Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has today been appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council. Photo: File.
The newly appointed member of the Council of the Australian War Memorial, Tony Abbott, will ensure the stories from recent military conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Solomon Islands and East Timor will be proudly told.
That’s the view of the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester, who said Mr Abbott’s extensive experience will see the memorial upgraded to tell the stories of more recent conflicts.
The appointment of Mr Abbott to the Council marks the former prime minister’s first return to public life since his bruising election defeat earlier this year.
“The Australian Government recently announced an investment of almost $500 million to be able to display more of the Australian War Memorial’s collection and I have no doubt Mr Abbott will be an asset to the Council during this period,” Mr Chester said in a statement today.
Plans were announced in November for a $498 million expansion over the next nine years that will double the size of the 77-year-old institution’s visitor areas. They also include demolishing Anzac Hall.
An artist’s impression of a section of the re-imagined War Memorial. Photo: AWM.
There has been criticism of the approach to broaden the displays at the Memorial which could diminish its intended purpose.
David Stephens, the Coordinator of Heritage Guardians, a community campaign against the proposed $498 million extensions to the Australian War Memorial, told Region Media in August that Mr Abbott would deliver more of the same sentiment that has characterised the War Memorial since Dr Brendan Nelson was appointed Director in 2012.
“I have suggested elsewhere that the present Council looks like the governing body of an ex-service club and that future vacancies should be filled through public advertising to produce a different mix,” Mr Stephens said.
The Australian War Memorial board is headed by Seven West chairman Kerry Stokes and includes chair of Qantas Margaret Jackson, Chief of Army Lieutenant General Rick Burr and Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Michael Noonan.
The Council of the Australian War Memorial is responsible for the conduct and control of the affairs of the memorial and its policy with respect to any matters determined by the Council.
Mr Stephens said Tony Abbott is the wrong choice for the Council of the Australian War Memorial, but not just because his appointment would be “jobs for the boys”.
“A country whose forces in the major wars were representative of the whole nation has a very narrowly based group running its premier commemorative institution,” Mr Stephens said.
However, Mr Chester said he was confident Mr Abbott will continue to record the stories of those who have served, in their words, to the more than one million visitors to the memorial each year.
“As Prime Minister, Mr Abbott led the case to build the Sir John Monash Centre in Villers-Bretonneux to tell the stories and honour the thousands of fallen Australians who served in the First World War,” Mr Chester said.
Mr Abbott has been appointed to the Council as a part-time member for a period of three years. His appointment fills the vacancy left following the death in March of acclaimed author and historian Les Carlyon.
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Great appointment, does a lot for Soldier On and the main force for the Sir John Monash monument in France
John Taylor your blaming him for that
Another war loving right wing nut job in the house
Don’t suppose it would matter that most of Australia still doesn’t want this clown
A tone deaf appointment. Abbott polarises people. You’ve essentially politicised the War Memorial. Next time he attacks a minority and they protest at the War Memorial you shall have reaped what you have sown.
omfg, why?
Abbott's continuing service as Sergeant-at-Arms and Apologist-in-Chief to the Pell gang should disqualify him from any publicly paid Job...
I thought we fought a war against extreme right wing racists?
Excellent appointment!
And behold the new Culture Wars wing. Testament to his his only achievement in his entire political career.
Ian McLeod O c'mon now, it's been going on since Hawke..
Jason Schuster actually Hawke ended it with the Accord and bipartisan economic reform.
Notice how apart from the GST we have had zero meaningful progress in any field since then, due to the culture wars obsession obstructing everything.
At least Howard was mature enough to support good policy when he saw it, like floating the dollar and so on.
Now these angry children just oppose everything for the sake of it.
Ian McLeod Hawke and Keating floated the dollar. Gillard reintroduced "culture wars" with her ridiculous Misogyny speech.
Jason Schuster With Howards emphatic support. Because it was good policy. Now no matter what policy is proposed, the other side will just oppose it even if they wrote papers supporting it a few years ago. They're all no better than immature children. Australia has gone backwards since we had mature leaders like Howard / Hawke / Keating, who were all pro market and actually competent whether we always agreed with them or not.
The period you cite was the last period of mature bipartisan policy based on merit and philosophy. Hence why The Economist wrote a global feature highlighting Australia's many decades long drought of reform since the era you mention.
Now thanks to the likes of Abbot and his tribe it's all just fight fight fight. No compromise. No Surrender. Just hate and fight all the other tribes, even within his own party. Hate, and war. With him or he will destroy you.
All in the name of "Christian Values". Go figure.
Yes the Greens and Left Labor all do it to. But just because someone else is an immature child too doesn't make it ok. The Liberal Party is supposed to be the higher standard of behavior. Not any more. It's just as childish.
Ian McLeod I don't think any party shows maturity.. But we get the pollies we deserve...
Jason Schuster at least someone sees the role of voters here, well done. You're in the elite.
not happy with this at all!
FFS There goes the neighbourhood.
This is the same person quoted degrading the death of Diggers in Afgahnistan.
Oh dear!!
A good appointment
FFS. He'll replace Brendan Nelson next.
An appointment of merit? He certainly will continue to tell our service history which is what the institution is for
jobs for the boys and the age of entitlement.
Ludicrous
Terrible appointment, literally anyone would have been a better choice.
Good appointment.
I am apolitical these days. In fact I despise politics. Tony seems to be a good community guy ....surf life saving/ volunteer bush fire brigade so would like to see him in an apolitical role.
Steve Mcleish politics has nothing to do with personal values - it does provide a shield sometimes - this guy is nothing more than a narcissistic turd - in it for his own glory - sorry mate - leopards don't change teir spots!
Philip White you just described most politicians, CEOs etc narcissism and sociopathy increase exponentially in higher functioning/profile individuals. Next time you say your boss is a psycho you’re probably right lol