Linda Reynolds (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you very much. Had I been allowed to continue, I would have advised that I did come back to the Senate and clarify that statement. I clarified it, it was not misleading the Senate and I've already addressed that here in this place. However, if Senator Wong would allow me to continue, I have some news for the Senate on this matter.

Overturning a decision relating to a Victoria Cross nearly 80 years after Sheean's heroic actions needs compelling reasons. This is why the government's view and clear policy is that consideration of the awarding of a retrospective Victoria Cross would only occur in light of compelling new evidence or if there was evidence of significant maladministration. Given there are different views on whether there is compelling new evidence about Sheean's actions in 1942, the Prime Minister has today commissioned an expert panel to provide him with advice as to whether the 2019 review by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal has, indeed, any new evidence not available to the previous reviews or otherwise available and if that evidence is compelling enough to support a recommendation by the government that Sheean's mention in dispatches be replaced by a Victoria Cross.