Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Bernardi for the question and for his ongoing interest in the Centenary of Anzac, as well as my colleagues behind me; and indeed their fight for veterans before the last election, particularly in relation to DFRDB and the DFRB indexation issue. I thank my colleagues most sincerely.

The Abbott government is determined to ensure that local, community based commemoration is at the heart of our agenda for the Centenary of Anzac. The Australian government will be putting in some $140 million towards some very significant projects: the redevelopment of World War I galleries, the Albany Interpretive Centre and further commemorative activities at Villers-Bretonneux and Gallipoli. But within Australia, the local, community based commemoration program is supported through the $18.75 million Anzac Centenary Local Grants Program.

The Centenary of Anzac, as honourable senators will know, is indeed about commemorating ordinary men and women who did extraordinary deeds. This local commemorative grants program is an important part of that. That is why the Abbott government has increased funding to the program to $125,000 for every federal electorate. I remember in my time in the other place, when Con Sciacca was the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, and he conducted the Australia Remembers program, a fantastic bipartisan support to local communities throughout Australia, from the biggest cities to the smallest towns. The Abbott government has increased funding to ensure that this occurs. (Time expired)