Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Gippsland for bringing forward this motion today—an important topic. I also thank the member for Herbert and the member for Solomon for their contributions as well.

The Australian War Memorial is a sacred national space where a grieving nation can gather and a place of commemoration for those who returned and for those who did not. From its earliest days, the memorial has stood as a solemn place of international standing, telling the story of Australia's military history and as a vast archive preserving official records, artefacts and deeply personal accounts. Together these functions fulfil its enduring mission to lead remembrance and deepen understanding of Australia's experience of war. That mission is not just for ceremony; it is central to education in this country.

Each year the memorial is a focal point for school excursions, particularly for year 5 and year 6 students travelling from across Australia. For many young Australians walking through the galleries, standing in the commemorative area or watching the Last Post ceremony, it is their first direct encounter with our nation's military history. It transforms textbook learning into lived understanding. It connects names on a page to real lives, real families and real communities.

The memorial also serves as a vital research hub. Tertiary students studying history, international relations and military studies rely on its archives and collections. Letters, diaries, operational records and personal artefacts provide the primary source material that shapes serious studies across the country and worldwide. In this way, the memorial does not simply preserve history; it actively informs how history is written and understood. Over time, its scope has expanded to reflect the full breadth of Australian service, from the Boer War and the World Wars to Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East, from peacekeeping missions to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. It ensures contemporary veterans are recognised with the same dignity afforded to earlier generations.

Now, a major redevelopment is underway, scheduled for completion in 2028, to ensure there is sufficient space to properly tell the stories of modern service. Remembrance must evolve as service evolves. The redevelopment also supports broader historical reflection, including recognition of frontier conflict and the organised violence that occurred during colonisation. That inclusion strengthens understanding of Australia's full historical experience. The project incorporates significant upgrades to protect the national collection, improve accessibility and create better educational spaces. Central to this is the new Charles Bean Research Centre, a facility designed to expand archival access support and rigorous scholarship and to continue the careful documentation that Charles Bean championed.

The Albanese Labor government has ensured the resources are available to complete this redevelopment and secure the memorial's future. This is an investment not just in infrastructure but in education and remembrance. It ensures that the future generations of Australians will continue to learn from and reflect upon the service of those who have worn the nation's uniform. It has been encouraging to see the progress achieved, and I commend the memorial for remaining open throughout construction so students, researchers and families can continue to engage with its spaces. I thank Matt Anderson, the director, for his engagement over that time with myself and many people in this parliament.

As the expanded galleries take shape, there is also value in taking time to reflect on ongoing operations close to home such as Operation Resolute, the Australian Defence Force's standing mission to protect our maritime borders. It brings together Navy, Army and Air Force personnel working alongside the Australian Border Force. Through maritime patrols, aerial surveillance and interception tasks, it safeguards Australia's sovereignty. It is sustained, demanding service often carried out beyond public view. Thousands of ADF personnel have contributed to Operation Resolute over the years. Their professionalism and endurance deserve thoughtful recognition. As new exhibition spaces are developed, there is merit in considering an installation that acknowledges Operation Resolute not as a commentary on policy but as recognition of service—recognition that the defence of Australia takes many forms, from historic battlefields abroad to ongoing vigilance in our own region. The Australian War Memorial stands as a promise that those who serve will be remembered, from Tobruk to Timor, from the Boer War to Baghdad and in operations like Resolute. The redevelopment ensures that promise endures, that the memorial continues to educate, commemorate and inform. Lest we forget.

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