STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr GOSLING (Solomon) (13:31): Tomorrow is the 51st anniversary of Falintil, Forcas Armadas da Libertacao Nacional de Timor-Leste. I want to acknowledge a great group of Australian veterans that are attending those anniversary commemorations as part of the Timor Awakening program. This is a peer-to-peer veteran wellbeing program that includes an 11-day immersive experience in Timor-Leste, where those participants are involved in hands-on community development.

I caught up with the latest Timor Awakening group—the 40th group—in Darwin on their way over to Dili. Mick Stone, president of Veterans Care Association, runs the program. This program will be the largest foreign delegation in attendance at Falintil's 51st anniversary commemorations.

These commemorations will be attended by President Jose Ramos-Horta and Chief of the Defence Force, General Falur Rate Laek. My brother, Lieutenant Colonel Dan Gosling, Mick Stone and I all worked with General Falur as he and his fellow guerrilla leaders were transitioning from a guerrilla force into a modern military. Mick and I also worked with Jose Ramos-Horta during his first presidential term and have maintained our friendship ever since.

My very best regards to Falintil on their 51st anniversary and their commitment to Timor-Leste's future and to reconciliation.