Chris Barrett, Singapore – The Australian government has reversed a decision not to have an official government ceremony in Bali to mark 20 years since the terror bombings but will stage its main service in Canberra.
Relatives and friends of people killed in the nightclub attacks had expressed disappointment at the absence of an Australian service in Denpasar on October 12, saying they felt forgotten on the eve of a major anniversary.
Julia Gillard, who was prime minister at the time of the 10th anniversary, and John Howard, the Australian leader when the attack took place, travelled to Bali and spoke at a ceremony attended by hundreds of family members in 2012.
A decade on, the Australian government had no official proceedings organised on the island and had said it would mark the occasion as it had in recent years, by opening the memorial garden and remembrance book to the public at its consulate-general in Denpasar on the day, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age last week.
With the Coalition having set nothing in place before the election, the glaring omission risked being an embarrassment for the government as well as upsetting families of victims.
But government officials have now told people intending to travel to Bali that they are arranging for a small service to be held at the consulate-general on the morning of October 12 and for wreaths to be laid in Kuta. They have also discussed a ceremony at the site of the attack at 11pm – about the time of the explosions – where a candle would be lit for each victim.
And in Canberra, the government is now planning a formal observance of the 20th anniversary at the Great Hall at Parliament House. It is understood it has consulted survivors, families and friends of victims and received feedback from many that they preferred the main official ceremony be held in Australia.
The change of plans in Bali was welcomed, however, by Melbourne man Jan Lacynski, who was in the Sari Club in the hours before a car bomb was detonated outside and whose friends perish that night. He said as many as 50 families had travelled to the island on the anniversary in recent years.
"A lot of people were feeling lost and forgotten," he said. "Now this will give families and friends dignity and respect, whether they're going to be in Australia and watching the service in Canberra, going to some of the local events or, like myself, going to Bali and being on location where we lost so many people."
The government is yet to determine whether a minister will make the trip to Bali.
Of the 202 people who died in the attacks, 88 were Australian.
They are also remembered each year at events organised by community groups and local councils in Australia.
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was contacted for comment.