Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, could you please provide an update to the chamber of how the government is commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Korean War armistice? In addition, could you provide any further information relating to how the government has recognised those who served in the Korean War? By way of background for some of the work we've both been doing, in April 2014 I received a letter from the senior vice-president of the Korean War Veterans Association of New South Wales, Bob Morris OAM, who just happens to be a resident of Gilmore. He outlined some issues relating to the issuing of Korean War service medals. There have been many years of advocacy to our Department of Veterans' Affairs regarding the wearing of, in Bob's words, 'this significant award that was given to all servicemen who served in Korea under the United Nations from 25 June 1950 to 27 July 1953'. He added: 'A medal was issued by the South Korean government, which has since been accepted by Canada, America and New Zealand.' Bob and other veterans are very proud to have served Australia in their nation's commitment to preserving peace in our region. It was important for me to know some of their story, which I share here. It actually begins at the end of the war, with the armistice so gratefully celebrated by the South Koreans.

The armistice, ending three years of fighting on the Korean Peninsula, was signed on 27 July 1953. The present-day border between North and South Korea, marked by a four-kilometre-wide demilitarised zone, follows the line in which the warring armies—Chinese and North Korean in the north and the large United Nations force in the south—stood when fighting ended. The Korean War was a constant battle of advancing from the north and back to the South. The armistice, which took more than a year to negotiate, recognised the inability of either side to achieve a battlefield victory. While the fighting ended in 1953, the state of war between the two Koreas persists to this present day. All three of Australia's armed services took part in the Korean War. Approximately 17,000 Australian personnel served in Korea, including Army and RAAF nurses. Some 340 lost their lives, more than 1,200 were wounded and 30 were taken prisoner.

I began by referencing the advocacy of my Korean War veterans for their service recognition. As part of that story, in 2017 I reignited inquiries with the then Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Dan Tehan MP, on behalf of local veterans about the Korean War and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal. In December the minister approved the creation of the Korean War Armistice Consultative Committee. This was accepted and approved by His Excellency General the Hon. Sir Peter Cosgrove on 6 March 2017. As a result, the medal may now be officially worn by eligible veterans in recognition of their service. In more recent discussions, this veterans community feel they have some suggestions that would enhance the recognition process, and we've contacted the minister on this matter.

On 27 July 2018 it will be the 65th anniversary of the Korean War armistice. This will be recognised as part of the Department of Veterans' Affairs Century of Service Domestic Program 2015-18. A national commemorative service will be held at the Australian National Korean War Memorial, on Anzac Parade, in Canberra on that day to mark this significant anniversary. The service has been developed in conjunction with the Korean War Armistice Consultative Committee. Veterans from the Korean War, along with Korean War widows and representatives of the ex-service organisations, will be joined at the service by senior members of the Australian parliament, the ADF and DVA. One of the important parts of this commemorative location is a boulder taken from a Korean battlefield. It is the focal point. A word in Korean script represents peace and independence. The battlefield boulder is set in a field of stainless steel poles that symbolise those who died. The obelisk commemorates those who died with no known grave. The inscription taken from the United Nations Memorial Cemetery at Pusan is a poignant link with the Australians who are buried there.

We acknowledge the efforts of all our Korean veterans but, in particular, I would like to take this opportunity to remind the minister of the efforts of Bob and Mavis Morris, Alice Burns and Rod Coupland, who have been tireless in their advocacy. In summary, Minister, what is the government doing for the Korean War veterans on 27 July this year and could you confirm the work the government has been doing for recognition of their service?

See this speech in context