Budget cuts to Australian War Memorial an insult to Last Post service
28th September, 2009
The Rudd Labor Government’s Budget cuts to the Australian War Memorial that have forced the Memorial to seek private sponsorship for the Last Post service are insulting to all Australians, Federal Member for Wide Bay Warren Truss said today.“It is a national embarrassment that the Director of the War Memorial has been forced to seek commercial sponsorship to continue the Last Post commemoration,” Mr Truss said.
“That the Federal Labor Government has allowed this to happen is an insult to the commemoration and offensive to the significance and meaning it has for all Australians.”
“The Last Post service is a very special part of the War Memorial experience. The sounding of the Last Post at the end of the day at the War Memorial reminds Australia of its promise to honour, respect and remember all the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the security and peace of our nation,” Mr Truss said.
“It is incredible that the Labor Government can find hundreds of millions of dollars to fund consultancies, reviews, marketing and focus groups but refuses to provide adequate funding to the War Memorial.
“The Minister for Veterans Affairs told Fairfax Radio Network that the Australian War Memorial is a very solemn place and that the Last Post is a very serious ceremony and it ought to be treated appropriately.
“The Minister should now restore funding to the Australian War Memorial so it can maintain the Last Post service without the need for commercial sponsorship.”
