Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) acknowledges that 2022 represents a significant year for Australian military commemorative milestones, including the:

(a) 80th anniversary of the Battle for Australia;

(b) 80th anniversary of the sinking of the HMASArmidale;

(c) 80th anniversary of pushing back the Japanese on the Kokoda Track;

(d) 75th anniversary of Australian Peacekeeping efforts; and

(e) 50th anniversary of the end of National Service;

(2) notes that:

(a) Australia continues to recognise all those who defended our country during the Second World War, at home and in land, air and sea battles to our north as part of the Battle for Australia, which helped tum the tide of war against Japan;

(b) throughout 1942, Australian forces desperately fought to halt and eventually push back the Japanese along the Kokoda Track, in Buna, Gona and Sanananda in Papua, in New Guinea, the Huon Peninsula, Wewak and on the island of Bougainville;

(c) on 1 December 1942, 100 Australians died during the sinking of the HMAS Armidale, the largest loss of life from any corvette in the Second World War;

(d) Australians were part of the first United Nations peacekeeping operation when military observers were deployed to the Netherlands East Indies (now Indonesia) in 1947 and since that time, Australian peacekeepers have served in locations around the world, ranging from the Middle East to Africa, Southeast Asia and the Pacific in every year since; and

(e) Australia's fourth iteration of National Service was abolished by the Whitlam Labor Government on 5 December 1972;

(3) expresses its thanks to all former and current personnel for their service;

(4) remembers the lives and sacrifice of those service personnel who have died in and as a result of service to our nation; and

(5) further acknowledges the families who have been left behind and those who support loved ones who have served.

This year, 2022, is a very significant year for Australian military commemorations. In particular, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the Battle for Australia, which was a series of engagements during the Second World War around our mainland and the Indo-Pacific. It included the bombing of Darwin, the city that I'm so proud to represent, by 188 Japanese aircraft on 19 February 1942, which killed more than 250 people.

This year we also cast our minds back 80 years to the sinking of HMAS Armidale in action in World War II. On 1 December 1942, 100 Australians died during the sinking of HMAS Armidale. This was the largest loss of life from any corvette in the Second World War. The Armidale was operating out of Darwin. It left Darwin with orders to evacuate our troops and civilians from Timor in the face of the Japanese invasion. Operating in broad daylight, the Armidale took a direct hit. Among the crew of the Armidale was a young Tasmanian called Teddy Sheean, who was, of course, posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross a few years ago for heroically staying on the sinking Armidale to fire on Japanese aircraft, stopping them from strafing his mates who were in the water.

I'm very proud of all the efforts of members of this parliament and the Tasmanian state government, and of the Sheean family and friends, who worked and campaigned so hard to get justice for Teddy. I was particularly proud that we all rose in the chamber and spoke up when former Prime Minister Morrison said no to Teddy Sheean getting that VC. We forced a situation where it was reviewed, and the decision was finally made for him to receive that award. I want to pay tribute to Teddy Sheean and those 49 men who were stranded at sea after the sinking and who suffered repeated attacks from the Japanese and also from sharks in the waters of the Timor Sea. It is an amazing story.

This year is also the 80th anniversary of Australian forces desperately fighting to push back the Japanese along the Kokoda Track in Buna, Gona and Sanananda, in Papua and in New Guinea, on the Huon Peninsula, at Wewak and on Bougainville. As well as World War II, this motion invites us to reflect on the 75th anniversary of Australian peacekeeping efforts this year. Australians were part of the first United Nations peacekeeping operation when military observers were deployed to the Dutch East Indies—now called Indonesia—in 1947. In every year since that time, Australian peacekeepers have served in locations throughout the world, ranging from the Middle East, Africa, South-East Asia and the Pacific,. Finally, this year is also the 50th anniversary of the year that Australia's fourth iteration of national service was abolished by the Whitlam Labor government on 5 December 1972.

These were all exceptionally important events in our national life. It's only fitting that we thank all former and current personnel for their service in these and in other operations. ASPI fellow Graeme Dobell recently wrote that, over a span of 90 years, Australia went to war no fewer than nine times. He reflected that, over the 100 years since 1914, Australian personnel were on active service for 47 years or half of that time. That's incredible and it says a lot about Australia's involvement in world affairs relative to our population and about our standing up for what is right, standing up for freedom and standing up against oppressors. Our country has seen a significantly intense period of service in the last 20 years in particular, but, at this time, we remember World War II, we remember the peacekeepers, and we remember all those who served and their families.

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