Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal

Robert McClelland, Australian Federal Opposition defence spokes-idiot, has claimed that the Government should re-examine the Australian Honours and Awards system. McClelland wants to establish if there is an anomaly in regards to the awarding of medals or honours to ADF personnel engaged in aid to the civil community activities. With the recent posthumous and post-accident awarding of the Indonesian Medal of Honor to the dead and survivors of Shark 20, a RAN Sea King which crashed whilst on final approach to Nias Island, Indonesia, the political opposition is looking for traction on this issue to score points against the government, by using this tragedy for political gain.

What becomes glaringly obvious to those with any knowledge of the Australian honours and awards system, (that's me, I happen to have a few of my own) is that the Opposition defence spokes-idiot should do his research before opening his mouth to slur the government. The current system of awards and honours has an appropriate award in place for exactly these circumstances.

HUMANITARIAN OVERSEAS SERVICE MEDAL

This Medal was established in 1999 to honour members of recognised Australian groups that render humanitarian service overseas in hazardous circumstances. Circumstances envisaged include service in war zones, during peacekeeping operations or in times of natural disaster or civil strife. Australian groups may be part of, or operating under, the direction of the United Nations, other international organisations or Australian or international non-government organisations.

To date, the following clasps have been declared: the Balkans, Cambodia, East Timor, Great Lakes (Africa), Iraq, Mozambique, Northern Iraq, Somalia, South Sudan and South Vietnam. The qualifying period of relevant service is 30 days in any operation..

So, it would simply be a matter of gazetting the members posted or attached to Operation Sumatra Assist 1 and 2 be eligible for the awarding of the HOSM. Given a minimum time of 30 days, as that's the minimum for awarding of the equivalent military award, the Australian Service Medal, the majority of service personnel would have qualified for the award from the first deployment.

Robert McClelland IS out of his depth on this subject. The ALP have dropped an ineffectual and essentially futile choice into the job of Oppostion Defence spokes-idiot, in the same way they previously had Chris Evans in the job prior to the last election. Bomber Beazley's interest in Defence affairs is still high, so have no doubt that Kym is making this call, with Rob the sock puppet merely mouthing the words. If Senator Robert Hill had some balls, he would immediately initiate action to award members of ADF civil disaster response teams the HOSM.

You know it makes sense. I'm Chief Bastard.

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