Television Interview, Ten News+

SUBJECTS: Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal 

DENHAM HITCHCOCK, HOST: It's 50 years since the end of the Vietnam War, but some Aussie soldiers are still fighting for their service to be recognised. Two and a half thousand men who were conscripted and fought are not eligible to receive the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal because they didn't serve the required 181 days in the conflict. They've been pressuring our Government to overturn the rule, but they've been told Australia's hands are tied because the guidelines were set by South Vietnam, a country that no longer exists.

AMELIA BRACE, HOST: To get to the bottom of this, let's bring in retired Lt. Col. Bert Hoebee and the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Matt Keogh. Thank you both for your time tonight. First to you, Bert. It was obviously such a divisive war. Our troops were treated terribly when they got home. How does it feel for those men that 50 years on their service still isn't being recognised in this way?

RETIRED LT COL BERT HOEBEE: Well, they're deeply disappointed. They're very, very, very upset and I think the Minister knows how they feel. There are good grounds for the Minister to make a decision. As you'll be aware, the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide and Defence Suicide has looked at some aspects of a veteran's life and the effect of the sort of negativity they have been receiving as they are in this case, and the effect on their, well, it's a moral injury that's being imposed on them.

HITCHCOCK: Minister, I might bring you in here that sounds like a pretty sound argument. Why can't or why won't the government act on this?

MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR DEFENCE PERSONNEL: Firstly, Australia has recognised this service through a number of different medals that are available under the Australian honours and awards system. But this medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, is a medal created by the then Republic of Vietnam, South Vietnam. And it was the government of South Vietnam that created the rules around eligibility to receive that medal. Not the Australian government.

BRACE: But the South Vietnamese government, of course, does no longer exist. Bert, do you accept that the Australian government's hands are tied here?

HOEBEE: Yes. Look, the Minister is right in all the words that he says. He forgets, however, some of the deeper implications. And that is a case that I believe and many others supporting this case supports the Minister changing his mind and the government changing their mind to now see to it that these people get that in that circumstance, get that medal forthwith.

HITCHCOCK: And, Bert, just explain to us the Minister's talking about these other medals. Why is this medal so important?

HOEBEE: They reflect courage. They reflect recognition amongst their comrades. They reflect their service and their sacrifice, not only to Australians, but to South Vietnamese as well, who awarded this medal for service in their country.

BRACE: Minister, have you declined to make a decision or have you made a decision? Are you not moving on this?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, because it's a medal that's not created by the Australian government, but by another government that doesn't exist. There's no decision that I can make that changes the eligibility criteria for that medal. And can I say the point that Bert made about the way in which some veterans may attack or ostracise other veterans based on what medal they may or may not have is despicable. That shouldn't happen.

HOEBEE: We're not talking about changing the criteria. It's been said time and time and time again. We're sick of saying it. The Minister says there are other medals. Yes, that's true. Australian medals. These fellows fought for the South Vietnamese and they deserve to be recognised by the South Vietnamese Medal.

HITCHCOCK: It’s still divisive, which is such a shame even to this day. Bert and Minister, thank you very much for your time.

RETIRED LT COL BERT HOEBEE: Okay, thank you.

MINISTER KEOGH: Thank you.

ENDS