Mr GREG WARREN (Campbelltown) (13:12): My question is addressed to the Minister for Veterans. Will the Minister please update the House on the importance of remembering and honouring the service and sacrifice of New South Wales veterans and their families?

Mr DAVID HARRIS (Wyong—Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, Minister for Gaming and Racing, Minister for Veterans, Minister for Medical Research, and Minister for the Central Coast) (13:12): I thank the member for Campbelltown. Just before Anzac Day, I acknowledged that members from right across the Chamber would be gathering with their communities to give recognition on that day. I am sure that every member was buoyed by the crowds that turned out. In some places the weather was not great, but many, many people still turned out to commemorate the work of our current and former service men and women. I acknowledge the member for Campbelltown, who spent a very special dawn service on top of the Harbour Bridge, together with other veterans and guests of the New South Wales RSL LifeCare. Having experienced that ceremony myself, it is truly a special thing. I know that he really appreciated that.

This Government is committed to acknowledging, remembering and honouring the service and sacrifice of veterans and their families. I was pleased to join the Premier on 14 April to unveil the plans for a new war memorial to acknowledge the contemporary service of those who have served in the Australian Defence Force from 1990 to the present day. That includes the service and sacrifice of those who served in the Middle East campaigns of Iraq and Afghanistan, and all peacekeeping and peacemaking operations. Families of veterans are included in that acknowledgement for the support they provide and the challenges they experience while their loved ones are away in defence of our country.

The new memorial will be constructed in the Domain, the site of Sydney's first Anzac Day service in 1916. I acknowledge, in particular, Billy Maynard and his team for the concept they came up with. It was unanimously endorsed by an expert selection panel led by veterans and endorsed by the project steering and reference groups representing key veteran community organisations, which was important. One of the briefs was that it has to be a living memorial—this memorial is one that can be physically sat on and walked on—and provide a special place of commemoration for those contemporary veterans. All of the materials will be sourced from, and the work will be done in, New South Wales—for example, the brass work will be done at the foundry in Goulburn. That is a significant thing as well. [Extension of time]

I also take this opportunity to acknowledge that on Tuesday 15 April we launched the new NSW Veterans Strategy and Action Plan 2025-2030. That is the next iteration of the veterans strategy originally launched in 2021. It outlines how New South Wales will focus on supporting veterans and their families over the next five years. That includes new actions that respond directly to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and we are looking forward to working with the Federal Government to develop more cooperative strategies to support veterans. In New South Wales traditionally we have had a role of recognition and commemoration. That was expanded to employment, advocacy and community engagement, and we have a growing role in partnership with the Commonwealth to help deliver services.

The new veterans strategy is framed around four key themes of recognition and commemoration, employment and training, advocacy and community engagement, and support. The strategy will help us to understand where the New South Wales Government needs to invest to improve outcomes for veterans and their families in New South Wales. That includes bolstering existing programs and initiatives and creating new ones, with a key focus on recognising service right across government. Whilst the very small Office for Veterans Affairs has a coordinating role, most of the work will be done across all government departments. Another key initiative we have been involved in with the Federal Government is the rollout of Veterans' and Families' Hubs across New South Wales. The hubs are operated by RSL LifeCare. Five are already open and we are looking forward to announcing new ones in the near future. The role of the New South Wales Government has been to help secure sites, and we are looking forward to exciting new announcements shortly.