Senate Committee refused Albanese Government's defence honours legislation

ALBANESE FORCED INTO HUMILIATING RETREAT ON DEFENCE HONOURS

The Albanese Government has been forced to withdraw legislation that would undermine the integrity of the defence honours and awards appeals system after failing to consult with veterans and Australian Defence Force personnel.

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the government should abandon the mean-spirited Bill completely after the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee refused to back the legislation during its inquiry.

“Not even the Albanese Government’s own Senators could support the legislation after receiving 75 submissions to the inquiry with everyone opposed, except the Department of Defence, which wrote the Bill,” Mr Chester said.

“I want to thank everyone who made a submission and the Senators who were able to see through Labor’s plan to reduce transparency and undermine an independent Tribunal.

“Now the government is clinging to this unsalvageable legislation by promising more consultation. How many times does this gullible Minister, and the entire arrogant Albanese Cabinet need to be told the veterans of Australia and our ADF personnel deserve better than having their rights stripped away and a 20-year time limit placed on acts of heroism?”

Mr Chester said the announcement by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs that the government would discharge the Bill from the Senate notice paper came after the Coalition and crossbench combined to take the exact same action two weeks ago, but Labor opposed the motion.

“It’s just another example of the hubris, hypocrisy and arrogance of the Albanese Government that it fought to prevent the Senate from discharging the Bill two weeks ago, and prolonged the negative impacts on the wellbeing of veterans,” Mr Chester said.

“Instead of focusing on implementing the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the government has been pursuing this legislation to the detriment of our veterans and their families.

“This government is so arrogant, it thought extending the Senate inquiry reporting date for a month and opposing the motion to discharge the Bill would buy them time to convince veterans that the changes were palatable, but it simply can’t be fixed.

“The Albanese Government was repeatedly warned by ex-service organisations and the independent Tribunal that its Bill was having a negative impact on veterans’ wellbeing, and they continued to arrogantly pursue this legislation.

“The legislation is unsalvageable because it strips away the appeal rights of ADF personnel and veterans while also placing a 20-year time limit on the heroic actions of our servicemen and women.

“The Coalition believes the Tribunal has acted with professionalism, integrity and due diligence in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities since it was established in 2011 under the Rudd-Gillard Government.

“We still have no idea why the Labor Party is trying to place a use by date on ‘we will remember them’.

“As a matter of principle, the Coalition will always seek to provide bipartisan support for legislation which impacts the health and wellbeing of Australian Defence Force personnel, veterans and their families.

“However, the Coalition remains unconvinced there is any significant problem being solved by this legislation and recommends the government abandon the Bill in its entirety. Both the Minister and the Department of Defence have failed at the first hurdle to undertake any consultation or provide any credible reason in justification of this root and branch restructure of an independent authority.”

The Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal) Bill 2025 was introduced into the House of Representatives on August 28, 2025, without any consultation with the Coalition or key stakeholders in the ex-service community.

The referral of the Bill to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee was the first opportunity for Australian Defence Force personnel, veterans and their families, to provide substantive input into the sweeping changes proposed by the Department of Defence and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

A total of 75 written submissions were received, with all but one opposing the legislation (from the Department of Defence), and opposition Senators tabled their dissenting reports calling for the Bill to be abandoned.