Coalition and crossbench Senators rejected the Albanese Government’s defence honours and awards system changes

SENATE INQUIRY CONDEMNS ‘DISGRACEFUL’ BILL

Coalition and crossbench Senators have joined forces to reject the Albanese Government’s plan to undermine the defence honours and awards system, which veterans groups have described as ‘disgraceful’.

The Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal) Bill 2025 was introduced into the House of Representatives on August 28, 2025, without any consultation with the Coalition or key stakeholders in the ex-service community.

The referral of the Bill to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee was the first opportunity for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, veterans and their families, to provide substantive input into the sweeping changes proposed by the Department of Defence and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

A total of 75 written submissions were received, with all but one opposing the legislation (from the Department of Defence), and opposition Senators have now tabled their dissenting reports calling for the Bill to be abandoned.

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester said the Albanese Government had received no support from key stakeholders and provided no evidence that the Tribunal needed wholesale changes.

“The legislation is unsalvageable because it strips away the appeal rights of ADF personnel and veterans while also placing a 20-year time limit on the heroic actions of our servicemen and women,” Mr Chester said.

“The Coalition believes the Tribunal has acted with professionalism, integrity and due diligence in fulfilling its statutory responsibilities since it was established in 2011 under the Rudd-Gillard Government.

“We have no idea why the Labor Party is trying to place a use-by date on ‘we will remember them’.

“As a matter of principle, the Coalition will always seek to provide bipartisan support for legislation which impacts the health and wellbeing of Australian Defence Force personnel, veterans and their families.

“However, the Coalition remains unconvinced there is any significant problem being solved by the legislation and recommends the government abandon the Bill in its entirety. Both the Minister and the Department of Defence have failed at the first hurdle to provide any credible reason in justification of this root and branch restructure of an independent authority.

“The implementation of key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide should be given higher priority by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs than this mean-spirited legislation.”

The Senate is expected to vote on a motion next week that seeks to discharge the Bill.