The Australian Government will spend more than $5 million over the next four years to maintain official overseas memorials commemorating those who served Australia in wars. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Bruce Billson, said the funding would provide for the maintenance of Australian memorials in Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Thailand, the United Kingdom and other locations.

"This funding continues the Australian Government's program for ensuring our memorials at historic sites such as on the Kokoda Track, Sandakan, Hellfire Pass and other places of wartime significance are kept in the best possible condition," Mr Billson said. "The funding is in addition to Australia's $6 million annual contribution to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for the maintenance of war cemeteries and Memorials to the Missing, and appropriations in the 2006-07 Federal Budget for commemorative projects on the Western Front.

"Overseas memorials remain an important means by which the Australian Government acknowledges the service and sacrifice of those who bravely served our nation in wars. Both Australians and other nationals visit our overseas commemorative sites, so these memorials play an important role in raising awareness about our nation's contribution to the quest for world peace, while ensuring the sacrifices of our veterans are not lost to posterity. But like all monuments, our overseas memorials deteriorate over time through wear and tear and from exposure to the elements. This funding fulfils the Government's commitment to their ongoing maintenance."

Mr Billson said the funding would enable the Office of Australian War Graves, which is responsible for the construction and maintenance of Australia's memorials overseas, to carry out a range of important maintenance works. In addition to routine maintenance, the works will include the refurbishment of commemorative sites and interpretive panels at several PNG sites; repairs to concrete pathways and boundary walls as well as slope stabilisation at the Sandakan Memorial Park, Sabah (Malaysia); and improved visitor services at memorials in Crete, Egypt and Thailand.

"More than 1.6 million men and women have served Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations since the Boer War, and more than 102,000 have paid the ultimate price. The least we can do in return is to keep their memory alive through means such as memorials, and we must see to it that these memorials are properly maintained," Mr Billson said