Military Service Anomalies Hearing Begins

ReleaseThe Hon Bruce Scott MPMinister for Veterans’ Affairs · Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence · Federal Member for Monaro

MIN 200/99 Monday, 19 July 1999

PUBLIC HEARINGS INTO SOUTH-EAST ASIA SERVICE ANOMALIES TO BEGIN IN BRISBANE ON WEDNESDAY

Hearings into claims of anomalies in entitlements for Defence service in South East Asia in the period 1955-75 will begin in Brisbane on Wednesday, July 21.

The public hearings, announced by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Mr Bruce Scott, in May, are being conducted by an independent reviewer around Australia.

The review is being undertaken by former SA Supreme Court Judge, Naval officer and Army Reservist, the Honourable Mr Robert Mohr, who will be assisted by former senior Naval officer, Rear Admiral Philip Kennedy, who retired in 1987 after 38 years service.

Mr Scott said today that the terms of reference of the inquiry, to report back to him by the end of October, direct the review to examine areas of service including:

· With the naval component of the Far East Strategic Reserve (comparing conditions prescribed for the naval contingent with those of personnel of the other two services);
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· RAAF Butterworth in Malaysia;
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· RAAF Ubon in Thailand;
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· Australian Defence Force service in the Malaysia during the period of Confrontation with Indonesia; and
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· Other ADF service in South East Asia during the period 1955 to 1975 where prima facie evidence is presented to the review of possible anomalies.
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The venue for the hearing in Brisbane is the Gazebo Hotel and Conference Centre on Wickham Terrace. Three days have been set aside for public hearings in the State capital.

"Anyone wishing to be heard on any of the matters outlined in the terms of reference should attend the hearing," Mr Scott said.

"I look forward to receiving and making public the report which will make recommendations based on both the hearings and written submissions called for when I announced the review in May."

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