Melick Speech Timely

MEDIA RELEASE

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says the address given to Tuesday’s national Remembrance Day commemoration by the League’s former National President, Greg Melick provides a timely reminder of the current instability in our region.

The RSL says Greg Melick’s comments, urging Australians to not be complacent about the defence and security threats facing the nation, reinforce the consistent messages conveyed by the League’s own Defence and National Security Committee over the past two years.

The RSL has long called for increased preparedness and significantly more funding to enhance Australia’s Defence capability, recruitment, and retention, and for the development of a balanced Australian Defence Force to meet current and future strategic challenges.

The RSL says Greg Melick properly recognised the significance of Remembrance Day and the service and sacrifice of our service personnel, and it was important for Australians to be aware of the current strategic threats and and the risks of complacency and being unprepared.

Regrettably, former Prime Minister Paul Keating and others missed a key point of Greg Melick’s address.

The former RSL National President was thinking of future generations of Australians and not wanting them to have to attend Remembrance Day services in honour people who have died in conflicts that could and should be avoided.

ENDS