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

Again can I thank Senator Fawcett for the question. If I can just finish off on that previous answer, the Australian government and the Australian people are very grateful to Qantas.

Last year, on behalf of the Prime Minister, I wrote to all the surviving widows of our Gallipoli veterans—who at that time numbered about 140, which is a quite remarkable number—and invited them to be guests of the Australian people and the Australian government at Anzac Day this year. Up to 10 of these ladies, along with a carer, have accepted the offer and, subject to their health and wellbeing being okay in April, they will go to Turkey.

It is interesting that Qantas, as I said before, provided support to the remaining veterans in 1990, on the 75th anniversary of the Anzac commemorations, and now they are providing similar assistance to the widows of those men this year. They will fly these ladies to Turkey, where they will fully participate in all Anzac Day commemorative events, including the Dawn Service. (Time expired)