AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL TO BE TRANSFORMED

This week, Prime Minister the Hon Scott Morrison MP, has unveiled a plan to transform and modernise the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, with the Anzac Hall to be demolished and replaced with a new structure spanning two levels which will focus on telling the Australian stories of conflicts more recent, including the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars.

“The Australian War Memorial — the soul of a nation … it transcends politics — people are very passionate about the War Memorial,” the Prime Minister said.

The overhaul has been costed at $500 million by the Morrison Government and the Prime Minister has guaranteed that this project would not diminish spending on veterans’ affairs.

The Hon Dr Brendan Nelson AO, Director of the Australian War Memorial, has been ‘unapologetic’ about the size of the funding required to rejuvenate the Australian War Memorial and has expressed his delight that the new facilities would allow Australians to commemorate the modern veterans, rather than the War Memorial being a monument to dwell on past wars.

Meanwhile, the Retired Service League NSW President, Mr James Brown, has applauded the Morrison Government’s willingness to tell the stories of veterans. However, he has urged the Government to increase funding for veterans’ affairs to a level that would match the funding given to the War Memorial.