Honours, Commemorations & Condolences

Your Excellencies Mr Acting Chief Justice Ministerial and parliamentary colleagues Member of the Australian Defence Force past and present Custodians of the Australian War Memorial ...

PM: I’m here today with the Acting Premier of Queensland, Andrew Fraser, and we’re here at the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and I very much thank the CEO Mr Graeme Newton for his briefing of me and the Acting Premier today and I also thank Richard Wilson for having us here...

PM: It’s great to be here today in my own electorate at QB, one of our fantastic community centres. I’m here actually in a kitchen and restaurant facility that was built with Federal funds and it’s part of a vocational education and training program in partnership with...

Today marks an important day in the recognition of long-serving police officers with the awarding of the first National Police Service Medals (NPSM). Sixteen serving officers – two from each State and Territory – have become the first to be honoured with the newest medal...

Hon. Tony Abbott, Leader of the Opposition. Ministerial colleagues Robert McClelland, Joe Ludwig and Brendan O’Connor, my Parliamentary Secretary, Kate Lundy. Representatives of the Australian Parliamentary Friends of Police Group, Chris Hayes MP and Senator Stephen...

Distinguished guests. Friends of Australia, from many countries. Ladies and Gentlemen. This weekend many Australians read the story of a young New York firefighter – James Dowdell. He wears his father’s uniform. Ten years ago today,...

Thank you very much to my parliamentary colleague Joel Fitzgibbon for that welcome. Can I also acknowledge my Federal parliamentary colleague Sharon Grierson and Jill Hall who are here, as well as state and local members. I specifically want to acknowledge our colleagues and friends...

Australians can now nominate their own local champions who have helped to promote inclusion and strengthen community relations under a new ambassador program set up by the Gillard Labor Government. The People of Australia Ambassador program will see up to 40 local champions selected...

I thank Diane Kerr for the Welcome to Country, and honour the traditional owners of this land, to whom Clyde Holding was such a true and faithful friend. Former Governors-General Sir Zelman Cowen and Dr Peter Hollingworth. My distinguished predecessors, Bob Hawke and Paul...

The Prime Minister today paid tribute to war heroine Nancy Wake, who passed away in London yesterday aged 98. New Zealand-born Ms Wake grew up in Sydney and after a brief stint as a nurse, worked as a journalist in Europe, where she married a French businessman in 1939. ...