred at Rabaul, there were even more losses. I would like to quote from the speech of Mr Phil Ainsworth given at the luncheon on 30 June as part of the commemoration and dedication of the new memorial:

Firstly, I would like to place these tragic 1942 events in perspective. The 1,400 deaths represent a casualty rate of 82 per cent of the 1,700 Australian men present at the time of the invasion. The number captured is about six per cent of all Australian POWs taken in all theatres of the war, and their deaths comprise about 15 per cent of all Australian POWs who died during capture. As a maritime disaster, the sinking of the Montevideo Maru with over 1,000 Australians aboard compares in number with HMAS Sydney when 645 were lost and the hospital ship Centaur with 258.

Phil puts in statistical terms the enormity of this tragedy on the public record. As others have raised individual cases, these have personalised the very tragic nature of these events.

As some would remember, I was Minister for Veterans' Affairs last term and had the privilege to meet and talk with some of the family members of those who lost loved ones on the Montevideo Maru at a reception held here in Parliament House. I also had the privilege of advising them of the establishment of a memorial at the Australian War Memorial, kicking that off with a donation from the Australian government of $100,000 on behalf of the nation. I would like particularly to acknowledge Keith Jackson, who is known to some members. He is a colourful man. My first contact with him was when I was unfortunately quoted in the Australian on the issue of the Montevideo Maru, not quite out of context but without exhibiting the level of respect and understanding that Keith felt I should show. This led to Keith sending me one or two rather barbed emails and some rather unflattering information on his website. I have to admit I was not happy with this and sought to engage him to correct the record and ensure that we could deal with the issues in a more sensible fashion. This we did and we got over that unhappiness. I am now happy to call him a friend and I hope he is happy to call me one.

What I saw in Keith's actions and the actions of those surrounding him were dedication and determination to pursue a proper commemoration of this great tragedy. They have done that through a number of things, and their record over the last three or four years—as long as they have been working on this—is phenomenal. Putting together the funding and the establishment of the memorial at the AWM so quickly is phenomenal and a tribute to all of them. I would also like to acknowledge Steve Gower, the former director, for the advice that he gave me at the time about how this could best be pursued. To all those in the Rabaul and Montevideo Maru Society engaged in establishing the memorial and searching for the records to ensure that we understand better what occurred and that the nation understands the terrible tragedy that took place, I say you have performed a great service for your nation. To those who died, to those who served and to those who have suffered since, we as a nation owe you a great debt.

Federation Chamber adjourned at 13:02

See this speech in context