Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602
Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140
The Hon Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
Catherine King MP
Member for Ballarat
VA095
Monday, 29 September 2008
NATIONAL MEMORIAL FOR POWS
The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat has today been officially declared a
national memorial by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin.
“Today’s declaration ends a long process for the people of Ballarat and the POW community who
have lobbied for national recognition for their memorial commemorating the suffering of Australian
prisoners of war,” Mr Griffin said.
“It is the first national memorial declared under new legislation introduced by the Australian
Government to allow military memorials outside the Australian Capital Territory to be recognised for
their national significance.
“Today’s declaration delivers on the Labor Party’s election commitment to recognise the ex-
Prisoners of War Memorial as a national memorial.
“The former Government claimed that it was not possible to nationally recognise the Memorial. In
contrast, the Government committed to national recognition before the election, introduced
legislation in March, which passed in June and attained royal assent in July. In early September the
Prime Minister agreed that the memorial could be declared a national memorial,” said Mr Griffin.
The Ballarat ex-POW memorial recognises the deprivations experienced by the 35,000 Australians
held prisoner of war during the Boer War, the two World Wars, and the Korean War.
“There are only around 1600 ex-POWs alive today and if it were not for the efforts of the Ballarat
RSL, the Ex-Prisoners of War Association, the Ballarat community and their Member of Parliament,
Catherine King, today’s declaration would not have occurred,” Mr Griffin said.
“This has been a genuine community campaign for recognition and I applaud their efforts.”
Catherine King, Federal Member for Ballarat, said the people of the Ballarat electorate, supported
by people from across Australia, have long believed this memorial is nationally significant.
“Today is a great day for all veterans and their families – indeed for everyone who believes the
suffering endured by our Prisoners of War deserves national recognition,” Ms King said.
“This national status reflects a strong desire of the Australian people to appropriately honour our
POWs.”
Today the Minister signed the declaration making the Ballarat Ex-POW memorial a national
memorial and the declaration will gazetted shortly.
The Government is providing $160,000 over four years to maintain the memorial.
Media inquiries:
(Minister Griffin) Laura Ryan 0437 863 109
(Ms King) Chris Carpenter 0409 855 946
The VVCS – Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a
week on 1800 011 046.
To receive the Minister’s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
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