Senator Malcolm Roberts Commends Senate Approval of Defence Medals Investigation
Date: 13 July 2024
Location: Canberra, ACT
Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts of Pauline Hanson’s One Nation party is pleased to announce the Senate’s approval of a motion to launch an in-depth investigation into the Defence honours and awards system. This inquiry will specifically scrutinize the awarding process of medals, including the Distinguished Service Cross recently granted to the outgoing Chief of Defence Force, Angus Campbell.
The motion, introduced by Senator Roberts on 3 July 2024, narrowly passed with a vote of 32 to 31, despite opposition from Labor and the Greens.
In a recent Facebook statement, Senator Roberts highlighted his concerns about the misuse of the Defence honours and awards system by senior officers. “Senior brass often nominate each other for medals like it comes in their salary package,” Senator Roberts remarked. “Meanwhile, enlisted personnel have to fight for recognition and higher-ups arbitrarily downgrade their medals. I suspect Angus Campbell’s Distinguished Service Cross is just the tip of the iceberg, and this inquiry will delve deeply into these issues. The system needs a serious inquiry, and I’m thankful to the Senate for establishing one.”
The motion mandates the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee to investigate and report on the following by 28 November 2024:
- The experiences of Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel progressing through the honours and awards system;
- The effect of awards and honours on maintaining morale within the ADF;
- Assurance of the integrity of awards to senior officers for conduct in the Afghanistan conflict;
- The effect of changes in criteria for some honours and awards from ‘in action’ to ‘in warlike operations’;
- The operation of the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal, including any potential improvements;
- Any potential improvements to the Defence honours and awards system; and
- Any related matters.
The committee is now accepting public submissions, and Senator Roberts emphasized the protections in place for witnesses providing evidence, addressing concerns about potential reprisals. “Anyone coercing, interfering with, or punishing a person for giving evidence to the committee could be held in contempt of the Senate,” Senator Roberts stated. Submissions can be made confidentially to protect the identities of those wishing to remain anonymous.
For details on making a submission, please click here.
Senator Malcolm Roberts
Queensland Senator for Pauline Hanson’s One Nation
I am very please to announce that the advisor to Senator Roberts contacted me regarding maladministration of issuing medals from the Vietnam era. Very happy to oblige. He will incorporate my response in the overall pending inquiry. Long overdue in my books.
Excellent.
Why should any Pogo Officer without Direct Combat experience get rewarded when a Fighting Digger gets shafted by that same Officer width any direct chargers being laid?
I don’t know what the maladministration of issuing medals from the Vietnam era refers to. I do know that I received my medal entitlement in the post as did other vets I have spoken to. We did not have to apply for them. As to entitlement for the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal the criteria for entitlement to the award are quite clear and have been for the past 60 years. This has been confirmed in many appeal cases by the Honours and Awards System-in short if you do not meet the laid down criteria you are not entitled to wear the RVCM. Moving the goalposts so long after the event should not be contemplated by any Government Department. I realise some who did not qualify will not agree as they feel hard done by but the opportunity to extend enlistment (as I did) to complete a full tour of Vietnam was available to them but apparently not taken up. Too late (in my opinion) to be ruing that now!