War Memorials Outside Canberra To Be Recognised

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27th June 2008, 05:39pm - Views: 842





Government Government Minister For Veterans' Affairs 1 image





The Hon Alan Griffin MP

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Catherine King MP

Member for Ballarat


VA060


Friday 27 June 2008

WAR MEMORIALS OUTSIDE CANBERRA TO BE RECOGNISED

BALLARAT POW MEMORIAL TO BE FIRST


Parliament has now passed legislation that will allow memorials outside Canberra to be recognised as

National Memorials. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, said the Australian Ex-Prisoners of

War Memorial at Ballarat would be the first to receive such recognition.


“The passage of this legislation delivers on an election commitment made by this Government and I’d

like to acknowledge the work done by the Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, in bringing it to fruition,”

Mr Griffin said.


“The Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, built by the people of Ballarat, is a great tribute to the suffering and

survival of Australian prisoners of war.


“Once the bill receives Royal Assent, I will write to the Prime Minister and inform him that I am satisfied

that the Ballarat memorial meets the criteria for consideration under the legislation and seek his

agreement to declare the memorial a National Memorial,” Mr Griffin said.


The Member for Ballarat, Catherine King, said, “As this legislation has passed the Parliament, the people

of Ballarat and the ex-prisoners of war community are another step closer to having their memorial

recognised as a National Memorial.


“I understand that once the Bill is given Royal Assent, the formal process to recognise the Ex-Prisoners

of War Memorial will be completed as soon as possible.


“I would like to recognise the Ballarat RSL, the Ex-Prisoners of War Association, and the City and people

of Ballarat for their tireless efforts – their hard work is the real reason this monument will be recognised

nationally,” Ms King said.


Mr Griffin said that Australia had many fine war memorials that represented and commemorated the

service and sacrifice of our fighting men and women, but cautioned that approval to be listed as a

National Memorial would not be given to all memorials. 


“There are strict eligibility criteria that memorials must meet before being considered under this

legislation,” he said. 


“The eligibility criteria include the requirements that a memorial must be of an appropriate scale, design

and standard, and be dignified and symbolic.  It must be a memorial for the sole purpose of

commemorating a significant aspect of Australia’s wartime history and have a major role in community

commemorations.


“Also, the memorial must be owned or managed by an authority at the state, territory or local government

level and be maintained by that authority.”


Mr Griffin said that if local, state or territory governments who were responsible for a war memorial felt

that it was eligible for national status, they were welcome to make an application for consideration. 


Following Royal Assent, which will take at least two weeks, guidelines will be published on

www.dva.gov.au to assist organisations seeking to undertake this process. 


Media inquiries: 

Laura Ryan (Alan Griffin) 0437 863 109

Chris Carpenter (Catherine King) 0409 855 946






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