On Tuesday 26th March, the display will be officially opened by the Attorney General and Leader of the Opposition in conjunction with the Parliamentary Friends of Firearm Safety.
What: Mikac and Howard Letters Displayed at Australian Parliament House
Date: Tuesday March 26, 2024
Time: 3.15pm arrival for 3.30pm start
Where: Marble Foyer, Australian Parliament House
Parliament Drive, Canberra
Who:
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Hon. Mark Dreyfus, KC, MP Attorney General
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Hon. Peter Dutton, MP, Leader of the Opposition
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Walter Mikac AM, Founding Patron, Alannah & Madeline Foundation
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Josh Burns MP, Co-Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Firearm Safety
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James Stevens MP, Co-Chair of Parliamentary Friends of Firearm Safety
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Sarah Davies AM, CEO, Alannah & Madeline Foundation
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Katherine McMahon, Director, National Museum of Australia
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Stephen Bendle, Convener, Australian Gun Safety Alliance (AGSA)
On Sunday 28 April 1996 at Port Arthur, a young Hobart man perpetrated one of the deadliest civilian shootings in the world. Among the 35 people who died that day were Walter Mikac’s wife Nanette and two daughters Alannah (aged 3) and Madeline (aged 6). Nine days after the tragedy, Walter sent a letter to Prime Minister John Howard.
The correspondence between the Hon John Howard OM AC and Walter Mikac AM impelled a national reform on gun control in Australia — a defining moment in our nation’s history.
These letters were received by the National Museum of Australia in June 2023 and were on temporary public display for their Defining Moments in History collection.
The National Museum of Australia will loan the Letters to Australian Parliament House where they will again be on display for three months in the Marble Foyer.
On Tuesday 26th March, the display will be officially opened by the Attorney General and Leader of the Opposition in conjunction with the Parliamentary Friends of Firearm Safety.
For the decision makers and everyday Australians that visit Parliament House, these letters will serve as a reminder of the significant impact the gun reforms introduced in 1996 have had on the Australian community and highlight what can be achieved with a bipartisan approach to important policy initiatives.
Key Facts:
Available for interview:
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Walter Mikac AM, Founding Patron, Alannah & Madeline Foundation
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Stephen Bendle, Convener, Australian Gun Safety Alliance (AGSA)
About us:
Alannah & Madeline Foundation
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation was founded 27 years ago by Walter Mikac AM, and a small group of volunteers in memory of Walter’s young daughters Alannah and Madeline Mikac, aged just six and three, who tragically lost their lives along with their mother and 32 others at Port Arthur in Tasmania on 28 April 1996. The Foundation was established with the belief that “all children and young people should be able to live a happy and safe life, free from violence and trauma.” Our mission continues today through our Care, Prevention and Advocacy programs – we fight for their right to be safe, so their future is strong. www.alannahandmadeline.org.au
Australian Gun Safety Alliance
The Australian Gun Safety Alliance (AGSA) is a broad coalition of voices representing the interests of community in ensuring that we maintain vigilance on issues of gun safety. www.gunsafetyalliance.org.au
Parliamentary Friends of Firearm Safety
It is intended that this Group will provide a non-partisan forum for parliamentarians to meet and interact with stakeholder groups on matters relating to firearm safety, and particularly, to ensure that our laws and regulations continue to reflect the principles of the reforms enacted after the Port Arthur tragedy.
Contact details:
Simone Redman-Jones – Media Manager, Alannah & Madeline Foundation
0499 202 001
simone.redmanjones@amf.org.au
