Independent tribunal slams cut to Veterans rights

The Tribunal’s submission highlighted that it would have been impossible for the Victoria Cross to be awarded to war heroes like Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean and Private Richard Norden under the new approach of the Albanese Government.

An independent statutory agency has accused the Albanese Government of abolishing the rights of Australian Defence Force personnel and veterans when seeking to review our nation’s highest awards for bravery.

The Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (DHAAT) has made a formal submission to a Senate inquiry regarding the government’s plans to limit the time period for reviewing acts of gallantry.

The Tribunal’s submission also highlighted that it would have been impossible for the Victoria Cross to be awarded to war heroes like Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean and Private Richard Norden under the new approach of the Albanese Government.

Teddy Sheean walk and memorial in Latrobe Tasmania.

“The measures contained in the Bill go far beyond technical changes of a tidying-up nature or the addition of machinery provisions to allow the more efficient conduct of business of the Tribunal,” the submission said.

“Instead, they would effectively deprive ADF members and veterans and their families of their current, and very important rights to hold Defence to account, and would preclude the nation’s recognition of some of its greatest heroes.

“In the view of the Tribunal, the Bill in its present form would work to the very significant disadvantage of ADF members and veterans, their families and other supporters by abolishing existing rights of independent merits review in the Tribunal and would thereby detract from the integrity of the defence honours and awards system.”

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the DHAAT submission had vindicated the Coalition’s decision to oppose the ill-conceived Bill.

“Under the changes rammed through the House of Representatives without proper consultation with ex-service organisations, the Albanese Government is introducing a 20-year time limit on reviewable actions,” Mr Chester said.

“In effect, it would mean the actions of Australian Defence Force personnel from World War 2, the Korean War, Vietnam War and any other conflict outside the 20-year timeframe could not be considered.

“The Coalition believes the solemn pledge in the Ode of Remembrance of ‘we will remember them’ was never intended to come with a use-by date, and ex-service organisations agree with our position.

“Despite the lack of consultation with ADF personnel and veterans, the Albanese Government is undermining the independence of the Tribunal, which was set up to review decisions made by Defence.”

Mr Chester has urged the Senate to reject the Bill and allow the Tribunal to continue its important work.

“The government has provided no proof the existing system is broken, and the capacity to review decisions made by defence was a deliberate design feature of the Tribunal when it was first established by the Gillard Government,” Mr Chester said.

“But Defence has always opposed the Tribunal’s work and has sought to undermine its operation at every opportunity. It has now found a Minister gullible enough to undermine the effectiveness of the Tribunal and rob our veterans of their rights to appeal decisions.”

The Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia says the Bill “will be a disservice to veterans and their families” and has written to Senators urging them to vote against the legislation.

The Vietnamese Veterans Federation of Australia says the government’s position is “unjust, unnecessary and immoral to the highest degree”.