Port Lincoln RSL

In reply to the Hon. S.L. GAME ().14 November 2023).

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries): The Minister for Veterans Affairs has advised:

1. The Garden of Remembrance Cemetery is owned by the Port Lincoln RSL. The recent article published by InDaily incorrectly stated that federal funding was cut from the Port Lincoln RSL. The funds referred to in the article were a one-off grant of $100,000 across four financial years, provided by the state government. Accordingly, the state government has not approached Hon. Matt Keogh MP, commonwealth Minister for Veterans' Affairs about the matter.

The Port Lincoln RSL did not have its funding cut, the grant concluded on 30 June 2023.The conditions of the grant agreement were negotiated between Veterans SA and the previous committee of the Port Lincoln RSL.

2. The state government will financially assist the Port Lincoln RSL to ensure the local RSL branch and its volunteers can continue maintaining the site.

The Garden of Remembrance, at Port Lincoln, is the final resting place of more than 550 veterans and their spouses.

A $75,000 grant over three years will be allocated to help the Port Lincoln RSL maintain the cemetery grounds to a high standard that appropriately honours and commemorates the sacrifices made by Australian war veterans. The grant will be administered by Veterans SA.

The new funding will go towards maintenance and upkeep of the historic site and replacement of an automatic watering system to ease volunteer workload.

I have spoken with Port Lincoln RSL sub-branch president, Gary Clough, and will visit him at the Port Lincoln RSL Garden of Remembrance in the new year to see firsthand the good work being done by the volunteers.