The Government makes big speeches on ANZAC day and then betrays the diggers in Parliament.
They’ve introduced a Bill that would stop heroes like Teddy Sheean ever receiving medals they deserved. Frontline soldiers today would have limited ways to get recognition they deserve if some bureaucrat sitting at a desk decides they don’t deserve a medal.
One Nation will not stop until the (Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025 is thrown out of Parliament and the Government learns to back our Defence Force personnel with actions, not lip service.
Submissions to an inquiry into the Bill close Wednesday 1 October. Go to https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/DHAATBill2025 or call my office to find out how to make a submission.
Transcript
I’m SICK of governments getting up and making speeches on ANZAC Day and then pulling this crap in Parliament.
The government has introduced a bill that betrays serving and former Defence Force Personnel and their families.
The Albanese bill guts soldiers and families’ rights to appeal for recognition of heroic acts.
One Nation initiated an inquiry into the Defence Honours and Awards System that finished on 19 June 2025.
The bureaucrats in the Department of Defence submitted proposals to restrict the rights of Defence personnel, veterans and families to appeal when Defence denied an honour or award – a medal.
These proposals were widely slammed. Veterans, service members, families and the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal were livid and adamant.
Despite this, the government has introduced the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025. It essentially does everything the Defence bureaucrats want to stop the frontline soldiers being able to appeal for the medals they deserve.
Why have inquiries? The Government ignored evidence criticising Defence’s proposals and now seeks to impose them on ADF personnel, veterans and families.
The Tribunal rebuked Defence’s proposals, many of which appear in this Bill. In a supplementary submission, the Tribunal said:
“Given that Defence’s key proposals…appear to be so counter-intuitive and lacking in sound public policy justification, the Committee might consider whether their purpose is simply to AVOID PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY through independent merits review…”
“This is not the first occasion…Defence has sought to curtail and avoid scrutiny…It argued…historic decisions…should be affirmed…without merits review unless the applicant brought forward ‘compelling new evidence’ or proof of ‘maladministration’…”
“From 2015, the Tribunal consistently rejected these arguments…Merits review clearly requires that all relevant evidence must be considered…without regard to whether or not the decision-making process was tainted by defective administration.”
“On occasion, the Tribunal also pointed out that Defence was in breach of its obligations as a model litigant…because of its refusal to engage on the merits…”
The Tribunal was not consulted prior to the bureaucrats’ proposals or the creation of this Bill, despite a committee recommendation.
The Tribunal is a vital oversight mechanism to ensure Defence Force Personnel, veterans and families receive proper recognition for their service and heroic acts.
The Government cannot fix the morale crisis driving recruitment and retention failures if this Bill reflects the way it treats Defence Force personnel, veterans and families.
Minister Keogh stands condemned for even considering this proposal.
One Nation will always back our Defence Force Personnel and veterans getting the full recognition they deserve.
We will oppose this bill.
