KIERAN GILBERT, HOST: Let's go live now to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Matt Keogh. It's a cold and wet day in Canberra, but you've been doing something very important, along with veterans of the Korean War, marking 75 years on.

NADIA MITSOPOULOS, HOST: Well, today marks the 75th anniversary of the Korean War, a conflict that, as I mentioned, is often referred to as the Forgotten War.

SIMON BEAUMONT, HOST: Today is the start of the commemoration of the Korean War back in 1950. Matt Keogh is the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and joins us now. G'day, Matt.

KOREAN WAR MEMORIAL, CANBERRA 

Good morning.

I begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respect to Elders past and present.

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
RADIO NATIONAL BREAKFAST
WEDNESDAY 25 JUNE 2025

SUBJECTS: Middle East conflict; NATO; 75th Anniversary of Australia’s involvement in the Korean War 

As we commemorate 75 years since Australia's involvement in the Korean War, we reflect on the service and sacrifice of our Korean veterans.

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Prime Minister’s National Veteran Employment Awards, a national celebration of veterans, partners and employers who are shaping the future of veteran employment across Australia.

MINISTER FOR VETERANS' AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL, MATT KEOGH: Today is a wonderful day because it is, as Matt mentioned, sort of about coming together as the full expression of what the Australian War Memorial really is.

Today, as the Last Post cuts the silence of dawn, we pause to honour and reflect on more than a century of Defence service and sacrifice.

The Albanese Labor Government is making $3.5 million available to honour the service and sacrifice of Australia’s veterans through the first round of the 2025-26 Saluting Their Service Commemorative Grants Program.