Anzac Day is probably the most sacred day, and for good reason, in the Australian calendar. It commemorates the more than 100,000 Australians who paid the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives in war so we in Australia can be free. It is not a day of triumphalism, although our armed forces have much to be proud of. Witness 1918 when it was the AIF who effectively held the German offensive that scattered the less capable British forces on the Western Front, and then, ably aided by the Canadians, led the counterattack that ended that dreadful war in November 1918.
All Australians can feel pride when recalling how in April 1918, when the British retreated in panic at Villers-Bretonneux, Australian troops marching up the line to fight the rampaging Germans said to fleeing French women those immortal words: “Fini retreat, Madame, beaucoup Australiens ici” [sic] (translated: “No more retreat, Madame, many Australians here.”) The French women promptly turned around and returned to their homes as a result, such was their confidence in our troops. I tear up every time I read that.
Australia faces the most serious military threat since the late 1930s. Yet our current government refuses to take defence seriously.
The new policy promises much in 20 years’ time, but over the next four years, the defence budget will only have an extra $5.7 billion added to it. That will not even cover the cost of inflation.
As well, many important programs will be cut. Including two new replenishment ships for the Navy and the remaining 28 F35s that were ordered for the Air Force. We still don’t have any armed drones. It is true that since 2009, no Australian government of any political persuasion has done much for defence. (Although Tony Abbott at least increased defence expenditure from a low of 1.38 of GDP to about 2 per cent.)
Kevin Rudd sensibly promised 12 Collins class submarines. We have six. If we had 12, those other six would have been built between 2010 and 2020, and thus covered the very real gap in capability we face until the nuclear subs come on stream in the 2030s. Shame (with the possible exception of Abbott) on all Liberal and Labor governments since 2009.
This year, I will be marching with some of my South African mates from Veterans rugby. Local SA expat, former Cpl Carlo Vlok, who served valiantly in the SA Army fighting Angolan, Cuban and Soviet forces in Namibia in the 1980s, has honoured me by asking me to march with him and his mates to honour my father (Polish Army) and all the Polish forces in the AK (Polish Home Army) who rose up against the Nazis in the Warsaw uprising of August 1944, and the South African airmen who died trying to resupply them despite interference from the Russians.
We owe sincere thanks to all those who served and continue to serve.
