Mr HOWARD (Prime Minister) (2:01 PM) —On indulgence, I briefly remind the House, and through it the Australian people, of two welcome home marches which are planned for this week to allow the Australian public to show their support for Australian Defence Force men and women deployed to the war against terrorism in Operation Slipper, and the coalition to disarm Iraq, in Operation Bastille and Operation Falconer. The marches will be held in Sydney this week on Wednesday, 18 June and in Perth on Friday, 20 June. I should point out to the House that the locations of Sydney and Perth have been chosen because the overwhelming bulk of the units that were deployed are based either in or very near to those two cities.

I remind the House that, in the case of the welcome home parades after the INTERFET deployment, the parades were held in Townsville and Sydney because, once again, those locations corresponded to where the great bulk of the personnel were deployed from. The marches will be similar to Anzac Day marches. There will be form groups carrying identifying banners and there will be a reception held in each city. The concept is very closely modelled on the welcome home marches conducted for the INTERFET forces on their return from East Timor.

Arrangements were made to invite all members, on either side of the House, who represent areas of Australia where significant ADF establishments are located. I take this opportunity again to express to all of the men and women of the Australian Defence Force the unconditional admiration of the Australian people for the job that they have done. I invite particularly office workers and people in the city of Sydney and in the city of Perth to turn out in very large and enthusiastic numbers to give a very warm welcome home to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force.