Veterans

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (14:42): My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Can the minister update the house and also the veterans in my electorate on the government's commitment to commemorating the service of South Australian veterans and their families? With your leave, sir, and that of the house, I will explain further.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK: With the recent passing of the 110^th anniversary of our diggers landing at the Gallipoli Peninsula—I had the great privilege and pleasure of attending five events on that ANZAC Day just recently—and also the significance of the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II, it is now more than ever important that we as a state commemorate the services and sacrifice of South Australian servicemen and their families in South Australia. Can you update the house on what you are doing as the minister?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS (Cheltenham—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:43): I thank the member for his question. Of particular note is today's special occasion of Veterans' Families Day. In noting the occasion, can I pay a special thank you to the member for Stuart, who was, as former Minister for Veterans' Affairs, instrumental in ensuring that South Australia became the first state, and remains to this day the only state, to recognise Veterans' Families Day. Member for Stuart, the veterans community have a great deal of thanks for you, particularly on days like today.

This morning I had the pleasure of attending a morning tea at the Port Adelaide footy club, in fact in my electorate of Cheltenham, to note and recognise this year's Veterans' Families Day. We this year are very proud to partner with the MFS. The Metropolitan Fire Service is one of the state public sector's largest employer of veterans. In fact, 12 per cent of the entire workforce of the MFS are veterans. Of particular note is a special wrap that a general purpose pumper from the MFS has undertaken this year. You will see it around Adelaide, and that is a great wrap to recognise the service of the families of veterans. As it says on the side of the truck, 'No-one serves alone'. We truly do recognise that the sacrifice of families in support of those who serve our nation is profound and important. It is very much seen by this government.

Along with a number of participants this morning was the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia South Australia branch, which, across the next couple of days, has organised a big event on Sunday 18 May in conjunction with the Payneham RSL. There will be a full day of activities, including live music, games, raffle prizes and face painting. You can also sit in a military service vehicle provided by the wonderful volunteers from the National Military Vehicle Museum, which is in South Australia.

The Alberton Oval was a fitting place to hold this morning's morning tea, particularly to note the strong connection between the Australian Defence Force and their families and the Port Adelaide footy club. The state government is very proud to partner with the Port Adelaide Football Club to support the continuation and expansion of the Port Adelaide ADF Veterans Program.

The member for Stuart would indeed know well that there is no act of public service more noble or more honourable than to serve our nation as a member of the Australian Defence Force, and remembering those who serve and have served is our most important duty as a community. On 25 April the nation commemorated the 110^th anniversary of the Australian and New Zealand landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula. As so many people in this place did, I attended a number of ANZAC Day services—I am not sure if it was five, as many as the member for Stuart. But again, we note the extraordinarily solemn day that 25 April provides.

To coincide with ANZAC Day this year I had the pleasure of announcing the largest ever funding round from the state government in war commemoration. In recognition of ANZAC Day and the 80^th anniversary of the end of World War II, $328,000 of new funding for new grants to further demonstrate the commemoration of service is now hitting the grassroots organisations around our state.