There was a small silver lining to being barred from the Budget lock-up. It meant that yours truly and just two other journos were the only people sitting in the Gallery in the Reps chamber that afternoon when the prime minister made these comments during the motion marking the 60th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Europe in World War II.

As Winston Churchill was to observe on VE Day 1945, although the German war had ended, Japan “with all her treachery and greed” lay unsubdued, and, for another few months of particular relevance to Australia, the war in the Pacific continued. The end of that war will be the subject of particular commemoration in this country later this year.

Put the emphasis on “particular.” Defence sources tell Crikey that the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Prime Minister’s Office itself are taking a very hands-on interest in Veterans Affairs proposals for the anniversary. The commemorations, of course, are legitimate. The number of World War II vets is getting thinner and thinner on the ground, and they deserve something.

Crikey understands, however, that Vets Affairs are finding the thing all too hard to organise, have little money to fund it and are unhappy with the orders that there’s not to be a dry eye in the house when it’s all over. So, we’re told, the responsibility is being handed over to the ADF – along with the operating costs, all unscheduled expenditure.

Riding orders are that the events are to be all about the vets – a complete “don’t mention the war” scenario. Rather hard to deliver when the commemorations mark the defeat of a country that attacked Australia and murdered and maltreated thousands of our service personnel. Australia/Japan defence relations, however, are rather sensitive at the moment, what with Our Boys in Iraq doing the Bridge on the River Kwai in reverse and protecting Japanese engineers.

The balancing act is going to be a beauty. The Prime Minister’s Office seems to have very firm ideas about the political benefits it wants from the commemorations. The RSL has its usual sensitivities about anything to do with Japan. And the ADF would rather spend the money on maintaining its equipment and protecting its serving personnel that a political photo op.