Wednesday 5 January 2011

War memorial

Australian War Memorial in grip of cash crisis

  • Phillip Hudson
  • January 05, 2011 12:00AM
THE Australian War Memorial is facing "crippling financial circumstances" as it gears up to commemorate the centenary of the Gallipoli landing.
Confidential advice to the Gillard Government has revealed the memorial is considering severe job losses and cuts that will deliver a savage blow to its reputation if it does not get a budget boost.
The Canberra landmark is one of the nation's most popular tourist attractions and is visited by thousands of Victorian school children every year.
Opposition veterans' affairs spokesman Michael Ronaldson called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to urgently fix the problem after it was revealed the Rudd government had knocked back a $5 million financial injection.
Departmental advice to Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon after the election, known as the "Red Book", revealed the memorial was facing a crisis.

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