Ben Small (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to bring the attention of the Senate to a significant anniversary in Australia's proud military history. The date of 19 November marks the 80th anniversary of the tragic sinking of HMAS Sydney off the Western Australian coast in 1941. It was the largest single loss of life ever experienced by the Royal Australian Navy.

Throughout the late thirties and in the early stages of World War II, the Sydney was primarily tasked with assisting the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean. In addition to protecting merchant vessels and delivering equipment and personnel, the Sydney was also engaged in direct combat against Axis forces and collected a myriad of combat distinctions. Leaving the Med, the Sydney returned home to Australia for a refit and to conduct operations in the Indo-Pacific region. On that fateful day in 1941, whilst on patrol just 200 kilometres to the west of Shark Bay, the Sydney discovered and engaged the German auxiliary cruiser Kormoran, disguised as the Dutch merchant vessel Straat Malakka. The Sydney took significant damage during the battle, and both vessels sank at some point during the night. Of Sydney's total complement of 645 Australians, not a single one survived.

In the years since the Sydney's loss, conspiracy and debate have surrounded her fate, and it was only in 2008 that her wreckage was discovered, finally solving one of Australia's most enduring maritime mysteries. Today, the Dome Of Souls in Geraldton, featuring 645 individual seagulls over a lone bronze woman staring out to sea in vain hope of the Sydney's return is all that reminds us of the brave men who served on the Sydney and who paid the ultimate price by giving their lives in defence of this great nation. Lest we forget.