Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has travelled to Afghanistan to spend Anzac Day with Australian troops.
"Their humour, their humility, their mateship and dedication to duty represent the very best of the Anzac tradition," Mr Shorten told AAP from Kabul.
Mr Shorten said it was a tremendous privilege to spend the day with extraordinary men and women doing difficult, dangerous and vital work.
"It's inspiring for all of us to know that Australian courage, professionalism and skill has helped drive the Taliban from power, deprived global terrorists of a stronghold and begun the long and arduous task of bringing peace to a sorely troubled nation," he said.
Mr Shorten said monuments and memorials would one day be build to honour this generation of diggers.
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"But perhaps their greatest monument is already being built in front of our eyes: the new future Afghanistan can choose for itself," he said.
"The profound legacy of Australian courage is seen in the Afghan girls going to school again, in a national life expectancy that has increased by 20 years, in hospitals reopening and homes being rebuilt."
Mr Shorten, who discussed the mission with senior coalition commanders while in Kabul, paid tribute to the 41 Australians killed in the war and the many others wounded or scarred.
"Lest we forget has always been both a promise and a command," he said.
"Because we best honour the Anzac tradition by supporting all those whose deeds give it meaning, around the world and down the generations."
