Remarks - Changi Chapel, Singapore
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Today on Remembrance Day, we pause to honour all who have served in Australia's name. We remember the 108 years ago when the guns fell silent in Europe. Since then, Australian men and women have continued to wear our uniform to defend our democracy and our way of life. The 15,000 Australians who were interned here in Changi represent the best of the Australian character. They showed courage, selflessness, sacrifice, and mateship. They looked after each other here and then when so many of them were transferred to the Burma-Siam Railway, undergoing horrendous conditions. It was one of the honours of my life to visit the Burma-Siam Railway for the opening of Hellfire Pass with some great Australians, Sir Weary Dunlop, Tom Uren, Sir John Carrick, Bluey Rutherford, other Australians who since then have passed, but who we remember on days like today, Remembrance Day. Today we honour all veterans, and we honour all serving personnel in the Australian Defence Force. Less we forget.
PM&C acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, water and community. We pay our respects to the people, the cultures and the elders past, present and emerging.
