Minister for Veterans' Affairs Bruce Billson today encouraged all Australians to remember those who served our nation in the Battle for Australia during World War II. Mr Billson said that today we honour our armed forces for their service in battles at home and throughout the south-west Pacific to protect Australia from attack in the darkest days of the war.

"For the first time in our history, the war came to Australian shores from both the air and sea," Mr Billson said. "On Battle for Australia Day, we honour those who defended Australia's cities and coastlines, and
the then Australian territories of Papua and New Guinea."

Between 1942 and 1945, Australian troops faced direct attack from Japanese forces. Darwin survived more than 60 air attacks and Sydney Harbour was raided by midget submarines. Townsville, Katherine, Wyndham, Derby, Broome and Port Hedland also experienced Japanese air raids.

"Our armed forces were no longer defending distant lands. They were defending our doorstep, our families, our homes and our freedom. Their efforts marked one of the proudest times in Australia's military history," Mr Billson said.

Battle for Australia Day, held on the first Wednesday in September, coincides with the anniversary of the Battle of Milne Bay from 25 August to 7 September 1942, when Japanese forces staged a concerted effort to secure a base for naval and air support for an attack on Port Moresby.

It proved to be the first of many Japanese land defeats in the Pacific War. Ten days later, on 17 September, the Australian stand at Imita Ridge on the Kokoda Track marked the end of the Japanese threat to Port
Moresby.

Mr Billson said it was appropriate to mark the Battle for Australia both as a means to express the nation's gratitude to those who served, and to remember the historic events that helped shape our nation and our
identity as Australians.