Guy Barnett (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Chairman of the Scrutiny of Government Waste Committee) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 720, standing in my name and the name of Senator Williams, by omitting in subparagraph (a)(iii) the following words ‘and in many ways demeans the fine military service and contribution from both these states’.

Leave granted.

I, and on behalf of Senator Williams, move the motion as amended:

That the Senate—

(a)

notes:

(i)

the Australian War Memorial is organising an important and unique nationwide tour of nine Victoria Cross medals to coincide with the 95th anniversary of Gallipoli,

(ii)

the tour commences in Perth, Western Australia, in March 2010 and is scheduled to visit South Australia, the Northern Territory, Victoria, and to conclude in Brisbane, Queensland, in November 2010, and

(iii)

the exclusion of Tasmania and New South Wales is very disappointing;

(b)

calls on the Australian War Memorial to extend the tour to both Tasmania and New South Wales; and

(c)

requests the Government to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure this objective is achieved.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Alan Ferguson (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for two minutes.

Kerry O'Brien (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the Senate. This exhibition is funded by Mr Kerry Stokes. Locations for the exhibition were chosen by the Australian War Memorial, which is an independent cultural institution. The Australian War Memorial Council is made up of eminent Australians appointed by government and is an independent decision-making body. It is not the practice of this government, nor has it been the practice of previous governments, to interfere with the decisions of the Australian War Memorial. On aspects of this motion which go to activities other than those of the government, the government would not have difficulty in supporting it, but given its wording and the fact that just recently Senator Barnett has indicated that he would prefer to put the motion today rather than reconsider another form of words we government senators will be forced to oppose this motion.

We will not be calling for a division. We recognise that the motion of Senators Barnett and Williams will have majority support, with the coalition and the Greens, in the chamber.

Question negatived.