David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator McGrath, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that 15 February 2017 marks the 75th anniversary of the fall of Singapore;

(b) acknowledges the significant contribution made by Australian forces in the defence of Singapore and in the Malaya Campaign, particularly:

  (i) the Australian 8th Division's efforts at the Battle of Muar, which saw a successful ambush of Japanese forces,

  (ii) the Australian forces who saw the first and fiercest attacks of the Battle of Singapore, and

  (iii) the 1,800 Australians who died during the Malayan Campaign and the Battle for Singapore;

(c) notes that the fall of Singapore saw over 15,000 Australians become prisoners of war and that many of these prisoners would die in captivity; and

(d) acknowledges that for many Australians, their experience as prisoners of war during the Second World War impacted thousands of families.

Question agreed to.