Payments to members of expert panel tasked with reviewing push for Teddy Sheean to be awarded a Victoria Cross revealed
Expert panelists are being paid tens of thousands of dollars to review the possibility of Teddy Sheean being awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross, as the whole bureaucratic process comes under fire. Find out what the “review of a review” is costing taxpayers >>
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MEMBERS of a panel tasked with reviewing a decision on whether to award Tasmanian war hero Teddy Sheean a Victoria Cross are being paid more than $30,000 each — a rate of almost $4,500 a week — for their time.
The independent expert panel was convened by Prime Minister Scott Morrison after the Federal Government in May knocked back a recommendation by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal to posthumously award Sheean the honour.
Contracts for two of the panel members — former secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Peter Shergold and former Solicitor-General David Bennett — have been advertised online, with payments of $31,450 for work done between June 15 and July 31.
The four-person panel, chaired by former Australian War Memorial director Brendan Nelson and also featuring senior curator and historian at the NSW Anzac Memorial Brad Manera, is due to report back to the PM by this Friday, July 31.
Contracts for the other two members have not been revealed, but the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet confirmed not all members have accepted payment.
It confirmed Mr Nelson had not accepted payment.
Federal Labor’s Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel spokesman Shayne Neumann said the review was “wasting taxpayer money and time with another review of a review”.
“Now we hear that two members of his so-called expert panel are being paid $31,450 each ... or $62,900 in total,’’ he said.
It equates to $4,490 per week for the panel members who have accepted payment.
“I wonder what people who’ve been forced on to JobKeeper ($750 a week) or JobSeeker ($600 a week) would make of this?,’’ Mr Neumann said.
“It’s time to stop the waste and end the injustice for Teddy, his family and supporters, and all Tasmanians.
“Scott Morrison should award Teddy the honour he deserves, now.”
A spokeswoman for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet confirmed the payment arrangements for the panel members.
“Members of the expert panel established to advise the Prime Minister about recognition for Ordinary Seaman ‘Teddy’ Sheean are remunerated at a daily fee of $1500 up to a maximum of 14 days, plus travel related expenses up to a maximum of $10,450,’’ she said.
“Fees and expenses are paid upon invoice from each member. Not all members have accepted payment of daily fees.”
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed the panel was still expected to report back to the PM by July 31.
Tamsania’s Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett said he and Sheean’s family believed evidence presented to the panel presented an “overwhelming case” for Sheean to be granted the honour.
“We look forward to the Federal Government’s response to the expert panel’s report to be delivered this week and remain of the view that Teddy’s extraordinary bravery should be recognised with Australia’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross,’’ he said.
Mr Barnett and Sheean’s nephew, Garry Ivory, both presented to the panel.
Mr Ivory said he appreciated the opportunity to again put his case as to why his uncle deserved the prestigious award.
“I was pretty impressed with Brendon Nelson. I’m not too sure which way he’ll go, but I felt comfortable talking to him,’’ he said.
Sheean died on the afternoon of December 1, 1942 during World War II when the HMAS Armidale was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese forces in the Timor Sea.
The 18-year-old strapped himself to the ship’s Oerlikon anti-aircraft gun and repeatedly fired at attacking Japanese aircraft (bringing down at least one) as the vessel sunk, and is credited with saving the lives of many of his crewmates.
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