Leaders suspend poll campaign to honour Anzac heroes
Andrew Brown and Tess Ikonomou |
Campaigning on the federal election trail has again taken a pause as leaders stopped to remember Australia’s fallen soldiers.
Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton paid their respects by marking Anzac Day at dawn services.
The prime minister attended the service at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, while the opposition leader was at an event in Brisbane early in the morning.
Mr Albanese said it was important to take time out of the flurry of campaigning to honour Australia’s defence forces, 110 years after the Gallipoli landings.
“As we gather around cenotaphs or watch the parades, we reflect on all who have served in our name and all who serve now,” Mr Albanese said on Friday morning.
“We contemplate the debt we owe them – those who finally came home, their hearts reshaped by all they had seen, and those who tragically never did.
“Anzac Day asks us to stand against the erosion of time. So each year, we renew our vow to keep the flame of memory burning so brightly that its glow touches the next generation and the generation after that.”
The opposition leader said Anzac Day commemorations would also have special significance, with 2025 being the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.
“Barely a city or town, a suburb or street, a community or citizen was unscathed in some way by the catastrophe of that all-encompassing conflict,” Mr Dutton said.
“We particularly express our gratitude to the one million Australians who served and served with great honour. We honour the 39,000 Australians who gave their lives.”
The coalition leader arrived in his ultra-marginal Queensland seat of Dickson for Anzac Day.
Mr Dutton and his wife Kirilly visited the Pine Rivers District RSL sub-branch in the northern Brisbane suburb Kallangur for the dawn service on Friday.
The opposition leader was seated in the front row, and laid a wreath to commemorate the sacrifice made by Australian troops.
It is Mr Dutton’s third visit to his electorate during the election campaign, where he is facing off a challenge from Labor’s candidate Ali France.
Hundreds of people attended the service, despite the consistent rain.
AAP
