Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. I refer the minister to the planned demolition of the Tarin Kot war memorial in Afghanistan, which commemorates the deaths of 114 International Security Assistance Force soldiers, including 40 Australians. What discussions has the government had with fellow ISAF countries about the possibility of permanently relocating this memorial to Australia, and what was the result of those discussions?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the senator most sincerely. This is actually a matter within the domain of the Minister for Defence, but I am happy to give the honourable senator the information he requires. I am advised by a note that I have been provided with that the decommissioning process for the wall was completed on 10 November 2013. The wall was an international—

An opposition senator: War grave.

Sorry?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Ignore interjections. Just address the chair, Senator Ronaldson.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is quite an important issue, Mr President.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ronaldson, just address the chair.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you. As I have—

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's why we asked the question.

Jacinta Collins (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We know that.

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Do you want to hear the answer or not? The wall was an international memorial and not uniquely Australian. Defence consulted with the countries involved and the families of our fallen soldiers, and all agreed that respectful destruction was appropriate. There have been some queries raised, I gather, in relation to what steps Defence takes to preserve historically significant items. The ADF is working with the Australian War Memorial and other agencies to ensure items of historical significance are managed and returned to Australia. Significant work has been undertaken to develop a detailed electronic record of the memorial wall based on historians' advice. The decommissioning process for the wall was undertaken respectfully and involved disposing of parts of the memorial that were impractical or impossible to return to Australia. Can I just repeat for the honourable senator that there was full consultation by Defence with the countries involved. This was not an Australian memorial; this was an international memorial. (Time expired)

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Thank you for that answer. Were there any logistical barriers to the relocation of this important memorial to Australia?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable senator for his supplementary question. I will take him back to my initial answer. This was, indeed, not a uniquely Australian memorial; it was an international memorial. The people who had the greatest involvement in this from a personal point of view were the families. It is not up to this chamber or me or the defence minister to lecture families about what is the appropriate course of action to be taken with a memorial that is in honour of their sons. We took appropriate action. Defence took appropriate action on the back of those consultations. I am sure the honourable senator is not suggesting it, but we most certainly were not going to do anything other than in accordance with the wishes of the families. (Time expired)

Don Farrell (SA, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Thank you for that answer. We certainly do not wish to do anything contrary to the wishes of the families, but is there any part of this memorial that will be brought back to Australia?

Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable senator for his supplementary. I will take that on notice for the exact information as to what may be returned. But, as I said earlier, the ADF is working with the AWM and other agencies to ensure items of historical significance are managed and returned to Australia. The decommissioning process for the wall was undertaken respectfully and involved disposing of the parts of the memorial that were impractical or impossible to return to Australia. I will take the rest of that question on notice.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.