Mayor says ‘political solution’ needed to secure funding to allow free entry to Albany’s National Anzac Centre

The City of Albany will continue to pursue Federal funding opportunities to help cover the ongoing operational costs of the National Anzac Centre despite indications from the responsible minister it did not have his support. Frequent calls to make entry to the centre free are behind the City’s push for funding because it does not want it to become a significant financial burden in the annual budget. The latest NAC quarterly report shows the City expected the centre to make a loss of more than $300,000 over the course of 2022-23 when it laid out its budget last year. Included in its figure is an expected $850,000 operating income — which is derived from entry fees — as well as an operating expenditure of $556,691, indirect costs of $225,076 and capital expenditure of $373,835. The March quarterly report showed that actual operating income was more than $50,000 higher than what was expected for the year to date, and its operating expenditure, indirect costs and capital expenditure were also lower than expected. Entry to the centre costs $25 for adults, $11 for children aged 5 to 15 and family passes can be purchased for $60. Groups of 10 people or more can book tickets at a discounted rate. Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington said the fact there was an entry fee was an issue raised frequently with centre staff. “The question they get asked is ‘why do we have to pay to hear Australia’s greatest story?’” he said. “It’s not something we can answer very well other than to say the centre has to pay for itself because there is no ongoing funding.” He said there were some people that had not visited the centre because of the fee, while others would pay it “begrudgingly”. “If it was free like the Australian War Memorial in Canberra it would obviously open it up for everyone,“ he said. “That has a budget of $55 million and we are not looking for anything like that, but so far our calls are falling on deaf ears in this (Federal) Government. “We did have some support with the previous government but that changed at the last election and we’ll have to continue working on it.” During a visit to Albany in November, Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said he was open to discussions with the City about funding for the centre, but he has since ruled out ongoing support. In a statement provided to the Advertiser last week, Mr Keogh said it was clear in the initial funding agreement for the centre that “ongoing operation of the centre wouldn’t be the responsibility of the Commonwealth.” “We haven’t received a letter yet from the Minister, but he’s made some comments that they are not looking at it favourably,” Mr Wellington said. “We did speak to Kim Beazley, who is the chair of the AWM council, and he said he’d asked the CEO of the national centre to come over and have a look at it, but we are still waiting for something to happen with that.” Mr Wellington said support from State Veterans Issues Minister Paul Papalia for the centre to potentially become part of the AWM estate was welcome. “It’s a matter of continuing to go through the process,” he said. “The bureaucrats are certainly not in favour so it’s got to be a political solution if there is a solution.”