Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal Report - recognition of peacekeepers after 1947

The Government has today accepted the recommendations of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal inquiry into recognition for Australian Defence Force personnel who served as peacekeepers from 1947 onwards.

The independent Tribunal recommended that:

Recommendation 1:  No change be made in the present practice of an award of the Australian Service Medal or Australian Active Service Medal being the appropriate form of recognition for participation by ADF personnel in peacekeeping operations.

Recommendation 2: The Australian Government should not establish a new medal for general or specific recognition of peacekeeping service, to be awarded to ADF personnel who have taken part, or in the future take part, in peacekeeping operations.

Recommendation 3: No action be taken by the Australian Government to recognise the award of the 1988 Nobel Peace Prize to UN peacekeepers.

The inquiry into this matter and the Tribunal’s report demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the independent review of Defence honours and awards issues.

The Tribunal’s full report is available at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au. Further information on Defence honours and awards is available at www.defence.gov.au/medals.

Media contact: Defence Media Operations 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664