Anzac Day trade ban to end 'creeping commercialisation'

Australian Community Media

NSW is extending its Anzac Day retail trading ban to encourage more people to commemorate veterans. NSW Premier Chris Minns says there has been a “creeping commercialism” of the day. Video via AAP.

Transcript

00:00We are perched on the edge of the Domain, the site of the first Anzac Day celebration in New South Wales

00:08with returning veterans coming back to this state and coming together as a community.

00:15The reason we've chosen this site is to announce two important decisions the Government has made

00:21after full consultation with the RSL in New South Wales.

00:25The first of which is to extend the ban on retail trades in the state of New South Wales on Anzac Day

00:31from the middle of the day right up until midnight.

00:35The second is a $2 million allocation to establish for the very first time a memorial in Sydney CBD

00:43for the veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan war fronts.

00:47The reason we've taken this decision after consultation with the community and veterans groups

00:52is to commemorate as best we can those who've given their life or their service to the people of Australia.

01:02We believe there's been a commercialisation, a sweeping commercialisation of Anzac Day over a prolonged period of time

01:10to the detriment of the importance of the day.

01:13There's many things that divide up our community in New South Wales and Australia

01:18and the truth of the matter is the nation's national day is Anzac Day.

01:22It is an opportunity for our community to come together to recognise people that have given the ultimate sacrifice

01:28in the service of the country that we all live in

01:31and for the first time in a long time acknowledge that it is a special day

01:36and should be set aside for commemoration of that important event.

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