Page 1474 - Week 05 - Wednesday, 7 May 2008
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legislation seeks to ban activities such as sporting events, concerts, fairs and entertainment festivals being conducted between 3 am and 1 pm on 25 April every year. Legislation such as this already exists in Victoria and Queensland.
I shall just give some background to the importance of this particular day. On 25 April 1915, the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps began landing on the Gallipoli Peninsula in the first major military action following the Federation of Australia. A national day of commemoration known as Anzac Day is observed on the anniversary of the first Gallipoli Peninsula landing on 25 April each year. The commemoration of Anzac Day recognises the bravery and determination shown by the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and all members of the Australian Defence Force who have been involved in wars and armed conflict in the service of Australia.
Mr Speaker, like a number of members in this place, I have family members who served in the Gallipoli conflict. My grandfather landed with the 9th Battalion of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division in the very, very first wave. His rifle company is depicted in a well-known painting of the landing, so I do confess a deep personal interest in this particular campaign. But the aim of my tabling this legislation today is far, far broader than my own personal and family interest in the significance of the Anzac Day and what it means for us. The Anzac Day commemoration is one of the most important commemorations we have in the annual cycle of commemorations. It is a very, very important one.
Mr Speaker, I just want to draw your attention to some of the mechanics of the bill that I am proposing here today. Firstly, what do I mean by a “restricted activity”? In this act a restricted activity means a sporting event if spectators must pay an admission fee or charge or make a donation to attend the event; a concert or other performance; a fair or festival; or anything else prescribed by regulations. So the minister will have that flexibility to regulate further where the minister sees fit.
What we are talking about here are the sorts of public events which become quite prominent events on the day. What I am saying is that a prominent event which is a recreational fair and a happy event, as all such events should be, is simply inappropriate to be held during certain hours on Anzac Day, regardless of their size. Prominent, paid events and fairly large public events on the landscape should not occur at the same time that our diggers and their families and descendants are commemorating Anzac Day any time from the wee hours of the morning right through until about 1 pm on the day.
Why do we say 1 pm, Mr Speaker? That is, by and large, the time by which Anzacs, veterans and their families are dispersing from the various activities that they have been to. They are probably off to their clubs and their community organisations to commence the more relaxed part of the commemoration of Anzac Day. From 1.00 pm onwards it is absolutely fitting that the community be able to then participate in broader sporting events. As we know, Mr Speaker, looking around this nation, the running of live sporting events on Anzac afternoon really is part of our Australian tradition as well. We have the Anzac rugby matches, we have the Anzac Aussie rules matches and other events, and those matches really are performed in a fitting way as to commemorate Anzac Day. It is entirely fitting that from 1.00 pm onwards such events do occur.
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