Radio interview, Mornings with Neil Mitchell

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
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MORNINGS WITH NEIL MITCHELL

NEIL MITCHELL, HOST: Now, Vietnam veterans, Vietnam veterans’ families, 133 693. I’m really disappointed this hasn’t got more media coverage. We came across it yesterday. Vietnam veterans were treated appallingly when they got home – appallingly, a lot of them. They were told they had to change into civilian clothes before they left, after they were landed. I think some of them expected to come home to welcome-home parades and bands and people cheering. They got spat on. They got called baby killers.

At a ceremony at Parliament House yesterday, the Prime Minister apologised to Vietnam veterans for their poor treatment and the lack of acknowledgement when they returned home. He said he was speaking on the fiftieth anniversary of the end of Australia’s role in the war. Here’s the key point of his apology:

PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE [UPSOT]: To each and every one of our Vietnam veterans I say we honour you, we thank you and we are so sorry it took us so long as a nation to do so. You deserve better.

NEIL MITCHELL: On the line, the Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister, Matt Keogh. Good morning.

MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL MATT KEOGH: Morning, Neil.

NEIL MITCHELL: Do you repeat the apology hearing that? 

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, we absolutely acknowledge, as the Prime Minister did, that our Vietnam veterans when they returned home were not acknowledged and thanked and treated appropriately as people who had worn our uniform on behalf of our nation and we as a Government are very sorry that that is what occurred. Because anyone who puts on our uniform, regardless of what people think about the conflict they may be engaged in, they’re doing the job that Governments of the day have asked and they deserve our thanks and recognition and support when they come home for having done that job well done on behalf of our nation, regardless of what people might think of the position of a Government about a conflict.

NEIL MITCHELL: That’s an interesting point to have a Labor Government apologising for it because the Labor Party and the unions were foremost in the anti-war movement, which encouraged some of the appalling treatment that they received.

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, it was a Labor Government that did end Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

NEIL MITCHELL: It was Gough Whitlam.

MINISTER KEOGH: That’s right. And there was sort of a mass sort of turning over the course of that conflict of people, you know, regardless of their politics in relation to issues like conscription and engagement in the war. But I think what’s important is it’s not about the politics, but it’s important that we’re acknowledging that service and we’re sorry that Vietnam veterans were treated the way that they were. And this year in particular is the 50th anniversary of the end of our involvement in that conflict, that we own up for that and that we are acknowledging that service and thanking people for that service. And that’s why this year we’re making available medallions and certificates to commemorate that service to our Vietnam veterans or to the family members of veterans who are deceased.

NEIL MITCHELL: Okay. Who was told this was happening? 

MINISTER KEOGH: All members of Parliament were invited to attend the event yesterday, so – 

NEIL MITCHELL: How many turned up? 

MINISTER KEOGH: It was held at Parliament House. There was a large number.

NEIL MITCHELL: Good.

MINISTER KEOGH: There was a large number of Parliamentarians.

NEIL MITCHELL: See, I’ve spoken to many Vietnam veterans, including some who are very senior, went on to be very senior Army officers, who knew nothing about it.

MATT KEOGH: Okay.

NEIL MITCHELL: Who was told? Did you tell the veterans? Did you tell the RSL? 

MINISTER KEOGH: Yes, absolutely. We had the Vietnam Veterans Association’s heads were there representing that cohort. There were 10 representative veterans themselves across Navy, Army, Air Force, nursing services, receiving the first 10 of these medallions as well, as part of not just that acknowledgement but also making people aware of these medallions and that they can now be applied for through the DVA website by veterans themselves or, when a veteran is now deceased, by their widow or family member. And so, there was actually good media attendance at the event, and I took your point that it’s always nice if these things get more coverage, and I’m really glad we’re having the opportunity to have this discussion today to promote not just the apology to our veterans, but the opportunity to commemorate that service as well.

NEIL MITCHELL: It got very little media attention. Why, do you think? 

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, there’s a lot of things going on in any parliamentary sitting day in the cut and thrust of everything. I’m not going to give a running analysis, I guess, of what the media decide to prioritise, Neil. I’m very grateful that you’ve given it good attention this morning and I think at least online most of the newspapers around the country I know were running a story on it yesterday.

