Rick Wilson (O'Connor, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The National Anzac Centre, in my home town of Albany, is an essential memorial to our Anzac heritage. Opened in 2014 by Prime Minister Abbott and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the centre overlooks the majestic King George Sound, where the first convoys of Anzacs assembled before departing for World War I. Visiting Albany earlier this month, Minister for Defence Personnel and Minister for Veterans' Affairs Darren Chester said the centre stood on sacred ground, as it is the last part of Australia that many of our Anzacs ever saw.

Minister Chester expressed concern at the burden for the centre's recurrent costs resting with the city and the ratepayers of Albany. Unlike with the Australian War Memorial, in Canberra, entry to the National Anzac Centre is not free for all. For some time, Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington and I have argued that if there were funding to provide free entry it could service more school groups, particularly from my home state of Western Australia. This point is pertinent in the COVID era, when taking school groups across to Canberra is problematic.

After joining me at the centre in the week leading up to Anzac Day this year, Assistant Minister for Defence Andrew Hastie told returned service people at the Albany RSL that their city was a key piece of geography in the Anzac story. Mr Hastie, a veteran of Special Air Service Regiment, said we should make Australian history accessible to all at no cost. I thank Ministers Chester and Hastie for voicing their support for relieving the financial burden of this much-loved national monument for the people of Albany so it can be enjoyed by Australians, one and all.