Sydney’s only Kokoda Track war memorial could be forced to close after being told by the federal government there was “no more money” in the budget for maintenance.
Jennifer Collins from the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord told 7 News it was “highly likely” the memorial would need to be shut down if the $186,000 in required funding was not provided, and said local Labor MP Sally Sitou was “not very responsive” when asked for help.
After outrage erupted over the closure threat on Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told 2GB host Mark Levy funding would expire in July, and promised to look into extending it.
Veterans and their families said the situation was a disgrace and that funding should be locked in.
Reg Chard, a 101-veteran who fought at the campaign, asked why they had to fight for funding every year.
“It’s really disgusting, [the government] thieve more than what we get to start with,” he said.
“I’m not quite sure which direction this country’s going in,” war widow Meg Green added.
Leading Anglo-Celtic advocacy group the British Australian Community said the situation showed the government wasn’t interested in looking after Australia’s founding stock.
Concord’s Kokoda track memorial is at risk of closure, after being told by the federal government: “there’s no more money.”
The local Labor MP, Sally Sitou, was “not very responsive.” Meanwhile, the local Liberals are promising $500,000 for upgraded security at a Korean… pic.twitter.com/UU51Quan02
— British Australian Community (@Brit_Aus_Com) April 15, 2025
“While politicians scramble to appease every other group, the descendants of the men who built and bled for this country are pushed to the back of the line,” the BAC said on X.
“Anglo-Celtic Australians are being told, in no uncertain terms — your sacrifice doesn’t matter anymore.”
The BAC pointed out that the Liberal candidate for the electorate, Grange Chung, had just last week committed $500,000 for upgraded security infrastructure at the Korean Society Community Hall in nearby Croydon Park, a move championed by Opposition home affairs spokesman James Paterson.
The Labor government also this week pledged $50,000 for a “linguistic diversity” monument in southwest Sydney, and following last month’s commitment of $8.5 million for a Hindu school at the site of a massive new temple in the city’s west, matched by the Coalition.
Both parties have also promised more than $30 million to rebuild a synagogue in Melbourne that was burnt out in a still-unsolved firebombing last year.
Header image: Left, the Kokoda memorial. Right, Reid MP Sally Sitou with the Prime Minister earlier this month. (Facebook).
