Thursday, 24 March 2022

Australian National Veterans Arts Museum

Mr GRIMLEY (Western Victoria) (10:33): I rise to speak on a great announcement by the federal defence ministers—a feasibility study into the future users of 310 St Kilda Road. The premises is a former repatriation clinic used by defence until 1995. The Australian National Veterans Art Museum, or ANVAM, have been working tirelessly for over nine years to convert St Kilda Road into, you guessed it, an arts museum for veterans, equipped with a cafe and mental health support services. After all, it is in such a fantastic location. Derryn Hinch was pivotal in communicating the hopes and dreams of ANVAM to the federal government when he was a senator and in particular directed them to then PM Malcolm Turnbull, who loved the idea. Since Derryn unfortunately lost at the last federal election there have not been too many fighters outside of ANVAM for the project, because everyone sees the costs of remediating to build it. Regardless of the politics and the frustrating paths this building has had, I am glad to see that the federal government will, hopefully properly, look into the repurposing of 310 St Kilda Road for our veterans and for the broader Victorian community. My congratulations to Mark Johnston and the ANVAM for their tireless work in making this happen, and I have my fingers and toes crossed for a great outcome. How good was it to see, and it is still to see, in Queen’s Hall the Persona exhibition over the past few days. Well done to all involved.