Veterans, Families and Beyond

By Robyn Preston Mp, I introduced the Summary Offences Amendment (War Memorials and Other Protected Places) Bill 2024 into the Parliament of NSW’s Legislative Assembly in August this year.

This Bill would have ensured that all memorials, monuments, pools, gardens and surrounds are automatically protected. The Bill also sought to discourage vandalism of Australia’s war memorials through an increase in penalty units. Currently, the punishment is a maximum of 40 penalty units ($4,400).

My Bill proposed an increase to a maximum of 50 penalty units ($5,500) or imprisonment for two years, or both. The increase in fines for the damage and desecration of war memorials was welcomed by many and in particular, our Veterans.

The fact that the penalties were to be incorporated into the Summary Offences Act rather than the Crimes Act, strengthened the ability for Police to issue such fines without the offence being caught up in the judicial system for years to come.

Regrettably, this Bill was not supported by the Minns Labor Government and was shamefully dismissed. In fact, forty-eight Members of the NSW Parliament did not support this, which indicates to me, the low regard they have for our Veterans.

An untrue claim was that the RSL sub-branches within NSW had been consulted and were opposed to the amendments I had put forward.

Veterans who attended Parliament on the day of the debate were infuriated and were adamant that their sub-branches had not been consulted. Whilst Labor, the Greens and some Independents voted not to progress this Bill, please know that my passion and advocacy to ensure our Veterans are remembered in respectful and honourable ways, will continue.

As we approach Christmas, I know it will be especially difficult for me, with the loss this year, of both my Mother and my eldest brother Bill, within weeks of each other. It is during these special times of the year that our faith and family carry us forward.

To everyone catching up with family and friends during this festive season, here’s to making every day count and to telling those closest to you, just how much you care about them.

I wish everyone a blessed Christmas and I look forward to continuing the advocacy for our good folk in Hawkesbury and Western Sydney, our Veterans, individuals and families. Merry Christmas!