Wednesday, 15 May 2024

 Natalie SULEYMAN (St Albans – Minister for Veterans, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Youth) (10:05): Türkiye and Australia have a special bond forged through their shared experience on the shores of Gallipoli. I was proud to lead a parliamentary delegation this year to attend the Anzac Day dawn service at Çanakkale. Members from across parliaments joined to attend memorial services honouring the fallen held by the Australian, Turkish and New Zealand armed forces. The Anzac Day dawn service and the Lone Pine service hold a unique place in Australia’s wartime history, a shared place etched into the memory of our country. We also attended Atatürk’s mausoleum to pay our respects to the founding father of Türkiye, a friend of the Johnnies and Mehmets. Our delegation was honoured to represent our local communities as the sun rose over the cliffs of Anzac Cove and pay tribute and remember and never forget.

I would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Turkish government, especially by the Turkish ambassador Ufuk Gezer and consul general Doğan Işık. I would also like to thank the Australian ambassador Miles Armitage for hosting our delegation. Of course we were absolutely honoured to attend and meet members of Parliament at the Turkish general assembly. I would like to thank His Excellency Halil Eldemir, president of the Türkiye and Australian parliamentary friendship group, and His Excellency Bekir Bozdağ, the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, for their time and hospitality; and finally Turkish Airlines chairman Ahmet Bolat for his support and the governor of Gallipoli İlhami Aktaş and the director of Gallipoli İsmail Kaşdemir.