ANZAC Centenary Memorial Walk

Ms DIGANCE (Elder) (14:15): My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Can the minister inform the house on the number of people who have visited the ANZAC Centenary Memorial Walk?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:15): I thank the member for Elder for her question. She is very committed to veterans' issues. As members of the house are aware, on Saturday 23 April the Premier and I, along with the Governor, the Hon. Hieu Van Le, opened the ANZAC Centenary Memorial Walk in Kintore Avenue. This walk was the preferred project of the Veterans Advisory Council to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC.

Since this date, in a little over two months, more than an estimated 30,000 people have visited the memorial walk, whether they were on their way to work, school or university, or paid a special visit just to view the walk, which is an increasing trend. This is exclusive of the 18,000 who walked down the walk the weekend of both the Port Adelaide versus Geelong game and those who attended the ANZAC dawn service. All of these people have been reminded of the courage and sacrifice of our service men and women, past and present.

If we compare the number of people who previously would have walked along Kintore Avenue in its former state, we would have been lucky to see more than 3,000. This memorial will stand as a lasting tribute to our ANZAC tradition. In creating such a memorial, we will ensure that the ANZAC legacy is protected and that we exercise our duty of responsibility towards past, present and future generations of brave men and women who make the sacrifices they do to preserve the way of life we enjoy today.

Later this month, the shadow minister for veterans and I, along with the Governor of South Australia, will attend the 100^th commemoration of the Battle of Fromelles—that bloodiest of grounds for Australian and South Australian young men. It's worth remembering at this particular time in this particular sitting week that, in this week exactly 100 years ago, thousands of our fellow Australians were moving into the line at Fromelles and Pozières on the western front for the opening of those engagements. Shortly thereafter, the worst of all possible news was delivered to households across this state, from Ceduna to Mount Gambier, from the Far North to the Fleurieu, and across suburbs all through the city of Adelaide—the most horrible of news for any mother, any set of parents, or for any family—and it was news delivered by the thousands.

On 14 July, the French government has determined that Australia will lead the Bastille Day march down the Champs-Élysées in recognition of that sacrifice. It is a great honour for the French government to have made that gesture, and at the front of the march will be representatives of the South Australian battalions at Fromelles and at Pozières.