What is the DCCEEW?
According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) website:

“We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.”

This has nothing to do with Papua New Guinea and Kokoda, and it certainly has no relationship with our shared military history of Kokoda.

Is this an attempt to eventually scrub Kokoda from the history books?

What is the Kokoda Initiative?

According to the DCCEEW website:

“The Kokoda Initiative is a partnership between the Papua New Guinean and Australian governments to sustainably develop the Kokoda Track (sic) and protect the surrounding Owen Stanley Ranges.”

So, has Canberra claimed Kokoda and the Owen Stanley Ranges as Australian territory?

The Kokoda Initiative costs Australian taxpayers AUD$5 million a year and has very little to show since it came into being in 2008.

Over 20 years that’s AUD$100m.

In short, Kokoda has been hijacked to progress Canberra's neocolonialist interests in Papua New Guinea.

Kokoda belongs to Veterans' Affairs!

Kokoda belongs under the management of the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) alongside other important overseas historic military commemorative sites such as Gallipoli, Villers-Bretonneux (France), Hellfire Pass (Thailand), and Sandakan (Malaysia).

Stop the politicisation of Kokoda now!

Respect the diggers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom! Return Kokoda to Veterans' Affairs where progress can be made in restoring the pride and commemorative history of Kokoda!