Veterans' Affairs

In reply to Mr MARSHALL (Dunstan—Leader of the Opposition) (1 August 2017). (Estimates Committee A)

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence and Space Industries, Minister for Health Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs): There are approximately 2,300 veterans and spouses buried in the Derrick Gardens, with the remains of a further 3,000 (approximately) veterans and spouses interred in the RSL Walls. A further 850 veterans and spouses are interred in the Garden Edge section of the Derrick Gardens referred to as the Derrick Gardens of Remembrance.

On 16 November 2016, I signed a ten year agreement with the Centennial Park Cemetery Authority for the protection of veterans' graves and memorials in the Derrick Gardens and RSL Walls areas of Centennial Park cemetery.

The new agreement with Centennial Park was negotiated in substantially the same terms as the 2006 Agreement, which expired on 30 September 2016. The approximate annual cost of the agreement is $100,000 per annum.