Veterans and serving personnel are advocating for an overhaul of the military awards system, urging the Government to revisit a 2015 honours inquiry recommendation. Recent documents released under Freedom of Information shed light on how the defense force responded to the inquiry and have sparked concerns within the defense community about the system’s operations.
The push for change comes as the Senate has agreed to launch a new inquiry into the integrity and efficacy of the defence honours and awards system. Retired and serving personnel have raised issues about the abuse of the system by high-ranking officials and have called for a shift in the power to approve prestigious awards to the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal (DHAAT).
The group specifically highlighted concerns over decisions to revoke military medals or awards, emphasizing the need for the tribunal to have the authority to hear and determine appeals related to such decisions. Currently, the DHAAT has limited powers and can only review decisions on the conferral of defense honours and awards.
The documents released this week pertain to a 2015 DHAAT inquiry into honours and awards refusal, shedding light on the decision not to accept a recommendation that would have allowed personnel to appeal if their medals were revoked. Members of the defense community argue that such instances underscore the necessity of removing defense from the honours and awards process.
Concerns have been raised about the lack of review mechanisms for decisions to revoke medals, with calls for the tribunal to have broader powers to ensure transparency and fairness in the system. The defense chief at the time had reservations about endorsing certain recommendations that would have expanded the tribunal’s review powers.
Despite initial support for changes to provide a mechanism for reviewing decisions on medals, subsequent deliberations led to a decision against accepting this recommendation. The Defence Honours and Awards Advisory Group initially backed the proposal but later revised it to suggest an independent review of the tribunal’s purpose.
The Defense Personnel Minister at the time advised that further progress on the matter would be communicated in 2017. However, it remains unclear whether any significant action was taken to address the concerns raised about the military honours system.
The defense community continues to advocate for reforms to ensure that decisions regarding military medals and awards are fair and transparent. The ongoing debate underscores the importance of maintaining the integrity of the honours and awards system while also addressing concerns about potential abuses and shortcomings in the current process.
As the call for a review of the defense honours and awards system gains momentum, the Government faces mounting pressure to address the longstanding issues raised by veterans and serving personnel. The outcome of the new inquiry and any subsequent reforms could have significant implications for how military honours are awarded and managed in Australia.
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