• Home
• Media releases
• Transcripts
• Speeches
• Statements
• Current Minister
• Department

Journalist - An amazing service, so memorable for so many people. What really stood out for you?

Mr Smith - Well, it was just a fantastic commemorative service. I've been to the Memorial before but this is the first time for an ANZAC Day service. It's great to see so many Australians here, young and old, making the pilgrimage. It's a fantastic service and a great day.

Journalist - At the moment we're standing on a battlefield where potentially the course of the First World War was changed. How does that make you feel?

Mr Smith - It's very poignant. A number of people that I've spoken to have come because they've also got names of their relatives on the Memorial. So there's a lot of family interest, which is reflective of the Great War. There was hardly an Australian family that wasn't touched by the tragedy. So on the one hand, there's great pride in the achievement; great pride in knowing that an action by Australians helped change the course of the War; but on the other hand, it is tinged with the sadness of the tragedy and loss for so many families at that time.

Journalist - Villers-Bretonneux is forever grateful. Just walking through the streets, it's amazing - green and gold everywhere.

Mr Smith - The French officials and the French people here regularly - on a daily basis - pay their respects and their homage to Australia and Australians but it has really made, and shaped for all time, an unbreakable bond of friendship between Australia and France. The reception we are getting in the village is like nothing else. It's just fantastic.

Journalist - Yesterday you (identified) the names of two relatives, members from both sides of your family, who fought. What was the feeling after seeing their names on the wall - did you go back home and just reflect on it?

Mr Smith - I think it's the same feeling that everyone else has, which is just reflecting on the fact that a family member took part in it, but also the sadness of a life cut so short. My great uncle died on 24 April, so a few hours before the village was retaken. The family also has a name on the Memorial at Lone Pine. My great uncle's brother died on the landing at Gallipoli on 25 April. But that was so common for the vast bulk of Australian families at the time. Again, there's the element of personal family pride of knowing that a family member took part here in the effort. But also the sadness of so many lives, including family members, cut so cruelly short.

Journalist - Given all the problems people have had getting here, with the volcano chaos. Were you surprised at the numbers?

Mr Smith - No. In good weather and bad weather, in easy times and hard times, Australians always make the effort. And whilst there has been a lot of disruption, I think there are also some people here who had been inconvenienced and had their plans disrupted and then said well, we might as well stay and make something of it - let's go to an ANZAC Day Commemoration Service. There was a good crowd - a good Australian crowd. That's always an uplifting thing.

Thank you. Good to see you.

Journalist - On the UK elections, if there is a hung parliament and the Tories end up with slightly more numbers than Labour and can form a government, is there likely to be any impact on relations between Australia and the UK?

Mr Smith - Well, whatever the outcome of the British elections and parliamentary processes, we will work with which ever government emerges. The bonds of friendship and history, and the modern day relationship, are so strong, that whether it's a Labour government or a Liberal government in Canberra - whether it's a Labour government, a Tory government or a Liberal-Democrat government in the United Kingdom - the relationship between Australia and the United Kingdom just carries on, irrespective. So, from the Australian Government's point of view, it's entirely a matter for the British people and the British parliamentary processes. We will work happily and closely with whoever emerges. Of course, I work closely with my counterpart David Miliband, but I also know the shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague. The Australian Government and the Australian people will work closely with whichever government emerges from the British electoral process.

Journalist - Have you been giving any hints or help to the Labour Government in Britain?

Mr Smith - When I was a humble Member of Parliament taking an interest in matters electoral, of course I could give advice. As Foreign Minister, I know my place, and my place is to leave other countries' electoral and political processes to them.

Thank you.

Media inquiries

• Minister's Office: (02) 6277 7500
• Departmental Media Liaison: (02) 6261 1555