David Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Hansard source

Kranji War Cemetery sits 22 kilometres north of the city of Singapore and among the thousands of WWII Commonwealth war dead lies a solitary Australian soldier killed in the Vietnam War, Warrant Officer 2nd Class Kevin Conway. Across the Straits of Johor in Malaysia lies Terendak Military Cemetery, where 24 other Australians killed during the Vietnam War are buried. These 25 soldiers are the only remaining Australian servicemen, killed during the Vietnam War, who have not been returned to Australia and to their families for burial. There were 521 sons, fathers, husbands, uncles and friends who died during the Vietnam conflict, all of whom were bought home—all except for these 25 men. It was changing government policy that led to this arbitrary situation. In the early days of the Vietnam War families would have their loved ones' bodies sent home only if the next of kin or a benefactor were willing to pay 500 pounds for their repatriation. If this substantial fee was out of reach for a family, their loved ones too remained out of reach—buried in Terendak in Malaysia. This all changed in early 1966 when the Australian government resolved to return all Australians killed in Vietnam home at the Commonwealth's expense.

Still buried far from home, decades after the conflict that took their lives ended, these 25 men are the consequence of those earlier, unjust policies. The emails and letters that I have received from the families of some of these men reveal the human cost of these policies. These messages were often short and painfully poignant—'he's been away from home for too long,' one read. Nothing can alleviate the pain of losing a loved one but these messages reveal the additional burden placed on families who could not find closure, who could not visit the grave of the person they remembered as being vibrant and full of life. It is these messages, these personal stories, that speak to the importance of righting this wrong—a wrong that has continued to impact families for half a century. It is therefore with great pleasure that I speak today in support of the decision to give the families of these men the opportunity to decide for themselves where they should finally rest.

I would like to acknowledge the work of the Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia and the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, who have diligently worked and campaigned to bring about this outcome. I would also like to make special mention of Vietnam veteran Bob Shewring and former ADF member Luke Gosling, coordinators of the Operation Bring Them Home campaign, for their efforts and their tireless advocacy. This campaign began in the Northern Territory several years ago when Bob Shewring began researching how to bring home Corporal Reg Hillier MID, the only territorian to be killed in action in Vietnam. Since that time, the hard work and advocacy of many veterans and family members have shone a light on this aspect of Australia's immediate history. And Australians did not just listen, they got involved—40,000 people signed the petition to support Operation Bring Them Home. Having met with representatives of Operation Bring Them Home it was my pleasure to support their worthy cause and it was with great delight that I saw the news of their campaign spread far and wide, including in the media in Malaysia.

Labor recognised the wrong that these men and their families had endured for too long and knew it was time to bring them home, adding our support to the myriad of voices calling for action. It was not that long ago that division over the Vietnam War in Australian society had serious ramifications for the proper recognition of our returning Vietnam veterans. While our enduring obligations to our service men and women were not forgotten, they were obscured by a shadow of wilful ignorance towards the experiences of these men who had endured great hardship in service to their country. In the decades that have followed, Australia has begun the process of making amends through the proper recognition and proper commemoration of the Vietnam War as well as by improving the services and supports available to Vietnam veterans and their families. Righting this particular wrong is one significant step in the healing that continues.

Just as this welcome decision is of special significance for the families of the men buried in Terendak, 2016 will be a year of special significance for the Vietnam veteran community as a whole. Next year will be the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, and numerous commemorative activities and initiatives are due to take place which will renew our dedication to recognising and caring for our Vietnam veterans and their families. For our young Australians this anniversary represents an opportunity to learn about a conflict that has in many ways shaped our society and the Australian Defence Force. It is an opportunity to acknowledge and better understand our uncles and fathers and grandfathers as they deserve to be acknowledged and understood and in so doing ensure our enduring responsibility to veterans is transferred to the next generation.

Today I congratulate everyone who has worked so hard to bring about the opportunity for these families to repatriate their loved one. I also honour all those men who served in the best traditions of the Australian Defence Force during the Vietnam conflict—all those who came home and all those who did not. As it should have been all those decades ago, where these 25 Australian servicemen will lie is now in the hands of the people who knew and loved them best. Whether that is next to other family members in the town where they were born or just below a line of trees on the green sloped grounds of Terendak cemetery, these men will honoured, they will be loved and they will be remembered.

See this speech in context