Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I don't think the member for New England should try to piggyback on the dedicated work of the member for Clark and the member for Mayo next to him, asking an important question, which I'm answering in a respectful way. And I'd point out that in addition to the consideration we give to the DGR status, Minister Keogh in his portfolio, working closely with all of us, has other ways that we support this really important work.

And I wanted to confirm for the House, having looked into it, that one of the community groups, ex-service organisations and people who can apply for this funding assistance to mark unmarked private graves of First World War veterans is the Headstone Project. I can confirm for the member for Clark, for the member for Mayo next to him and for the parliament that the Headstone Project has been a successful recipient of grants under this program. And I raise it in that fashion because I understand that there is concern around the DGR status and the different state branches of this important organisation, and I think it's really important that we support their work, and I think this is the most appropriate way for us to do it.

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