Australian Training and Support Team East Timor

Mr Lindsay asked the Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, in writing, on 4 June 2009:

1. Is he aware of the ongoing campaign for formal public recognition of the Warlike Service (WLS) of the Australian Training and Support Team East Timor (ATST-EM).
2. Did the Government direct the Department of Defence to release a DEFGRAM on 26 March 2009 announcing the recognition of WLS for the ATST-EM; if so, who was the responsible Minister or Parliamentary Secretary.
3. What protocols, processes or legal requirements must be fulfilled to have the WLS of the ATSTEM publicly recognised.
4. Will he publicly announce recognition of WLS for ATST-EM veterans who served on active service in East Timor; if not, why not.
5. Does the award of a War Service Pension (WSP) to qualifying persons depend upon the formal public recognition of active WLS.
6. Is he aware that members of the ATST-EM who have qualified for a WSP, are having their applications denied due to a lack of public recognition of active service in East Timor; if not, why not.
7. Did the Deputy Chief of Army, at any stage, order ATST-EM members to return their United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) medals; if so, why.
8. Have ATST-EM members been retrospectively awarded the UNTAET medal; if not, why not.

Mr Combet - The answer to the honourable member’s question is as follows:

1.  Yes.
2. No.
3. There are no protocols, processes or legal requirements that must be fulfilled to have the WLS of the ATST-EM publicly recognised.
4. No decision has been made to publicly announce recognition of WLS for ATST-EM veterans who served on active service in East Timor.
5. and (6) There is no requirement for public recognition to qualify for the award of the War Service Pension. Personnel wishing to access veterans’ entitlements associated with their service in ATST-EM can do so once Department of Veterans’ Affairs has confirmed their service with Defence.
7. I am advised that the Army understands that in 2001 an investigation was commissioned by the then Commander of the Australian Contingent – East Timor into how the Australian Training Support Team – East Timor received the UNTAET medal, as they were not assigned to the United Nations.  In 2003, it is further understood that a direction was issued that the medals had been issued in error and that they be withdrawn.  Action was initiated by the Army to comply with this direction.
8. The UNTAET Medal can only be authorised for issue by the Security Council of the United Nations.
   
   In July 2008, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force wrote to the United Nations Headquarters Military Adviser, Lieutenant General Chikadibia Obiakor, requesting that he, as the delegate for the award of the United Nations medals, agree to the retrospective award of the UNTAET Medal to the 205 members of the ATST-EM who served during the period 1 March 2001 to 25 July 2005.
   
   Defence was passed a response from the United Nations dated 23 December 2008 advising that the United Nations Secretariat has not approved retrospective award of the medal to ATST-EM members.
   
   There are no further avenues available to Defence to influence the award of the UNTAET Medal to ATST-EM members, although individuals may apply to the United Nations for reconsideration of their specific circumstance.

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