NSW is extending its Anzac Day retail trading ban to encourage more people to commemorate veterans. NSW Premier Chris Minns says there has been a “creeping commercialism” of the day. Video via AAP.
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00:00We are perched on the edge of the Domain, the site of the first Anzac Day celebration in New South Wales
00:08with returning veterans coming back to this state and coming together as a community.
00:15The reason we've chosen this site is to announce two important decisions the Government has made
00:21after full consultation with the RSL in New South Wales.
00:25The first of which is to extend the ban on retail trades in the state of New South Wales on Anzac Day
00:31from the middle of the day right up until midnight.
00:35The second is a $2 million allocation to establish for the very first time a memorial in Sydney CBD
00:43for the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war fronts.
00:47The reason we've taken this decision after consultation with the community and veterans groups
00:52is to commemorate as best we can those who've given their life or their service to the people of Australia.
01:02We believe there's been a commercialisation, a sweeping commercialisation of Anzac Day over a prolonged period of time
01:10to the detriment of the importance of the day.
01:13There's many things that divide up our community in New South Wales and Australia
01:18and the truth of the matter is the nation's national day is Anzac Day.
01:22It is an opportunity for our community to come together to recognise people that have given the ultimate sacrifice
01:28in the service of the country that we all live in
01:31and for the first time in a long time acknowledge that it is a special day
01:36and should be set aside for commemoration of that important event.