Members of the Council of the Australian War Memorial are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. The Council then elects one of its members as Chair. Kim Beazley was appointed to the Council in October 2022 and was elected Chair in December 2022
Mr Beazley was reappointed as a Council member in November 2025 and has been re-elected as Chair. Mr Beazley's biodata on the Memorial website has no mention of any of this; it is badly out-of-date. As well, the group portrait of Council members on that website page dates from early 2024 and includes five people who are no longer members.
Defending Country sent Mr Beazley a note on 19 December, congratulating him on his re-election and wishing him the compliments of the Season. Our note paraphrased Mr Beazley's words on how the Memorial should deal with the Australian Wars:
Defending Country looks forward to further imminent action at the Memorial, with refreshed Council and re-elected Chair, to ensure substantial recognition of the Australian Wars, in a separate space, and showing the dignity of resistance.
Mr Beazley's remarks on this issue can be found by using the search functions on this website and our sister site, Honest History.
Picture credit: looking across the War Memorial parade ground from outside the ceremonial entrance, December 2024 (supplied)
