Warren Snowdon (Lingiari, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence Science and Personnel) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, I just want to inform the House of arrangements which have been made in relation to HMAS Sydney II. Since the announcement of the discovery of HMAS Sydney II, many relatives of those lost on the Sydney have been in touch with the Royal Australian Navy seeking further information. The HMAS Sydney II website and information line are now up and running. A registration form where relatives can register their contact details is now available online at www.navy.gov.au. The website contains fact sheets and weblinks to the Finding Sydney Foundation website and the Sea Power Centre Australia. A national memorial service will be held in Sydney at St Andrews Cathedral at 11 am on 24 April. Relatives can also register their details by ringing a new toll-free number which I spoke about earlier in the week. That number is 1800005687. I advise members also that the German embassy has advised us that the German government concurs with a plaque being laid over the site of the HSK Kormoran early in April.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence, can I say on behalf of the opposition how pleased we are that the memorial service is taking place and that the arrangements are in place for people to register. In talking with people who were affected by the finding of HMAS Sydney II, I have heard that it has revived many memories of their childhood and there has been a lot of turmoil in discussions between family members—pleasure has been experienced in knowing that the ship has been found but many memories have been very difficult to come to terms with—and I think the memorial service will be one where truly there can be some closure for people, and we congratulate the government on putting that in place.