House of Representatives Notice Paper Question No 975
Schedule Number: 300240		 Publication Date: 24 November 2009
Hansard: Page 12767

Australian Defence Force: Awards

 Member: Baldwin

Mr Baldwin asked the Minister representing the Minister for Defence in writing, on 7 September 2009.

  1. How many and what type of secret orders decorations, medals and commendations have been awarded to members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) from 1 January 2001 to 7 September 2009.
  2. Will ADF members who have been awarded secret honours be gazetted once their protected identity status has ceased.
  3. On what date will the Medal for Gallantry awarded to the late Special Forces Sergeant Matthew Locke be gazetted.
  4. Will the Government consider publishing citations for secret honours recipients using pseudonyms to protect the identity of recipients, as was done for the Medal for Gallantry to Trooper “A” of the Special Operation Task Group (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, S12, Monday 26 January 2009).

Mr Combet - The Minister for Defence has provided the following answer to the honourable member’s question:

  1. The Australian system of honours and awards does not include secret orders, decorations, medals or commendations. Special operations service attracts the same awards as normal Defence service. To maintain operational security and the safety and anonymity of personnel involved in these activities, award details are not published in the Government gazette. A list of non-gazetted awards issued from 1 January 2001 to 7 September 2009 is below.  

    Non-gazetted awards issued to ADF members for period
     1 January 2001 to 7 September 2009
    Officer of the Order of Australia 1
    Member of the Order of Australia 3
    Medal of the Order of Australia 2
    Star of Gallantry 1
    Medal for Gallantry 13
    Commendation for Gallantry 12
    Distinguished Service Cross 8
    Distinguished Service Medal 22
    Commendation for Distinguished Service 32
    Bar to the Commendation for Distinguished Service 1
    Conspicuous Service Cross 1
    Conspicuous Service Medal 1
    Unit Citation for Gallantry 1
    Meritorious Unit Citation 1  
       
    Total awards not published 99
  2. No.
  3. Defence will not gazette details of the Medal for Gallantry awarded to the late Sergeant Matthew Locke. 
  4. This is determined on a case-by-case basis by the nominating authority.

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