Veteran's Affairs - Letter to the Editor - Hon Darren Chester MP

The Albanese Government’s mean-spirited plan to overhaul the honours and awards appeal system is a betrayal of our veterans and their families.

The Labor Party’s legislation takes away long-standing rights to appeal Defence decisions and would impose a 20-year time limit on applications for review. In practice, that means Australian Defence Force personnel, veterans and their families would be silenced, with no avenue to challenge Defence decisions on medal entitlements or recognition of service. 

The Bill is an attack on the independence of the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal, a body that was established to stand apart from Defence and ensure fairness in recognising our nation’s heroes.

The Tribunal’s independence has allowed cases like Ordinary Seaman Teddy Sheean VC and Private Richard Norden VC to finally receive the recognition they deserved. Under Labor’s changes, these heroes would never have been recognised for their bravery because their actions occurred more than 20 years ago.

Even worse, the Department of Defence admitted during Senate hearings that it failed to consult either the Tribunal or the ex-service community before drafting the Bill. 

Veterans across the country have lined up to condemn the legislation. The RSL of New South Wales called it “disgraceful” and warned that it would harm the physical and mental wellbeing of veterans and their families. The Tribunal itself has said the Bill would remove existing rights and work to the “very significant disadvantage” of those who have served.

This is not a minor administrative reform; it’s a fundamental weakening of transparency and oversight by a Labor Party which hates being held to account.

The Coalition is working with the crossbench in the Senate to defeat the Bill, but we need your help.

If you live in a Labor Party electorate, write to your Member of Parliament and tell them to oppose this plan which puts a time limit on ‘We Will Remember Them’.

Darren Chester

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs