Rex Patrick (SA, Centre Alliance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Urquhart, move:

That—

(1) The Senate notes that:

(a) in July 2019, the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal recommended to the Minister for Defence Personnel that the Minister recommend to the Sovereign that Ordinary Seaman Edward 'Teddy' Sheean be posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross of Australia for the most conspicuous gallantry and a pre-eminent act of valour in the presence of the enemy during a Japanese aerial attack on the HMAS Armidale in the Timor Sea on 1 December 1942;

(b) it is understood that the Minister for Defence Personnel subsequently communicated to the Minister for Defence that he was supportive of the Tribunal's recommendation for the award to be granted; and

(c) the independent, unanimous and expert recommendation was overruled.

(2) There be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, by 2.00pm on 24 June 2020, all documented correspondence between the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Defence relating to the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal's consideration of the matter of posthumous awarding of a Victoria Cross of Australia for Edward Sheean, created between 22 July 2019 and 11 June 2020.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Teddy Sheean earned a Victoria Cross, and there's not a soul in this chamber that denies that. The only thing that some of you aren't sure about is whether to give it to him. That's all this is about. It's government policy that you won't give a Victoria Cross to somebody who didn't receive it at the time, unless there's compelling new evidence. But that's not a legal position or a legal requirement or a legal defence. It is just a policy preference. You don't dispute that what's in front of you is enough to give Teddy a Victoria Cross, but you won't give it to him. Guess what? It is not yours. It is his. An independent expert tribunal found that he earnt that cross. Give him what he is owed. You are only denying a hero his honour, and it's your policy preference and your bloody stupid captain's poor call that is reflecting on that.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Sue Lines (WA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ordinary Seaman Edward (Teddy) Sheean was an extraordinary Australian and Australia will remain eternally grateful for his service and his sacrifice. Given that there are different views on whether there is compelling new evidence about Teddy Sheean's actions, the Prime Minister has commissioned an expert panel to provide advice as to whether the 2019 review by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal has had any new evidence that is compelling enough to support a recommendation to award Teddy Sheean a Victoria Cross.

Question agreed to.