Top Stories
Young Turk of politics
By Cpl Mike McSweeney

Edition 1163, April 05, 2007
 
Office politics: Pte Simeon Turk gets a briefing from Member for Cowan Graham Edwards during his involvement in the Parliamentary Exchange Program.
Photo by Cpl Mike McSweeney
THERE is nothing unusual about soldiers discussing politics, but few get the chance to talk about it with politicians in Parliament House.

Pte Simeon Turk, a clerk at AHQ, last month had the privilege to shadow not only a Member of Parliament, but one who is also a Vietnam veteran – ALP’s Graham Edwards, the Member for Cowan.

“It’s been great working with Mr Edwards. He’s got such an amazing energy,” Pte Turk said. “He’s a good man to have to go into bat for us.”

Pte Turk was one of four Army members to take part in the Parliamentary Exchange Program.

Pte Dong Ko, Maj Fred Parker and Maj Rick Maher also took part in the week-long exchange from March 26.

“It’s been absolutely brilliant – really eye-opening,” Pte Turk said.

“It’s been a fantastic experience to come here and have a look at how Parliament is run.They do a hell of a lot of work that we just don’t see.”

He recommended the exchange to anyone interested in political processes.

“It doesn’t matter who or what rank you are, you’ve got the opportunity,” he said.

Mr Edwards said it was great to have Pte Turk with him, saying he requested someone at a non-commissioned level.

“I think it is important that all levels of the ADF have the opportunity to experience this program,” Mr Edwards said.

“It gives members of the ADF an opportunity to see how we work up here; the fact that we do work fairly long hours, and that we put the time in.

“It’s an opportunity to see that we’re not always at each others’ throats, that we often work closely together, particularly on committee tasks, and particularly in areas like Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.”

Mr Edwards said the program also provided the opportunity for Members of Parliament to experience a “snapshot” of Defence life.

He said he would like to see it evolve so MPs could get a “greater appreciation for some of the hardships, training rigours, family issues and other challenges that members of the ADF face over a long period of time”.