The Headstone Project

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (16:01): I move:

That this council—

1. Acknowledges the importance of providing due recognition to those who served in World War I, and that The Headstone Project gives that recognition, respect and a sense of closure to World War I veterans' families;

2. Calls on the Malinauskas Labor government to support our fallen soldiers and provide funding to The Headstone Project at the requested amount of $75,000 guaranteed for three years; and

3. Calls on the Malinauskas Labor government to petition the Albanese federal government to reverse its previous decision and agree to grant The Headstone Project S.A. 'Deductible Gift Recipient' status.

I rise today to discuss the wonderful work done by a dedicated and skilful group of volunteers working in The Headstone Project. The Headstone Project came into being in 2010, when John Trethewey, a World War I researcher in Tasmania, discovered that some former service personnel were laid to rest in unmarked graves. The families and friends of the first AIF in Tasmania got together, and after eight years of effort, led by Andrea and Ron Gerrard, researching, finding families, planning, fundraising and erecting headstones, the group dedicated the last of 316 previously unmarked veteran graves in Hobart's Cornelian Bay Cemetery in December 2018.

This group was later supported by former Labor member of the House of Representatives representing the seat of Franklin, Mr Harry Quick, and it was both Harry and Andrea who back in 2016 took the trip over to South Australia to see how they could expand this important project. After discussions with Andrea and Harry and being inspired by the Tasmanian program, John Brownlie and Neil Rossiter developed The Headstone Project South Australia to mark the graves of World War I veterans with a prescribed military headstone to acknowledge their service to our nation in our state of South Australia.

This program has been successful in providing due recognition to those who served and providing comfort and closure to their families. It is speculated that there could be as many as 2,500 World War I diggers buried across South Australia, with an estimated 680 in unmarked graves. The volunteers search for World War I veterans throughout South Australia who have died and are buried in unmarked graves. After they conduct careful research and planning, the graves are marked with a prescribed military headstone to acknowledge those services to our nation.

Between 2018 and 2024, The Headstone Project received recurrent annual funding committed over two separate three-year funding agreements. This financial support has now ceased as it was not renewed in the recent state budget. The group has also attempted to secure a deductible gift recipient status to enable them greater ability to fundraise to cover the costs of marking World War I graves; however, it has been refused this status by the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury, the Hon. Andrew Leigh MP.

I have since written to the Hon. Andrew Leigh MP, and also unfortunately received a negative response, albeit recognising previous contact and the commendable work. Mr Leigh suggested that an application may be resubmitted. On 5 June 2024, the Hon. Frank Pangallo said in this place that:

It was extremely disappointing to learn this week that the veterans affairs minister, Joe Szakacs, told the project they were unlikely to get the funding they are seeking to identify around 50 graves each year over the next four years. It costs about $1,500 per grave, which includes a headstone and a plaque. We are talking about a paltry $75,000 a year, yet the government can find millions of dollars for their pet bread and circuses projects.

Excellent words, the Hon. Mr Pangallo.

Many of the diggers who served in the First World War were laid to rest during the difficult times of the depression when funds would have been tight, and many families simply would not have had the means to afford a decent burial. This wonderful initiative, and the people who tirelessly work to find and mark the graves of the fallen, not only gives long overdue recognition, it gives closure to families.

Since 2016, the South Australian chapter of The Headstone Project has installed 107 headstones; applied for and been responsible for the installation of 20 Office of Australian War Graves headstones; applied for and been responsible for the installation of 13 Centennial Park Garden of Remembrance plaques; and identified a further 411 veterans believed to be resting in unmarked graves, and who could be honoured with a headstone to recognise their service to our nation and, of course, to our freedom. That is a total of 167 veterans honoured, or in the process of being honoured, and given the remembrance they deserve, with 411 who deserve this same respect.

The Liberal Party acknowledges the sacrifice and commitment of all who serve, and who have previously served, our country. I am proud to say that this is now Liberal Party policy, that we have committed to supporting this project and the people behind it. If elected, a Liberal state government will fund The Headstone Project with $75,000 per year for three years as requested. We will also continue to work with the commonwealth in trying to obtain deductible gift recipient status, as it is the right thing to do.

It is a sad contrast to the moral and monetary commitment by the Liberal Party that the Labor Party had turned away from requests from The Headstone Project for funding until the candidate for the federal seat of Boothby Nicolle Flint and I wrote to the government requesting support for such a worthwhile project. Their response of a total of $20,000 per year for three years is well short of the amount of $75,000 per year for three years. While a token response to veterans and their families, it is at least something towards this wonderful project, and is better than continuing to shun the project as unfortunately Labor had done to that point.

Before I close my remarks, I want to pay tribute to a special individual I mentioned earlier, project volunteer Harry Quick, who quite suddenly passed away on 19 October this year while travelling here from his home state of Tasmania during the unveiling of Private Patrick Aloysius Byrne's headstone. Harry served The Headstone Project with a strong commitment, and his legacy of service will always be warmly remembered. Our condolences go to family and to The Headstone Project family in recognition of their loss.

I urge the Malinauskas government to step up in their support of this initiative and provide adequate funding that will enable the continuation of this valuable work and to petition their federal counterparts in the commonwealth to revisit the decision on deductible gift recipient status for The Headstone Project. With that, I commend the motion to the chamber.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. R.B. Martin.