ADJOURNMENT

Ms CHESTERS (Bendigo) (19:34): Yesterday was an unusual day, but a special day, for this parliament. The parliament was adjourned early so that we could all attend the opening of the new additions at the Australian War Memorial, the Anzac Atrium and Anzac Hall. For me, this was particularly momentous as I was on the public works committee at the time the project was approved.

It was not without its controversy, and those who were in this place at that time would remember the very public campaign that was being run to stop the project. Labor was in opposition, but I and the other Labor MPs on the public works committee took the time to meet with the team at the Australian War Memorial and to learn from them why they believed the project was necessary.

And while we'd all been to the War Memorial prior to that particular event, during that visit we heard why they wanted to build purpose built galleries. They wanted to recognise the contribution of our peacekeepers, to help tell the story of our soldiers and our ADF personnel who were deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq. So last night was special.

It was a moment where we could join with the Australian defence community—with veterans and with current serving soldiers, but also with the many people who work in the Australian War Memorial—to recognise and to officially open these new spaces. One of the additions in these new spaces was the Bendigo built Bushmaster Debbie. Many in this place may not know the story of Debbie, but she and her crew, six Australian soldiers, were damaged whilst on deployment in Afghanistan.

Two people were seriously injured when the driver of the Bushmaster hit an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2012 but, thanks to the unique shape of the Bushmaster hull which deflects the force of the explosion, all six soldiers survived the blast. The driver, Private Matthew Clarke, sustained significant leg injuries. Last night he was in Canberra.

I'd met Matt previously. Matt, who is now retired and living in the Hunter region, visited Bendigo last year to see the Bushmasters being made, to speak to the men and women who build them and to share his story of resilience, his story of survival. He thanked them for their work and what they do.

To be there and to see Matt tell the story in front of Debbie was a very special moment, and I want to thank him for the privilege and honour of being there to see him when he walked into the new gallery spaces at the War Memorial to see Debbie in her new home. The damage to the vehicle is profound, and it is truly a credit to Matt's driving and to the entire crew that they were able to get out safely.

But it's also a credit to Debbie, the vehicle that save their lives. Defence manufacturing is important. It's important that we have that sovereign capability in our country, and it is what we continue to do in Bendigo.

We are proud that Bendigo built Bushmasters are credited with saving Australian soldiers lives, and we are really proud that our government has seen the merit in continuing to manufacture Bushmasters and committing to investing a further $750 million into Bendigo to build more Bushmasters—a pipeline to upgrade the fleet. This continues the 20 years of production of this world-leading capability that saves Australian lives.

Designed in Australia, built in Australia for Australian men and women serving in the armed forces. These are the kinds of things that we can do together. It's the modernisation of our defence procurement strategy that will continue to see good jobs in the region.

I know that all the men and women in Bendigo that work at Thales and their families are overjoyed to know that work at the site will continue, and we'll continue to welcome amazing veterans like Matt back to Bendigo so they can share with us their stories as well.