Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

The fact that Australian Defence Force members may be deployed to a location in which there are hostile forces in conflict with each other, such as the Middle East in support of the United Nations, doesn't in and of itself meet the criteria for reclassification as qualifying service or war-like service under previous or even extant repatriation legislation.

Defence has recently completed a comprehensive review of ADF service with the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, known as UNSTO. It confirmed that there is no period of service with UNSTO from 1956 to 2010 that warrants classification as other than peacekeeping or non-war-like service. Defence, of course, acknowledges that the role of an unarmed observer can at times be hazardous not only during periods of increased conflict but also when carrying out the routine day-to-day tasks in support of the UN mission. This was the case with unarmed military observers who served in Beirut in 1983 and 1984. (Time expired)