Labor MPs have criticised the Australian War Memorial’s planned $500 million redevelopment, calling on the national institution to do the job more cheaply and without demolishing an award-winning addition to the building.
The federal parliamentary public works committee has recommended the War Memorial renovations go ahead, in a report backed by a Coalition majority on the committee that found “the proposed works are appropriate to meet the identified need”.
A parliamentary committee has approved the redevelopment of the Australian War Memorial.Credit:Artist impression
But the committee’s deputy chair, Labor MP Tony Zappia, and his colleague David Smith issued a rare dissenting report recommending other options be explored that did not involve demolishing the Anzac Hall, which is less than 20 years old.
“Labor members believe that the government should consult further on this issue and consider alternative approaches that do not involve the complete demolition of the existing Anzac Hall,” they wrote.
