Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Each Anzac Day, we pause to remember those who served, those who sacrificed and those who never came home, but there's one place—half a world away, in northern France—where Australia's story is written into the soil: Villers-Bretonneux.

In April 1918, as part of the German spring offensive, the town was captured by German forces. At dawn on 24 April the enemy advanced. The situation was desperate. It was Australian troops, the 13th and 15th brigades, who led the counterattack. In fierce hand-to-hand fighting. Australian imperial forces encircled the town, and by 25 April—the third anniversary of Gallipoli—they'd reclaimed it.

Around 46,000 Australians were killed on the Western Front. More than 18,000 have no known grave. Many of their names are etched into the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux. Above the entrance to the local school are words that read 'N'oublions jamais l'Australie'—or 'never forget Australia'. To this day, French schoolchildren sing our national anthem in gratitude for the Australians who saved their town. That is the legacy of their service. That is the bond forged in battle.

This year, I'm incredibly proud that one of our own from Fisher, my good friend Peter Kennedy, has been selected as one of seven—out of 800 applicants through a Department of Veterans Affairs process—to represent Australia at the 2026 Anzac Day service at Villers-Bretonneux. Peter—or PK, as he's known—is a retired warrant officer with more than 32 years service in the Royal Australian Air Force. PK was a C-130 loadmaster. He served on multiple deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan and East Timor, as well as humanitarian missions across the globe. Today he continues to serve as president of Young Veterans Sunshine Coast, as wellbeing officer at the Beerwah RSL, as a contributor to the veterans royal commission process and as founder of the Veterans Wellbeing Foundation on the Sunshine Coast, creating practical spaces where veterans can connect, support one another and rebuild.

As a father of four and a tireless advocate for those who have worn our nation's uniform, there is no better person to represent this country or the Sunshine Coast than Peter Kennedy. At 5.30 in the morning, in the cold dawn air at Villers-Bretonneux, PK will lay a wreath on behalf of our nation. From the beaches of the Sunshine Coast to the fields of the Somme, Fisher will be represented with dignity and pride by a great Australian who I admire so much. Congratulations, PK. Lest we forget.