Radio interview – ABC Perth with Gary Adshead

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
ABC Perth
Drive with Gary Adshead
Friday, 15 August 2025

SUBJECTS: Commemoration of Victory in the Pacific Day, Australian global relationships, Second World War veterans.

HOST, GARY ADSHEAD: Let's bring in the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Matt Keogh, who has had a busy day reflecting, commemorating Victory in the Pacific Day. It's been 80 years, and he joins me now. Thanks very much for your time, Minister.

MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL, MATT KEOGH: Great to be with you, Gary, on a very important day of commemoration.

GARY ADSHEAD: Yeah, just, I mean, you know, in terms of generations, those that were around when the announcement was made, as we heard in the news there by Ben Chifley, how significant was it, what sort of a party was it like when people realised that the war had come to an end?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, Gary, you'll be surprised to know that I can't give you a first-hand account of the party. The youngest veteran from the Second World War is 95, which also means they lied about their age when they joined, they signed up. The oldest is 108. But I've actually spent time with quite a few Second World War veterans today across a number of commemorations. And certainly, I think, you know, that was a party of relief. In fact, I was speaking to one guy who was telling me he was off at Borneo. He said the entire bay there, which had American ships, it just lit up, everyone lit - they sort of set everything off in their sort of celebration, if you like, of victory and the end of the Second World War. But of course, for many, it was pretty bittersweet. They were very happy the war was over, but they’d, they'd lost a loved one in the war or were still waiting to find out what had happened to their husband or their son from the war. And that's why it's important to have commemorations like today.

GARY ADSHEAD. So, just on this day, 80 years ago, explain what happened in terms of Japan surrendering.

MINISTER KEOGH: Yes. So, it's not the official end of the war, wasn't for another few weeks in early September, but it was today that the Emperor agreed to the terms of surrender and communicated that to the Allied forces. And you had that crackly voice of Ben Chifley coming onto the radio and telling the Australian public that the war was now effectively over and that we would return to peace in the Pacific. You know, the war in Europe had already ended, but for Australians and for Americans and for everyone through the Pacific, it still raged on. And so, the sense of relief at knowing that, given that the whole country was primed and aimed at war, when you think Australia was only 7 million people, 1 million people were either in the armed forces or in the merchant marine, it had a huge impact. And, you know, going around to any town or city in Australia, they've got war memorials with names from this conflict. It touched every part of Australia.

GARY ADSHEAD: I've seen some of the images, and, you know, the one of the Imperial Japanese Army Major General Uno, when he's laying that sword at the feet of one of our officers with the slouch hat, the significance of it. And I mean, on the Japanese people, you know, to know that they were surrendering, which, of course, you know, in Japanese culture, the losing of face would have been quite extraordinary for them.

MINISTER KEOGH: Absolutely, it would have been, and it took great, you know, it was a great thing for them to get to reach that point of surrendering to the Allied forces in the Pacific. But it certainly also saved a great loss of life that would have occurred if there had to be a land invasion of Japan as well. And, you know, you'll see reports of veterans from that time who were preparing for that sort of invasion to occur. And so, great relief for anyone, not just who would have been involved in that, but for their family members as well. But recognising that any surrender comes with a loss of face, but it's also meant in the peace that has followed since, the building of new relationships with Japan, as, of course, the new relationship that Australia built with the United States through that time as well, with our engagement having to be focused in the Pacific and not in Europe.

GARY ADSHEAD: Can I just --

MINISTER KEOGH: Those are relationships that persist through to this day.

GARY ADSHEAD: Can I just ask you, you know, from your point of view, some - what you've attended today and what you've done, and how does that, you know, we all talk about Anzac Day and we see a new young generation keep coming through to acknowledge and commemorate Anzac Day in the way that we do. Is, is it as important? I mean, where does it sit in terms of this being a day that we must continue to acknowledge and remember?

MINISTER KEOGH: I think people, especially in Australia, Anzac Day is our most significant day of commemoration. And, of course, Armistice Day, Remembrance Day on the 11th of November. This day is incredibly important, though, because it represents a commemoration and a remembrance of conflict that was in our region in particular, but also came to our shores. Australia was attacked, whether it was the bombing of Darwin, the bombing of Townsville, other bombings across the north of Western Australia and other parts of northern Australia, Japanese submarines appearing in Sydney Harbour. It was the Second World War where Australia itself came under attack. It was where, even though war had ended in Europe, war continued to rage in the Pacific. And it was the war that led to Australia formally ceding, you know, taking independence in terms of its foreign policy from the United Kingdom. And, you know, remember, Curtin turned, got the troops back to Australia that were heading off to Europe. And so, it represents a real seminal moment in our history and a turning point for Australia, being much more focused in its own region going forward, and that's been something that in the post-war era has been really important to our national prosperity as well.

GARY ADSHEAD: And you talk, you talked about how, you know, beyond war with Japan, you know, only recently we see that the contract's been signed in terms of building our warships. It goes to show that no matter how bitter that conflict was, there can be peace.

MINISTER KEOGH: Absolutely, and I think, you know, when we think about what is it that is celebrated on Victory in the Pacific Day, we're celebrating peace. And what we're celebrating is the opportunity to make sure that we maintain the peace in our region going forward as well. And I think, when we commemorate and we're thinking about loss of life, war is a terrible tragedy, and it's a terrible tragedy on all sides. And it's important to remember that, and certainly, we've been able to forge those new relationships like the one with Japan in the aftermath of that war and with a commitment to maintaining peace and stability in our region going forward.

GARY ADSHEAD: And of course, you've touched on it, you know, the number of veterans from that conflict are lessening each year. So, we have to continue on to remember for them. I think there's around 100 veterans of the Second World War remaining here in Western Australia. I'm not sure what the data or the stats are around the country, but it's important that once they do pass, we keep it going.

MINISTER KEOGH: That is absolutely right. Right now, we've got less than 1,000 Second World War veterans. And so, you know, this morning when I was up in Townsville at the commemorations there, we had around seven Second World War veterans participating in the commemoration there. And here in Canberra this afternoon, we had 12 Second World War veterans from across the country all coming together to be part of the commemorations that were held here. Whilst we've still got them around, it's important to be able to engage and share their stories and hear them and have them engaged. But even as we move forward, and of course, we will see those numbers continue to dwindle, the important thing is to remember the legacy that they have left us. You know, they have, you know, put on our uniform. They have made sacrifices. Obviously, nearly 40,000 made the ultimate sacrifice during the Second World War. And it's the importance of, as I said before, we're celebrating a peace today, and they fought for that peace. They fought for protecting our democratic institutions. Australia came under attack in that war, and the legacy that they have left us in the prosperous nation that we have now become in a peaceful region is something that we always need to maintain, and we need to remember what they have given us through that sacrifice.

GARY ADSHEAD: Matt Keogh, thank you very much for joining us and going through it with us today.

MINISTER KEOGH: No worries, Gary, it's been great to be with you.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608