STATEMENT
20 March 2024
HMAS Manoora Veterans Told Not To Wear Their Australian Active Service Medals
Reports that recipients of the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) who deployed on operations in East Timor on HMAS Manoora have been instructed to no longer wear the medals they were awarded are incredibly concerning.
I am advised these medals were awarded in 2013 and 2014 for crew who delivered humanitarian aid to the people of East Timor and transported ammunition from Dili to Darwin as part of task force INTERFET.
Veterans across the country are rightly outraged by this instruction.
These servicemen and women deserve to wear the medals they were awarded ten years ago for their service.
It is grossly unjust for them to have to endure the uncertainty of knowing their medals may be stripped.
To say, “Thank you for your service,” then take back medals is a disgrace.
As we approach Anzac Day – a stressful, challenging time for many of our veterans – we cannot have veterans asking themselves questions like, “Well, should I be wearing these? Do I deserve the medals that I earned on operations?”
The Minister for Defence can decide today whether the veterans of HMAS Manoora can continue to wear their AASM.
The Minister needs to act and act now to rectify this issue.
ENDS