Australia to support Auschwitz preservation

PRIME Minister Julia Gillard is expected to pledge financial support for the preservation of Auschwitz when she visits the Jewish Holocaust Centre in Melbourne today (Thursday).

Melbourne Ports MP Michael Danby said a “significant announcement” would be made at today’s event, which “will again demonstrate that the Australian government recognises our survivors of the Holocaust and the impact they have had on Australian society”.

According to the MP, the Prime Minister’s address “will outline Australia’s part in educating and informing future generations about this paradigm of evil through conserving the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site”.

While the exact nature of the announcement wasn’t disclosed, Danby did say that “Australia is joining the international community in supporting the Auschwitz Foundation Project”.

“Both governments and publics regard it as the sacred duty of civilised countries, including Poland and Germany, to remember the events of the Shoah and preserve the heavily visited site.”

Approached by The AJN, a spokesperson for Danby said she “can’t confirm or deny” the federal government will announce a $500,000 grant for the project.

A number of countries, including Israel, the United States and Britain, have already contributed towards the upkeep of the memorial precinct.

“This function underscores the fact that Melbourne and Australia are established as part of the international conscience that remembers the terrible history of our people in World War II,” said Danby.

PETER KOHN

comments