The Australian War Memorial will open the new extension to ANZAC Hall today, which showcases a new Afghanistan Gallery exhibition.

Costing $550 million, the expansion was first announced in 2018 and focuses predominantly on Australia’s military operations in the Middle East.

War Memorial Director Matt Anderson says the new exhibitions shares the story of over 100,000 veterans who served in the Middle East.

“Now, those men and women can come in with their families, with their friends, with their mates, and see that their story and their service is worthy of recognition.”

The official opening will led by an address by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who is expected to tell the event that parliament finished at 5.30pm instead of 8pm so MPs could attend the opening.

War veteran Ben Roberts-Smith is also expected to attend.