Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Labor understands that this matter has been reviewed a number of times, including: the Committee of Inquiry into Defence and Defence Related Awards in 1993; the Review of Service Entitlement Anomalies in Respect of South-East Asian Service in 1999; the Review of Veterans' Entitlements in 2003; the inquiry into recognition for members of Rifle Company Butterworth for service in Malaysia between 1970 and 1989, which was conducted in 2011; and the Final report by the Medallic Recognition Joint Working Group on service in South-East Asia 1950 to 2011, sponsored by the New Zealand government, in 2013. In addition, this was reviewed in 2014 by the Department of Defence in response to a petition seeking a review to enable reclassification of service by Rifle Company Butterworth from 1970 to 1989. As illustrated, this matter has been reviewed a number of times, including several of an independent nature. These reviews, several in the context of medal recognition, have concluded that service at Butterworth during this period is not considered warlike.