It’s important we get the word out to our veteran community for Vietnam veterans to be able to apply for these medallions and certificates too as the Government commemorates their service in the lead‑up to Vietnam Veterans Day, of course, in August, which will be the major commemoration point for the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War.

NEIL MITCHELL: I’ll just read you an email I received. I’ve been getting many of these through. “You made me cry with the Vietnam veterans apology. I didn’t know it had happened. I dare say my dad, a veteran, didn’t. But do you know what would be better? If the Department of Veterans’ Affairs actually believe veterans when they put in their claims for the damage it has caused physically and mentally. My dad has been fighting the department for years to get his appropriate compensation.” That’s a theme that comes through from Vietnam veterans. They’ve got to fight hammer and nail to get any justice. Can we do anything about that? 

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, certainly over the time that Vietnam veterans have been engaging with the Department there’s been a significant change for the better. It’s actually why Australia’s been the world leader in recognising and understanding PTSD. It’s because of our Vietnam veteran cohort. And as we were discussing before, Vietnam veterans were not treated well when they came back and that’s dramatically improved, but I know that people still have difficulty and we’ve got this backlog of claims that we’ve inherited and it’s why we’re employing 500 additional staff in the Department to get through that backlog now as soon as possible.

I can’t comment, obviously, on individual cases, but one of the things we are doing now as a Government is working through a reform package for the legislation that underpins veterans’ entitlements so that we can make that a simpler process so it’s easier for veterans, easier for the department to process, which means those claims can be processed faster. And if it’s easier for people to deal with, where they do have claims that should be approved, those claims can be put through the Department and that’s really important.

The other thing that has changed recently is that mental health supports for people that have done at least one day’s full-time service in our Defence Force can get Non-Liability Mental Health cover. They don’t have to establish any connection to their service. That’s a really big difference now.

NEIL MITCHELL: When do you hope the backlog will be cleared? 

MINISTER KEOGH: We’re aiming to get that cleared next year and then we’re looking at having the legislation to follow that. So, look, it was a big backlog we’ve inherited. We’ve taken that on. We’re employing those additional staff and we’re trying to work through it as quickly as possible. We are now seeing it go down, and that’s the important thing.

NEIL MITCHELL: Just quickly, there’s another question from a man representing national servicemen who didn’t serve in Vietnam and the argument I believe they put to you is for the Gold Card to be extended to them even though they weren’t in a war zone. Is that being considered? 

MINISTER KEOGH: So, I’ve received representations. I met with the people running that campaign around the Gold Card. There are some elements about what we’re proposing in our legislative reform that would expand eligibility for Gold Card, which – it may pick up some of our National Servicemen, so there is some elements of that which would meet some of what they are after in that regard, but it would not go the whole way of what they’re seeking at this stage.

NEIL MITCHELL: Tell me, have you met Keith Payne? 

MINISTER KEOGH: I have, many times.

NEIL MITCHELL: He’s the man who sort of led – Keith Payne VC, led the way on PTSD really and he reckons that was harder than winning his VC. How old are you?

MINISTER KEOGH: How old am I? Forty-one.

NEIL MITCHELL: Forty-one. Did you learn about Vietnam at school, do you reckon? Did you know much about the Vietnam War before you became Minister? 

MINISTER KEOGH: I did because I have a number of family friends who were in the Vietnam War, Vietnam veterans, and that was my Dad’s, my parent’s generation, and so I have probably learnt more from friends and family friends and so forth than in school, but we did learn about it in school as well. So, I don’t think it is something that is foreign to Australians of my generation, but certainly it’s not front of mind either. And I hope during this year, the 50th anniversary of the end of Australia’s involvement in the war, with events like yesterday, with the major commemoration on 18 August, Vietnam Veterans’ Day, and other events occurring throughout the year, that we will be able to raise that awareness and understanding across the general Australian population of Australia’s involvement in the Vietnam War and the impact it had on our Australian Defence personnel.

NEIL MITCHELL: Thank you very much, Matt Keogh, Federal Veterans’ Affairs Minister.

END

Authorised by The Hon Matt Keogh MP.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608