Allegra Spender (Wentworth, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Yesterday I had the privilege of touring the newly completed Anzac Hall at the Australian War Memorial with the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans. It was a powerful experience—a moment to reflect on the extraordinary service and sacrifice of Australians across generations. But, for me, this reflection is not just abstract, it's also deeply local.

In Wentworth, I'm incredibly proud to represent a community with a strong and enduring connection to our Defence Force. We are home to historic and operational bases, including HMAS Watson, HMAS Kuttabul, Garden Island Precinct and Victoria Barracks. These institutions have been important in the lives of many families in our community over the years of their operation. Wentworth is also home to a large and vibrant defence community—current serving members, veterans and their families, who contribute enormously to the character of our electorate.

Alongside this, our local RSLs—as well as RSL NSW and RSL Australia—play a vital role in supporting those who've served. I particularly want to acknowledge North Bondi RSL, Rose Bay RSL, Paddington/Woollahra RSL, Bronte RSL sub-branch, Bondi Junction Waverley RSL sub-branch and, just out of my electorate, the Coogee Randwick Clovelly RSL. These organisations are more than just clubs. They are places of connection, support and community. They provide advocacy and care for veterans and their families, while also creating spaces where everyday Australians can engage in our shared history. I want to give a particular shout-out to North Bondi RSL, which stepped up as an operational hub in the aftermath of the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi. They demonstrated exactly what these institutions represent: community, service and care in moments of need.

As we approach Anzac Day, Australians across the country will pause to remember those who've served: those who gave their lives, those who returned and those who continue to carry the impacts of their service. But remembrance cannot be confined to a single day. Honouring our veterans means ensuring they're properly supported in their health, in their mental health, in their transition to civilian life and in their long-term wellbeing. It means supporting organisations who advocate for our veterans and also our serving defence members, including the Bravery Trust, Soldier On, Open Arms, the Athena Project and so many more.

This is especially important at a time of increasing global uncertainty. With instability in regions such as the Middle East and with Australian personnel continuing to serve in complex environments, the demands on our Defence Force remain significant. We must ensure that the systems designed to support them—from defence to veterans services—are responsive, well resourced and capable of meeting both immediate and long-term needs. In Wentworth, this is not theoretical. These are our neighbours, our families and our community.

So, as we move towards Anzac Day, let us recommit not only to remembering the past but to supporting those who serve today, ensuring that every veteran—and their families as well—is treated with care, dignity and the respect that they deserve.

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