Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to support this motion and the sentiment behind it. Recently, the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal recommended the creation of a new class of medals and clasps which recognises the loss suffered by families of Australian Defence Force personnel killed or seriously wounded as a result of their service. This followed a referral of the matter to the tribunal in January last year by the former Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel.

In its report on the inquiry, the tribunal noted that Australia, through the Order of Australia and the Australian defence honours and awards system, already recognises the services of ADF members. In addition, Australia recognises the wounding, injury or death of such members in a variety of essential ways—for example, through health care, income support, compensation, family support services, bereavement pins and memorials. However, the inquiry considered that none of these consequences of service are reflected in the present medallic forms of recognition, none expressly convey the gratitude of the nation for individual sacrifice and none provide a suitably solemn and individual emblem of that gratitude. The tribunal therefore recommended that it is timely, if not incumbent, for Australia to initiate such an expression of its gratitude to members and their families. This would provide a tangible and readily recognisable expression of national gratitude for the sacrifice of ADF members killed or suffering a serious wound, injury or disease in or as a result of their service, and that of their families, and would do so in a way that allows existing defence honours and awards to better tell the story of that service.

Importantly, this motion recognises the strong advocacy of former Special Air Service Regiment Warrant Officer Kerry Danes and his wife, Dr Kay Danes, including through a petition that attracted around 45,000 signatures. Mr Danes launched his campaign several years ago, following the tragic Black Hawk helicopter collision during an army exercise in Townsville in 1996 which resulted, tragically, in the deaths of 18 soldiers. He has made the point that telling a story is important to our nation. Our existing defence honours and awards systems tell the story of where our personnel served and for how long but, for those killed in service both overseas and at home in response to emergencies, conflict and disasters, we do not officially personalise their sacrifice and conclude their record of service. Mr Danes therefore proposed a clasp on these individuals' campaign or service medals which would complete the story of personal service and sacrifice. After all, there are precedents overseas, as the member for Bowman said, and we should recognise them.

Australian soldiers have argued that there should be something similar to the Purple Heart for ADF personnel killed or wounded in action. But it should also recognise the families for their service and sacrifice, and I want to acknowledge also the advocacy of my colleague the member for Solomon on this issue and thank him very much, because, alongside the member for Bowman, he has been a strong advocate for special forces and Afghanistan veterans, as well as for veterans' mental health and for victims of abuse in the ADF. Thank you, Luke, for the work you've done.

Of course, those advocates and Labor urge the government to stand up on behalf of and for former ADF personnel and their families. The government has not always done this, firstly, in the response to the Brereton war crimes report, which had a terrible effect on the mental health of our current and former personnel. Secondly, tragically, the Morrison government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to a royal commission into defence and veterans' suicide. We know that many defence personnel have been medically discharged, have suffered mental health issues and in some cases have, tragically, taken their lives. I would encourage everyone to cooperate with the royal commission. I know that the Sydney hearings are happening today. I would encourage veterans and their families to engage with the royal commission. Some sort of recognition of the impact of service and the sufferings would play a therapeutic role for veterans and their families. This is a decision which I'd ask the government to take up on the recommendation of the tribunal.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the many veterans and their families for their sacrifice, and for the submissions that they've also made. I note that the awards tribunal saw hundreds of submissions and individuals. There are 220 individuals and groups who have made submissions to that inquiry. I urge the government to not procrastinate, to engage consultatively, to accept the advice of the umpire and to do the right thing by these veterans and their families.

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