Keith Wolahan (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Like so many in this place, I wasn't born here but I learnt some truths about our sacred stories. There is no more important sacred story than the war memorial up the road, and it was appropriate that both sides of politics were there last night. I also learnt an important truth about that place—that service is not defined by ancestry but marked by duty, courage and sacrifice. We are a multicultural society. It's important to note that there are pages of that story that include multicultural Australians, and many who weren't born here are on that memorial, having given up all their tomorrows for our today.

That's why I was so pleased to see us announce, as a coalition, that we will fund a memorial sculpture in Box Hill to acknowledge the pages of that story written by Chinese Australians, including: Billy Sing in World War I; flying officer George Fong in World War II; Peter Liefman, a good friend of mine who served in Vietnam; and Grange Chung, who has served in contemporary conflicts. The memorial sculpture will be in Box Hill.

While the Prime Minister and defence minister are here, it's also important to note that service is not defined by politics either. Who you vote for was irrelevant to me as a platoon commander; it's irrelevant to the names on that memorial. I plead with the Prime Minister and the defence minister: it would be wonderful if you matched that commitment and we celebrated it together.