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

I thank the honourable senator for her question. Yesterday was a great day for Canberra and a great day for this nation because the Australian War Memorial threw open the doors to the new $32 million redevelopment of the much loved First World War galleries. This is the first redevelopment of those galleries for nearly 30 years. It has been a major work. I congratulate everyone at the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, Rear Admiral Ken Doolan and all the staff for doing a fantastic job. I have had the opportunity to look at these galleries, and my only disappointment was that I did not have long enough. They are magnificent, and everyone listening and in this chamber will be very proud of that work when they see it.

These galleries will give all Australians the opportunity to learn more and to better understand Australia's history in the First World War. The Centenary of Anzac will undoubtedly be this nation's most important commemorative period ever. It is always important for all Australians not only to remember what is represented in the First World War galleries but to understand that the next four years are going to be a centenary of service and sacrifice not just 100 years ago in April but 100 years since, and we should never forget the level of that sacrifice. This gallery redevelopment combines with other projects at the memorial, including the Roll of Honour soundscapes, which are, again, quite magnificent, and the Roll of Honour name projection project. I actively encourage honourable senators who have not seen that to do so. The memory of those Australians, of course, is forever immortalised on the Roll of Honour in the memorial's cloisters. (Time expired)