The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association (APPVA) calls on the Albanese Government to immediately reclassify the service of Australian Peacekeepers in Israel and Lebanon as "warlike" and backdate this classification to 7 October 2023.
As the Middle East conflict intensifies, with Israel launching a limited ground offensive on Lebanon and Iran firing hundreds of missiles at Israel, twelve Australian Peacekeepers remain in the region. These personnel continue their UN-mandated mission to supervise the truce agreed upon in 1948 after the first Arab-Israeli War.
The APPVA expresses deep concern over the current "non-warlike" classification of the Peacekeepers' service. This classification, historically maintained by both Labor and Liberal/National governments during periods of heightened tension, significantly reduces the health benefits and compensation available to these personnel if injured in the line of duty.
"It is the Peacekeepers' job to observe, and it is the Government's job to recognise that service," states Ian Lindgren Chairperson of the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association. "Yet, their critical role in this volatile situation has not been acknowledged by any ministers, including our Minister for Foreign Affairs."
The Association emphasises that the current conditions in the region clearly constitute a war zone. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's calls for all Australians in Lebanon to evacuate underscores the severity of the situation.
The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association urges the Albanese Government to take immediate action in reclassifying the Peacekeepers' service. This reclassification would ensure that these brave individuals receive the appropriate recognition and benefits commensurate with the risks they face in their vital peacekeeping role.
Australian Peacekeepers: Unrecognised Service in War Zones
Opinion Piece by Phil Pyke OAM and Ian Lindgren
Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association
The Middle East Conflict Escalates
The images from the Middle East war remains confronting across social media feeds, online discussions, and news channels. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last night made another plea to Australians in Lebanon to get out now. Israel has launched a limited ground offensive on Lebanon, Iran has launched between 200 and 300 missiles and drones at Israel. The area is a war zone.
Australian Peacekeepers in the Midst of Conflict
Just as in past years, Australia's twelve Peacekeepers remain in Israel and Lebanon doing their job which is to implement the UN mandate to supervise the truce agreed to in 1948 at the conclusion of the first Arab/Israeli War.
Non-Warlike Classification Despite War Zone Conditions
Just as in past years the Commonwealth Government, both Labor as well as Liberal/National, classify the peacekeepers as being in a non-warlike operation and this means if they are injured, they receive lesser conditions of service than if they were in a war zone. They are however in a war zone.
The Human Cost of Conflict
Vision of those kidnapped, injured or killed in the initial Oct 7 attack and ongoing conflict in Gaza and Lebanon shows families, especially women and children, killed or starving in the military response. It demonstrates how awful war can be especially to the innocents.
Expanding Conflict
With recent increases rocket and artillery exchanges on the border with Lebanon, in addition to the fights in the Red Sea and Yemen, this conflict is rapidly spreading.
Australian Defence Force Members at Risk
What isn't widely known is Australian Defence Force members are exposed on the frontline of the Lebanon border today as peace observers. One Australian was recently injured on 30 March 2024 – yet the injuries aren't classified as occurring under warlike service, diminishing their eligibility for certain benefits and compensation.
Operation Paladin: Australia's Contribution to UNTSO
Operation Paladin is Australia's contribution to the UN Truce Supervision Organisation (UNTSO), established in 1948 to supervise the truce agreed at the conclusion of the first Arab/Israeli War. Involving Israel, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan.
Australian personnel have supported this operation since 1956 across a range of roles with currently 12 members deployed. UN personnel staff Observation Posts (OP) as UN Military Observers. An OP usually consists of three members who spend up to three weeks observing and reporting.
The Fight for Recognition
Despite the longevity of this operation, where ADF members have been exposed to continual spikes of warfare, the Australian Dept of Defence and Government refuse to consider the service as anything more than a blanket non-warlike.
Peacekeepers fought for over a decade to get Australians who died on peacekeeping, peace monitoring, peace enforcement, humanitarian operations rightfully placed on the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial.
The Case of Captain Peter McCarthy
Captain Peter McCarthy died in Oct 1988 when his four-wheel drive hit a landmine in Lebanon. Sergeant Andrew Russell died in a similar manner in Afghanistan in 2002. Russell was rightfully on the Roll of Honour, McCarthy wasn't.
To this day Peter McCarthy isn't recognised as dying in war. However, with great effort with Peter's daughter, the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association (APPVA) managed to get he and others recognised on the Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour.
Lack of Recognition for Peacekeepers
Australia never acknowledges peacekeepers properly despite providing the first UN peacekeepers in 1947. Unlike other nations, there is no peacekeeping medal recognising the unique service of our peacekeepers, observers, monitors, or humanitarian assistance.
Historical Injustices
HMAS Supply (I) Incident
The Whitlam Government sent HMAS Supply (I) into the region impacted by French nuclear testing in 1973 with two NZ Navy ships as a protest. Despite drawing desalinated water from waters impacted by radiation, the crew of this ship have never been recognised or given treatment for radiation illnesses or been researched for issues including birth defects in children.
Rwanda and East Timor
There was a strong fight by peacekeepers to have Rwanda reclassified to warlike service where ADF members witnessed the 1995 massacre of 8000 people at Kibeho. Previous Australian Governments had declared this service non-warlike for many years, until our organisation took this matter forward.
In East Timor in 1999, Australia's efforts were recognised under warlike service as the Indonesian Army and support groups withdrew into West Timor. However, in the east were a group of ADF personnel under the Australian Training Team – East Timor working to train the East Timorese guerrillas into the first stage of a defence force for the fledgling nation.
Personal Experiences
Major Ray Williams' Story
For retired Major Ray Williams, the events between Hamas, Hezbollah and Israel are only too familiar. During his deployment in 1983/84 on Op Paladin, Ray was caught between Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in Beirut, labelled by Israel as Operation Peace for Galilee.
Ray was caught in the chaos of time which saw 300 US and French peacekeepers killed by truck bombs, massacres in refugee camps, numerous rockets and artillery attacks, threats from belligerent Lebanese groups across the city, the British Army withdrawing because of the danger and the 1984 evacuation of the Australian Embassy due to rocket attacks.
Mr Andrew Wilkie MP (Denison) Tuesday, 18 October 2016. My question is to the Prime Minister. Prime Minister, Ray Williams was a peacekeeper in Beirut during the civil war. He was shot at and shelled but had no weapon, body armour or support. He suffers from PTSD. Remarkably though, Ray has been fighting for 18 years to have his service recognised as warlike. Yes, there is a review into service with the Truce Supervision Organization but it has been going for years and will likely outlive the veterans. Prime Minister, do you agree that everyone injured or wounded in the ADF, wherever they have served, should be given the same high level of support? Will you stop this bureaucratic nonsense?
Call for Change
The Minister for Defence can become fair and equitable and reclassify these brave men and women so they are rightfully compensated based on the conditions of service they are working under. We don't need 1000 pages of justification and thousands more hours of effort. All we ask is for Peacekeepers to be considered as veterans who can serve and do serve in warlike conditions
Phil Pyke OAM and Ian Lindgren
Media POC:
Ian Lindgren
Chairperson
Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association
E: ian.lindgren@peacekeepers.asn.au
M: 0414 245 254