Royal Australian Air Force
Extract from the CURRENT HOUSE HANSARD Database Date: 13 February 1997
Ms HANSON--"My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel. Minister, as you are no doubt aware, there is a group of Royal Australian Air Force servicemen who served in Ubon, Thailand, from 1962 to 1968 as an integral part of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam war in providing combat support in a declared combat area to USAF bombing missions into North Vietnam and Laos and who have for 30 years been denied recognition for that effort. Will the minister, as is in her power, recommend to the Governor-General to alter the regulations relating to the defined area of operations so as to include service to RTAF base Ubon, Thailand, to allow the issue of either the Vietnam Medal or the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal to a group of Australians who clearly qualify and who served their country proudly and honourably?"
Mrs BISHOP--"I thank the member for her question and the fact that she did indicate she would ask a question on this topic. For that reason, I am able to give the information that is required. There was a RAAF contingent based at Ubon in Thailand situated on the borders of Laos and Cambodia between 1962 and 1968. They were there pursuant to our arrangements and our obligations under SEATO and it was separate from our involvement with the Vietnam war."
"Ubon is in fact a Royal Thai Air Force base, and there were two reasons that were considered specifically by the Committee of Inquiry into Defence and Defence Related Awards dealing with why they did not recommend that the Vietnam Medal be awarded but did in fact recommend that the ASM 1945-75 with clasp Thailand be awarded. Indeed, that award is being made, recognising the service they gave."
"The reason that the committee recommended that the Vietnam Medal could not be awarded was simply that the area designated for the award of that medal did not include Ubon within its perimeters and the committee did not consider that it ought to be changed. The second reason related to the rules of engagement which were set down for that particular contingent. They were:"
"That no aircraft will be directed to investigate any identified contacts unless specifically requested by the Royal Thai government and, secondly, that no aircraft will attack unless fired upon."
"So the nature of their deliberations were that the ASM 1945-75 should be awarded to recommend the service that that contingent gave."
"In opposition, we undertook to uphold the awards that were recommended under the CIDDRA report, which we have done. We did then extend it in part, but we decided that it was the correct thing to abide by the finding concerning the award to be made in respect of that RAAF contingent."
Ms HANSON--"My question is to the Minister for Defence Industry, Science and Personnel. Minister, as you are no doubt aware, there is a group of Royal Australian Air Force servicemen who served in Ubon, Thailand, from 1962 to 1968 as an integral part of Australia's commitment to the Vietnam war in providing combat support in a declared combat area to USAF bombing missions into North Vietnam and Laos and who have for 30 years been denied recognition for that effort. Will the minister, as is in her power, recommend to the Governor-General to alter the regulations relating to the defined area of operations so as to include service to RTAF base Ubon, Thailand, to allow the issue of either the Vietnam Medal or the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal to a group of Australians who clearly qualify and who served their country proudly and honourably?"
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