The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Jonathan SriAnzac Hall and Glazed Link
I'm not a resident of the ACT. I live in Brisbane, Queensland, and I've only visited the Australian War Memorial a couple of times in my life, however I feel strongly about its future, particularly because several of my recent ancestors have served in the Australian military and fought overseas.
I've read the Main Works package descriptions and key elements of the National Capital Plan, and I'm surprised and disappointed that the proposed works would be considered compliant with the NCP, or indeed that they would be seen to serve the broader public interest.
The War Memorial is not supposed to be a weapons museum, nor is it a propaganda hub for militarism and jingoism. It is a memorial for quiet reflection upon the horror and suffering that war perpetuates.
The Main Works Packages 1, 2 and 3 are not appropriate for a sombre memorial, and do not enhance the purpose and intended function of the Australian War Memorial. These plans should be sent back to the drawing board, and a better-promoted, more widely-accessible national consultation process should be undertaken so that all of us in this country get a meaningful say on the future of this important national landmark.
I want war memorials which are simple, not 'grandiose.' I want space for trees and nature, not tanks and warplanes. This proposal to dramatically expand the war memorial is not only a waste of money and a poor use of space, but a backwards step in terms of what kinds of stories our nation tells itself about the meaning and consequence of war.
I've read the Main Works package descriptions and key elements of the National Capital Plan, and I'm surprised and disappointed that the proposed works would be considered compliant with the NCP, or indeed that they would be seen to serve the broader public interest.
The War Memorial is not supposed to be a weapons museum, nor is it a propaganda hub for militarism and jingoism. It is a memorial for quiet reflection upon the horror and suffering that war perpetuates.
The Main Works Packages 1, 2 and 3 are not appropriate for a sombre memorial, and do not enhance the purpose and intended function of the Australian War Memorial. These plans should be sent back to the drawing board, and a better-promoted, more widely-accessible national consultation process should be undertaken so that all of us in this country get a meaningful say on the future of this important national landmark.
I want war memorials which are simple, not 'grandiose.' I want space for trees and nature, not tanks and warplanes. This proposal to dramatically expand the war memorial is not only a waste of money and a poor use of space, but a backwards step in terms of what kinds of stories our nation tells itself about the meaning and consequence of war.