Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I acknowledge and associate the opposition with the remarks of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and I acknowledge, too, the poppy display around the parliament, which connects the parliament to the Australian War Memorial.

It was a hundred years ago that our nation made a promise: We will remember them. Lest we forget. We carve that promise into our grand national memorials in our capital cities and the stone of smaller and humbler monuments in country towns and coastal villages. We made that promise to the young Australians who died, to the ones who were wounded and to the ones who came home forever changed. And ever since, around our nation, at the going down of the sun and in the morning we repeat it to ourselves and to each other.

The first Anzacs are all gone. Even those left to grow old have passed away. But we will never forget their sacrifice or their service. We must continue to give our nation's century-old promise new meaning by doing everything we can to help the next generation of Australian veterans with their return to civilian life. We will remember them. Lest we forget.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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