Rudd slams Keating over Gallipoli 'nonsense' Posted 14 minutes ago
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has criticised his predecessor Paul Keating's assessment of the importance placed on Australia's involvement in the World War I Gallipoli landings.
Speaking at the launch of a book on Winston Churchill's relationship with Australia yesterday, Mr Keating said the notion that Australia was "born again" or "redeemed" at Gallipoli was "utter and complete nonsense".
This morning Mr Rudd told Fairfax Radio that Mr Keating was completely and utterly wrong.
"The sheer naked act of courage of Australian men and women putting their lives on the line on behalf of all of us - that is core to the shaping of the Australian national identity for more than 100 years," he said.
At the book launch yesterday, Mr Keating said the sacrifice of the soldiers was simply testament to the nation's lack of confidence and ambivalence about itself.
"If our sons suffered and died valiantly in a European war, such sacrifice was testament to the nation's self worth," he said.
"In some respects we are still at it; not at the suffering and the dying but still turning up at Gallipoli, the place where Australia was needily redeemed.
"Without seeking to simplify the then bonds of Empire and the implicit sense of obligation, or to diminish the bravery of our own men, we still go on as though the nation was born again or even, redeemed there. An utter and complete nonsense."
RSL national secretary Major General Bill Crews says there are many Australians who would disagree with Mr Keating's comments.
"He's correct in recording that we were there as part of the Empire. When the British Empire went to war Australia went to war, no matter where it was.
"That's why we were at Gallipoli and yes, it was tragic in many senses.
"But let's look at what happened in Gallipoli and what Australia did to prove itself. And I think that's what's important to many Australians today."
