Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade
Supplementary Budget Estimates 2012-13; 17 October 2012

Question 104 | Outcome 3: Program 3.1
Topic: Recognition in the Australian War Memorial

Audio of the press conference by Senator Milne and Senator Wright on Gonski school funding reforms and recognition for peacekeepers

The Australian War Memorial Council must recognise the vast public support for recognition of peacekeepers on the National Honour Roll, says Australian Greens Spokesperson on Veterans Affairs, Senator Penny Wright.

"As a society, it is important that we recognise those who have served, and continue to serve, on our behalf," Senator Wright said. "We must always be conscious of their efforts, their sacrifice, and never forget those who made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of us all.

I move that the Senate

(a)    notes that:

(i)      Australian peacekeepers make a significant contribution to international peace and security;

(ii)    Forty-eight Australians have died on peacekeeping missions overseas;

(iii)   Over 19,000 individuals have signed a community petition calling for the 48 Australian peacekeepers who have died in the service of their country to receive equal recognition and be placed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial;

(b)   calls on the Government to:

The Australian Greens will continue to campaign for formal recognition of peacekeepers who died serving the nation to be included on the Honour Roll at the Australian War Memorial, despite the AWM council's resolution to postpone a decision until 2013.

Australian Greens spokesperson for Veterans Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, said greater recognition was needed for the valuable contribution Australians made to the international peacekeeping effort.

Senator WRIGHT: I move:

That the Senate:

(a) notes that:

(i) Approximately 70,000 Australian Defence Force and Australian Federal Police personnel have been deployed on over 60 peacekeeping operations throughout the world;
(ii) Forty-eight Australians have died on peacekeeping missions overseas;
(iii) Australian peacekeepers have made a significant contribution to international peace and security;

The Australian Greens today welcomed the Federal Government's decision to bring forward the next Defence White Paper by one year, but questioned the extraordinary $40 billion proposal for a fleet of submarines.

Greens spokesperson assisting on defence Senator Scott Ludlam said, "The 2009 White Paper was directionless and bloated, and included a hardware wishlist that was never credible. It was also startlingly undiplomatic, particularly towards China, and sidelined the findings of its own Community Consultation process."

The Federal Government must rule out allowing US military spy drones to be based on Australia's Cocos Islands, the Greens said today.

Greens spokesperson assisting on Defence, Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, said the Government needs to respond decisively to reports that the US is considering the use of the islands off the north-west coast for surveillance drones and other spy aircraft.