Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to pass on some bleak, sad and tragic news about the reality of life in Australia for a lot of our veterans these days. On average, a veteran is lost to suicide every four days in this country. 57 of them have taken their lives so far this year. Mark Johnston, my friend who heads up the Australian National Veteran Arts Museum, is here in the gallery today. I acknowledge him. He knew many of them. He also knows many others who are at risk right now.

Thankfully—and thank you, Senator Lambie—there are now some great organisations out there supporting our veterans. Museums and cultural institutions do play an important role in creating a sense of identity, a sense of worth, some purpose and some hope for these men and women in our communities and also individually. Remember: Weary Dunlop once said, 'Give the men in hospital access to the arts and crafts so they may have an interest in life.' In the 1930s, they built at 310 St Kilda Road a repat hospital for World War I veterans—and then it was used for World War II veterans—where Weary Dunlop took care of patients. That's the building where we hope and plan for ANVAM to be. It's been owned by the Department of Defence and has been empty for 20 years, and it will be the new home of ANVAM. It will validate the service and promote creativity. We're working with the War Memorial to provide a social gathering place. It will include all those who are suffering emotional turmoil. And it's in the arts centre footprint, as they call it, near the shrine, almost opposite the wonderful bronze statue of Weary Dunlop with one touch of red, which is the red poppy in Weary Dunlop's lapel.

Tonight I want to thank the Victorian government and especially the Treasurer, Tim Pallas, for working closely with us to give this museum a home in our beautiful St Kilda Road opposite the shrine. I also want to thank the federal government and the Victorian state government for their commitment to this project, because their commitment to the project has touched many people in the veterans community. They can't wait to have that museum space to call their own. I walked through it recently—admittedly with a safety mask because there was asbestos and God knows what in there—and it is going to be a magic place for the veterans in Australia.

Just one more point I want to make quickly is that on Anzac Day this year we had a display of veterans' art in an art gallery in Collins Street. I looked at some of the beautiful artworks there and I said to the guys, 'What are you going to do with your artwork while we try to get this museum open?' And they said, 'We'll probably stack them away in packing boxes.' I said, 'Give me a couple of them—they'll be on display in my office.' And two, by veterans Michael Williams and Sean Burton, are on display in the foyer of my office here. I invite all senators—all my colleagues—to come and have a look at them.