Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) Australia's fire and emergency (F&E) personnel have a long and proud record of serving overseas, assisting local efforts during times of need,

(ii) this service has included 17 deployments over the course of 20 years—most recently, a contingent of 140 service men and women who fought deadly fires in California in September this year,

(iii) currently, within Australia's honours system, there are specific honours for police, military personnel and humanitarian groups that provide emergency assistance overseas, but not one specifically designated for F&E personnel,

(iv) this has had the effect of forcing F&E personnel to apply for recognition for their service under the Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal (HOSM)—an honour intended for humanitarian groups, and

(v) F&E personnel are entitled to have their service recognised with a medal struck especially for them; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to create a new Fire and Emergency Service Overseas Medal to recognise F&E personnel who serve overseas during times of crisis.