Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Veterans Affairs and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the wonderful Centenary of ANZAC program, Senator Ronaldson. I refer the minister to the government's commitment to honour and to capture the war service of Australian men and women. Can the minister inform the Senate about preparations the government is making for commemoration of the August Offensive and the Battle of Lone Pine in Turkey this August?

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

I thank Senator Reynolds for the question and thank her for her service to this nation as well. In August 1915 the Anzac forces began what was called the August Offensive, the last great push to remove the Turkish forces from Gallipoli. It was probably the most fierce of our campaigns in Gallipoli. The casualties were enormous, and seven Australians were awarded the Victoria Cross during that particular campaign. To honour the service of those men, on 6 August this year there will be another major commemorative event at Lone Pine. It is the first of its type, and the department is gearing up for that as it did for the Anzac Day services. I want to place on record my deep and abiding thanks to the department staff for the fantastic job they did.

This service will start at five o'clock on 6 August. Today I want to announce a free and non-compulsory registration scheme to enable those Australians wishing to attend the ceremony to register to receive information about the commemoration. This commemorative event will not be ticketed or balloted as the Anzac Day service was. There will be about 5,000 places for those who wish to attend the service. I strongly encourage people who might be interested in going to register their interest in attending to enable the government to provide them with the information necessary to ensure the appropriate conduct of the ceremony. We encourage those who are attending to be there by midafternoon to enable security and other screening to take place. (Time expired)

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Will the minister further inform the Senate about the government's commitment to honouring the centenary of service and particularly the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War?

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

Again, I thank Senator Reynolds. As honourable senators will be aware, the Prime Minister and I announced that we will be returning those men from Terendak, and some dependents as well. This is righting a 50-year wrong and it will be in the run-up to the 50th anniversary next year of Vietnam Veterans Day. I met with the Malaysian deputy minister last week in Malaysia. He advised me of the government's very, very strong support to return these men. I want to thank Ken Foster, David Ferguson and Bob Shewring, together with the late Tim McCombe, for this. The member for Solomon has also been of significant assistance.

The 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War will be one of the most significant commemorative events in this nation over the Centenary of Anzac period. Bringing home these men, righting a 50-year wrong, is a very, very important part of that.

Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Will the minister also inform the Senate of how the government is ensuring that the service of current serving personnel is recorded appropriately for the future?

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

Thank you again, Senator Reynolds. As the Senate has heard me say before, this four-year period is about a centenary of service and sacrifice, not just about events at Gallipoli. As part of that I today announce the opening of the recruitment process for an official historian to oversee the writing of the official history of Australia's involvement in Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor. The government has provided $12.8 million in the recent budget to ensure that the Australian War Memorial is properly able to tell the stories of these men and women serving in our nation's name. This will tell the story of these engagements. This is an acknowledgement—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

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

I thought those opposite might be remotely interested in this. This is about our contemporary veterans. These official histories will, as we have done with all official histories, tell the story of the contribution of these young men and women to this nation.