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

I again thank Senator Mason for his question. As I said, this will be the flagship commemorative event but it comes on top of the Anzac Centenary Local Community Grants Program—which I acknowledge was started under the former government. In the last budget we topped it up, and 150 members in the other place are providing in their own communities local projects which will enable those communities to commemorate as well.

For those who are from country areas, they will fully understand, as I do, the level of sacrifice of, predominantly, men who came from the smallest towns around this nation and went to Albany and left our shores.

Telstra and the Commonwealth Bank have been absolutely pivotal in the success of the running of this program. The exhibition will tell this nation's story. It must be told and it needs to be told for future generations as well as those of us who are here today.