Sacrifice at the forefront of PM’s agenda

TONY Abbott will today attend the dedication of the Australian War Memorial in Wellington as he begins a fortnight focused on the Centenary of Anzac.

In his first formal appearance at the historic series of events, Mr Abbott will be joined by his New Zealand counterpart John Key to memorialise the bonds between our countries forged on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula.

The Prime Minister will later this week head to Turkey along with Mr Key where he will take part in official commemorations on the site of the ill- fated campaign 100 years ago.

But the pair will first meet at the Australian Memorial in Wellington’s Pukeahu National War Memorial Park to pay respects to the sacrifice of Aussie Diggers.

The memorial honours not just those who fell in World War I but in all other conflicts where Australians served.

Mr Abbott said the Australian memorial in Wellington was “testament to the bond forged between our nations across more than a century, as well as to our shared strategic interests and common values and heritage.”

As a new Anzac force begins its deployment to Iraq, Mr Abbott will hold talks with Mr Key about our joint plans to combat Islamic extremism across the globe.

About 330 Australians and 100 New Zealanders are in the process of moving to the Taji base north of Baghdad for a two - year mission training the Iraqi army to fight the so- called Islamic State terrorists.