Labor vow to award Victoria Cross to Tasmanian teenage war hero Teddy Sheean if elected

Labor says it will uphold an independent tribunal’s decision to posthumously award a Tasmanian teen war hero a Victoria Cross if elected.

PRIME Minister Scott Morrison stepped in to deny a Victoria Cross to a teen war hero who strapped himself to a cannon to shoot down enemy aircraft while the ship he was on sank.

The move has angered several Cabinet ministers, who disagree with the Government’s position to overrule a unanimous decision by an independent tribunal to award Australia’s highest wartime honour to World War II hero, Teddy Sheean, who died in 1942 defending HMAS Armidale off the coast of East Timor.

Teddy Sheean.

Labor, if elected, said it would uphold the tribunal’s decision to posthumously award Sheean a VC in a move expected to further fuel the fears of marginal seat holders in his home state.

It is understood at least six federal ministers have expressed frustration internally about Mr Morrison’s decision, including Minister for Defence Personnel Darren Chester, who has privately warned colleagues about potential political impacts of Mr Morrison’s decision.

MORE: TASMANIAN WWII HERO TEDDY SHEEAN DENIED VICTORIA CROSS

Last year Mr Chester supported the tribunal’s unanimous recommendation for Sheean to receive the VC.

As the relevant minister, Mr Chester passed the recommendation to the PM’s Office, where it was blocked.

When asked to explain his position last week, Mr Chester would not confirm whether he had backed Mr Morrison’s decision to overrule the tribunal, but said there was “ongoing debate” about recognition for Sheean.

“There is no debate about this: Teddy is an Australian war hero and his service to our nation was extraordinary,” Mr Chester said.

Privately, a growing number of backbenchers are also angry about the decision, including several Tasmanian MPs who are increasingly concerned about holding on to marginal seats.

Last week, Tasmanian Senator Eric Abetz said it was hard to understand the decision.

“One suspects Sheean’s heroism and sacrifice will live on in our folklore a lot longer than those that denied him a VC,” he said.

Liberal backbencher Bridget Archer said she would seek more information as to why the decision was overturned, saying she was “hugely disappointed”.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese has called on the Federal Government to act on the tribunal’s recommendation.

Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. Picture: AAP /DAN HIMBRECHTS

“Teddy Sheean deserves the Victoria Cross,” Mr Albanese said.

“It’s time for the Australian Government to follow their lead and do the right thing in honour of a brave Australian.”

Sheean’s nephew Garry Ivory said he was also willing to try to “bring the Government down” over the issue by lobbying constituents to vote for any candidate that promises to award his uncle the VC.

The nephew of Teddy Sheean, Garry Ivory. Picture: PATRICK GEE

“It’s been knocked back by the Prime Minister and I am gutted,” he said.

“If they don’t have a turn around, they could feel it at the next election.

“Everyone around the world knows what Teddy did, but the Prime Minister and Defence Minister don’t agree.”

In a statement, Mr Morrison said decisions like the Sheean case “should be left to the decision-makers of the time”, while also backing a 2013 Valour Inquiry into Sheean, which denied him a VC, describing it as “more comprehensive”.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Picture: ROHAN THOMSON/GETTY IMAGES

He said there were “extreme practical difficulties” like the amount of time that had passed, which made retrospective recognition difficult and could damage the integrity of the Australian honours system.

“Overturning a decision like this nearly 80 years later would need compelling reasons, but risks creating a two-tier system between the Victoria Cross for Australia and the Imperial Victoria Cross,” Mr Morrison said.