Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Today is the last sitting day of the parliament before Anzac Day 2018. April itself will mark the start of a significant program of military commemorations in Australia and overseas, with 2018 culminating in the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War. Armistice Day, 11 November 2018, will mark the end of the most important commemorative period in Australia's military history, the Anzac Centenary, spanning 2014 to 2018. I'm sure all senators join me in encouraging all Australians to attend domestic and overseas services throughout 2018 to commemorate the service and sacrifice of the men and women who fought and died for our country.

We all know what a moving experience it is to attend a commemorative service in Australia and what a memorable experience it is to attend one overseas, often in places where Australians actually fought and fell. At home, commemorations will be held for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Atlantic, the 50th anniversary of the battles of Coral and Balmoral, the 65th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, the 75th anniversary of Australian forced labour at Hellfire Pass and the completion of the Thai-Burma railway, and of course the centenary of the First World War armistice. Overseas, Australians will commemorate the centenary of the battles of Villers-Bretonneux and Fromelles and the centenary of the First World War armistice. This year, the Australian government's role in support will be at Anzac Day services in France, Turkey, Belgium, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia.