Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Paterson for his question. One of the great privileges enjoyed by any Minister for Defence is the opportunity to move amongst, to speak with and to mix with the men and women of the Australian Defence Force. I can tell the House that I exercise that privilege on a regular basis. One group I regularly move amongst is those who serve in our SAS—those who regularly put their lives on the line for our country. I see them at their bases; and, by the way, I visited Campbell Barracks just five days after this issue was first revealed last year to check on members of the regiment and to secure feedback from them. I also see them on exercises. I eat with them. I even have a beer with them.

No-one knows them better than I and no-one has a higher appreciation of what they do for their country. As minister, I will not allow them to be disadvantaged. When I first learned of the implications of the tribunal’s decision in October last year during Senate estimates I took immediate action. I directed the Chief of the Defence Force and the Chief of Army to put an immediate stop on any recovery action—a recovery action which was immediately implemented and has remained in place up until this day. I also instructed them to immediately do whatever it takes to correct this problem. I said earlier in the week that that solution came much more slowly than I would have liked. What we did need, of course, was a solution that was legally robust—one which was permanent and did not, in its rush, simply create more problems for those affected.

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