Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Fawcett for the question. Last week I was in the Solomon Islands representing the Australian people at the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Guadalcanal and commemorations of the sinking of the HMAS Canberraoff Honiara on 9 August 1942.

The Battle of Guadalcanal was the first major offensive and victory for the Allies in the Pacific. Importantly, the allied engagement of the Japanese at Guadalcanal meant that Japan could not afford to reinforce its troops on the Kokoda Track, and therefore it provided a critical turning point for victory in the Pacific and it contributed to the ultimate defence of Australia and, may I say, of the freedoms that we hold dear.

During the Battle of Guadalcanal, Allied forces lost approximately 7,000 lives. Twenty-nine ships were sunk and 615 aircraft were shot down. Japanese forces lost almost 20,000 lives, 38 ships and 880 aircraft.

HMAS Canberra was the lead ship in an Allied screening force and was protecting the landing of US marines on Guadalcanal when it was hit multiple times in a surprise attack by a powerful Japanese naval force in the early hours of 9 August 1942. She suffered irreparable damage and, the morning after, she was scuttled. Eighty-four crew were killed in the attack, including the ship's captain, Captain Getting. A further 109 were injured. HMAS Canberra remains the largest Australian warship ever lost in battle.

I also represented the government at a very moving ceremony on board HMAS Success at the very point where the Canberra went down. Of course, when ships go down, there is no physical memorial, and therefore we have to remember them— (Time expired)