"It gets everything right."
That's how Australian War Memorial chair Kim Beazley describes the new Anzac Hall and Afghanistan galleries launched on Tuesday evening.
Mr Beazley made the comment when asked by The Canberra Times if the memorial had got the balance right in its handling of the war crime allegations against Australian soldiers in Afghanistan.
Speaking to the media on arrival, Mr Beazley praised the memorial's director Matt Anderson stewardship of the "magnificent" redevelopment.
"This is our most sacred site, and this honours that sacred character absolutely," he said.
He would not be drawn on criticism of the more than $550 million spent on the redevelopment, which when completed in 2028 will add more than 5000 square metres of gallery space.
"It's come in basically without much of a price increase," he said.
"It's on time, and it does the job brilliantly. I am particularly pleased that it honors the veterans from Afghanistan fought a very long war, and they fought many, many a battle."
Mr Beazley said Australians would "know a lot more" about what the nation's soldiers went through in Afghanistan, where "fighting was as hard as any we've ever done."
The new galleries include a section acknowledging the Brereton report, which found credible information of such wrongdoing, with a redacted copy of the report on display.
There are three major new galleries on modern conflicts: Afghanistan, Peacekeeping, and the Middle East.
Mr Anderson said the redevelopment was the product of 1948 workers, with more than 100 veterans providing input leading to the design of the new Anzac Hall "reflecting but not imitating" the heritage building, with sandstone from the same quarry.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the redevelopment "a sublime and powerful addition ... that enhances the institution of which it is now part."
"It amounts to an act of profound respect from the nation to all who have served in our name, and all who serve now," Mr Albanese said in his speech.
"It honours all who went and all who fell. It honours those who came home, including the many whose hearts never knew peace again.
"It is an act of remembrance that also acknowledges that not every conflict has been supported - and that, too, is part of our hard-won freedom."
Parliament was adjourned early on Tuesday so that all MPs and senators able to attend the opening could do so.
Mr Roberts-Smith, who is defending charges of war crime murder, had been expected to attend the launch after having his bail varied to enable him to travel to Canberra - but cancelled, citing illness.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy said he was "incredibly humbled to be here for the grand opening."
"Anything we can do to honour our veterans is a good thing," Mr Conroy told reporters.
"They've made the ultimate sacrifice, over 100,000 of them."
Asked if it was appropriate that Mr Roberts-Smith had been invited, Mr Conroy said this had been the memorial's decision but that he "certainly understood why they invited him."
"Ben Roberts-Smith is a VC, and has demonstrated enormous bravery in the face of the enemy," he said.
"Everything else that is relevant is before the courts."
Victoria Cross recipient and former Australian War Memorial council member Daniel Keighran said the redevelopment was "looking fantastic."
He objected to being asked if it was appropriate that Mr Roberts-Smith had been invited.
"There's over 100,000 names, rightly permanently displayed in bronze here, and you're asking that question. I mean, we're here to remember the service and sacrifice of all veterans, not just one."
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor briefly addressed reporters, calling the redevelopment "fantastic."
"I'm looking forward to celebrating," Mr Taylor said.
Queensland Liberal National MP Andrew Wallace, a supporter of Mr Roberts-Smith, said he had expected the VC recipient to be at the launch. "I wish him all the best in his health and recovery."
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, who previously said she wanted to shake Mr Roberts-Smith's hand, was disappointed as she had wanted to "give him my support."
"I think he should have been here," she told reporters.
"He is still an innocent man until proven guilty."
Senator Hanson said the War Memorial was "the most beautiful place in the whole of Canberra."
"This depicts to me what Australia is all about," she said.
"Our Defence personnel, men and women that fought for our country, sacrificed their lives.
"I think this is the first place I came when I was first [elected] in 1996, I made a point of coming here, and I brought my children to explain to them what it was."
