Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Parramatta for the motion, and I'm pleased to rise in support of it. In the famous words of Kemal Ataturk, what would the Johnnies and the Mehmets think of this? Across this country, here we are today in Australia, in the 21st century. A century ago people were fighting a war against one another, and today we're talking about the value of education and good will between people with bipartisan support. They would be astounded and extremely pleased, I'm sure.

Along with a number of people in this place, I was honoured to attend the launch of the Mustafa Kemal Ataturk Memorial Bursary on 18 March here in Canberra. I had the opportunity to lay a wreath at the Kemal Ataturk Memorial here in Canberra. Just think about that! We have a memorial to a warrior that led an army defending his country against our troops. Opposite our War Memorial in Canberra we have a memorial to honour him. It is an astonishing thing, but it says a lot about the humanity of Australians and the humanity of the Turkish people as well.

I was here with the member for Parramatta; the member for Solomon, who spoke so brilliantly and beautifully just a few minutes ago; the member for Lingiari, a former veterans' affairs minister in the last Labor government, the member for Paterson; the member for Fraser; and, of course, the Turkish ambassador, His Excellency Korhan Karakoc. I want to acknowledge Major General Michael Smith, AO, retired. Thank you for your chairmanship of the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. I thank Omer Incekara, the chair of Ataturk Scholarship, for the good work you're doing and the communitarian spirit you bring. You are making a difference in the lives of people, and we thank you sincerely for what you're doing.

The Ataturk Memorial Bursary is part of the Ataturk Scholarship, which in turn comes under the auspices of the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. As someone who represents RAAF Base Amberley, where there are Air Force and Army units, I know that they prepare for war, but they would be delighted about people being educated for peace. Where the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund supports, of course, the descendants of the Anzacs at university or TAFE, the new Ataturk Memorial Bursary will support further education of Turkish Australians at university or TAFE in 2022. The Ataturk Scholarship and bursary were founded by members of the Australian Turkish community in conjunction with the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund. It has been established to honour the Turkish origins of the Gallipoli Scholarship Fund.

The bursary is named after that extraordinary famous man, the great Turkish commander of the Dardanelles, who became the founder and the first president of the Republic of Turkey, one of the great men of history. Not many people can say they helped found a nation, and a republic at that. His words and actions did so much to rebuild relations between our two countries, with Australian and Turkish forces serving together in later conflicts and peacekeeping operations.

Ataturk was a warrior turned peacemaker. In war, he was a fierce opponent against the Anzacs; in peace, his grace and compassion did much to help rebuild respect and cooperation between our two great countries. Of course, Turkey allowed Australia and New Zealand to establish a memorial at Anzac Cove and has allowed us to commemorate Anzac Day there for many years now. This says much about the decency, sincerity and humanity of the Turkish people. We hope that, in a post-COVID world, public and popular attendance will resume at future Anzac Days. My friend the member for Solomon talked about Ataturk's famous words, written to the mothers of Anzacs. Ataturk talked about them lying side by side, 'in our bosom' and 'in peace'—peace, I note, not war. He said, 'Having lost their lives on this land, they have become our sons as well.' This bursary says much about the degree of unity and commitment between our countries.

This is an act of friendship by Turkish Australians, who've made an enormous contribution to our country, our economy and our community, helping to forge a strong and lasting bond between Australia and Turkey at a people level. While Australia was blessed by Turkish migrants during our colonial times, before Australia was federated, it's worth noting that many Turkish migrants have come to this country since 1967. They came as temporary workers, often intending to stay only a few years, but almost all chose to remain in Australia and become Australian citizens, like so many other migrants. Today there are more than 60,000 Turkish Australians, and they include two sisters, Hale and Funda Adasal, who featured in the 2017 Australian National Maritime Museum exhibition to celebrate 40 years of Turkish migration to Australia. Congratulations to all those associated with this bursary.

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