The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP

Member for New England

STATEMENT

24 April 2026

Anzac Day 2026

As I travel to Inverell for tomorrow’s dawn service I think more than I did in the past about this beautiful country that we are so blessed to call our home, Australia. 

Without the service of our current defence force, our veterans, our forebears from our family and others, we would be living in diminished servitude in an oppressive overlord’s land. Instead, we are free but so many died, or were maimed, or saw their lives fall apart so that we can enjoy a freedom in a land we so often take for granted. 

Anzac Day is where we wake up early and travel in the dark to commemorate their service and our freedom. No one sees you arrive in the dark as it is not about us, but it shows you got out of bed, you got to the service, you acted in respect. It is a small sign of gratitude for so many who paid the ultimate sacrifice. 

People who serve put their lives on the dotted line for Australia. They are to die if ordered and circumstances are at bad odds against them. Their lives are and were no less precious than ours. People serve for so many reasons, but the common thread is that they love Australia. 

We are asked to never take their lives for granted, to never forget the sacrifice, the service, at times the absolute hell they went through for us. 

Lest we forget.