Doorstop, Canberra

SUBJECTS: Funding for Australian Military Training Memorial 

MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL: It's. Well, good morning, everybody. We're gathered here on Anzac Parade in Canberra, which of course is headed by the Australian War Memorial, but is a street that is lined by memorials recognising those that have engaged in our Defence Force and as peacekeepers in various different conflicts and engagements around the world. Certainly we know as a nation, and those in the Defence Force absolutely understand, that when we lose the life of any Defence Force member, it is a national tragedy. It’s obviously, deeply, deeply hurtful for any of their family, but also their Defence family at the unit level, but across the entire Defence Force. And as a nation, we respect everybody who serves in our Australian Defence Force and certainly our condolences always go out to the families of those who die. Now, for those who have died in operations, in war, in conflict, in peacekeeping, their names end up on the Roll at the Australian War Memorial. And their engagement in operations and conflict are often recognised in other national memorials here on Anzac Parade. But for those who have been killed in training exercises and undertaking other activity, peacetime activity, in the Defence Force, there hasn't been a national memorial to commemorate their very important to our nation. Now, we know that Defence life, military life, is unique. And of course, in order to train for the conflict that may come, we put our Defence Force members at higher risk. We, of course, always try to minimise that risk. But we do see, unfortunately, deaths do occur in training. Over the last 30 years, we've had some 50 people die in training in the Australian Defence Force, and of course, we've had two already this year. So, it's really important that we recognise that sacrifice of those in our Australian Defence Force that have died of training. Most fortunately, the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association has proposed that we have a national memorial recognising those that are killed in service, killed in training. And the National Capital Authority has agreed that such a memorial can be placed here on Anzac Parade. The Australian Government is very happy to partner with the Australian Peacekeepers in making sure that this memorial becomes a reality with a $500,000 grant to support their work in getting this memorial started. Going out and developing designs, working with the community, consulting, running a competition so that they can start that journey towards a memorial to be here in our national capital, recognising those that are killed in service. It's a big task and the Australian Government's really happy to be here right at the beginning to partner with the Australian Peacekeepers in developing this memorial. They'll be seeking to develop a design, they'll be running a fundraising campaign, just like there has been for all the memorials here along Anzac Parade. We, of course, encourage all Australians, whether they're in the Defence Force, the family members of those that have tragically passed away, or those who just want to ensure that we properly respect and commemorate the memory of those that are lost, that they get engaged in supporting the work of the Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Veterans Association, in making this memorial a reality and the Australian Government is really proud to be here at the beginning with them. 

The other important thing that the Australian Government is doing is formally recognising death in service as part of our honours and awards system. The Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal held an extensive inquiry looking at how can we appropriately recognise those killed in operations, those killed in training, those killed through their Defence service through the honours and awards system, and make sure that their families are appropriately recognised and able to be recognised as those that have tragically lost a loved one to their military service. So, the Australian Government will be moving forward with the development of a Killed in Service clasp to go on the Australian Defence Medal for those who pass away through their military service. But we will also be producing a pin that will be given to immediate family members of those that have passed away as a result of their service in the Defence Force, so that they have a visible way of demonstrating and showing to the community their loss, a loss that was on behalf of our nation. We're also going to be looking at how do we, if we can, recognise those that are severely injured through their service. Now, in developing the clasp, in having the pin and also a scroll to be presented to families who have lost a loved one through their military service, there are finer detailed definitional points that need to be agreed and we want to consult with the Australian community, with the veteran community, with the veteran family community around how do we make sure that we properly recognise those people, by making sure we include all of the right people and that we have a clear definition so people can go forward. The honours and awards system is something that is terribly important in Australia. It's one of the key ways in which we recognise our civilians, but also our Defence members. Making sure that it operates with integrity, with clarity, is incredibly important. And so that's why we are releasing a discussion paper today that is available on the Defence website. People will be able to go and read that, look at some of the final issues that need to be determined, provide their feedback by the end of January next year, so that government can then finalise the necessary regulation changes to the honours and awards system, as well as developing the rules so that people are very clear around who is eligible for a Killed in Service class, family members eligible for the pin and for the scroll, and whether the possibility to proceed also recognising other forms of injury that occur through Defence service as well and we look forward to receiving everybody's feedback. I'd now like to invite Rod, who's leading the charge on the memorial, to say a few words about the memorial that go here.

ROD HENDERSON, CEO AUSTRALIAN PEACEKEEPERS AND PEACEMAKERS VETERANS’ ASSOCIATION: Good morning, everyone. Thanks for coming along. I'd first like to thank the Minister and the government for getting behind this project and helping us with this important money to get it going. This is a memorial that will be here to recognise all Australian Defence Force members who have been killed whilst in training in preparation for deployment. This is something that's not only important to those that serve, but also very important for the families who have lost those loved ones. It's an ambitious project. It's one hat we've got a lot of work to do, but we've got the right people in place to help make it happen. As the Minister said, there's a lot of people that come to the government for money. We appreciate his help in getting us here this far, but I also now call on the Australian public and also the veteran community to help get behind this important project, because something that we need to take ownership of and everyone could help support it by having a small little piece of this getting behind it as well. Happy to take any questions if you have them. 

REPORTER: When are you expecting the Memorial will be completed?

HENDERSON: At this stage, we're projecting out to around 2029 to 2030. Hopefully it's completed on this position here. 

REPORTER: Do you know what $500,000 in initial funding will go towards and what the total (indistinct)? 

HENDERSON: So the vast majority of the seed funding will go towards setting up the conditions, the governance required around getting this project going, as well as the consultation piece with veterans and their families to get an understanding of what it is that they'd like to see positioned here. It'll be a monument that is similar in size and scope to what's already here. A lot of these monuments tend to be conceptual to a degree, this one will be very similar. It's something that we don't want to replicate what is already done at the Australian War Memorial, but it'll be something consistent with what you see already. 

ENDS