Funding towards a dedicated program to mark the private graves of World War 1 veterans has once again hit the chopping block by the Federal Labor Government, a report by the Senate estimates revealed earlier this week.

Initially, The Albanese Government promised to match the Coalition’s $3.7 million funding for the program on the cusp of the 2022 election, however after Labor’s first budget, the funding was cut to $1.5 million over years, and has now been cut further to just $437,000 over 4 years.

The program enables committed individuals and organisations to identify the unmarked graves contributing to the preservation of the memory deserved to those who fought and died to protect our values and way of life.

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, called the funding cut a disgrace, saying the Department of Veterans’ Affairs statement in Senate Estimates that funding of only $18,000 spent under the program in 2023/24 for 42 graves is unbelievable.