The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Member for New England

Media Statement

6 November 2024

 

LABOR CUTS FUNDING TO WORLD WAR I GRAVES … AGAIN

 

The Albanese Labor Government has cut funding again for a dedicated program to mark the private graves of World War I veterans.

 

The program had benefited from $3.7 million in funding under the previous Coalition Government after a pilot program placed 1,189 markers on the graves of men and women who had served in World War I.

 

Labor promised to match the Coalition’s $3.7 million funding for the program on the cusp of the 2022 election:

 

LABOR COMMITS TO HEADSTONE PROJECT FUNDING

 

Labor’s first budget cut the funding by more than half to $1.5 million across four years. It was revealed in Senate Estimates today that Labor has now cut the funding to $437,000 over four years.

 

The program enables committed individuals and organisations to identify the unmarked graves contributing to the preservation of the memory deserved to those who fought and died to protect our values and way of life.

 

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Barnaby Joyce MP, said the further funding cut was a disgrace.

 

An estimated 331,800 Australians were deployed during the First World War.

 

Approximately 60,000 were killed or are listed as missing in action, leaving some 271,800 service men and women who returned to Australia

 

Mr Joyce said that 170,000 veterans returned with injuries and afflictions sustained in World War I.

 

He said the Department of Veterans’ Affairs statement in Senate Estimates today that funding of only $18,000 was spent under the program in 2023/24 for 42 graves is unbelievable.

 

ENDS

Media contact: Phil Corbett 02 6761 3080