I received an email from Heston Russell the other day. He is the founder of the now defunct Australian Values Party.
He is asking for an apology from the ABC for alleged misreporting.
This is what I wrote in reply -
Dear Heston
I note you’re asking for an apology from the ABC for misreporting.
Fair enough, but I’ve just about given up on getting an apology for the treatment of tens of thousands of young Australians from 1965 to 1972.
I’m referring of course, to the heinous National Service Act 1964, introduced by a Coalition government. This piece of legislation conscripted one in twelve twenty year olds to be enlisted in the ARA, and sent about sixteen thousand of us to Vietnam, to participate in a futile and tragic conflict which killed millions of Vietnamese, fifty seven thousand Americans, and five hundred Australians, two hundred of them conscripts. I saw two of them die in April 1970. Misreporting is a pretty venial sin compared to that.
Where does your Australian Values Party stand on support for ex-service personnel?
If you’re serious about justice and fairness, as an ex-serviceman, you should be advocating for national servicemen, about thirty thousand who survive. Those, like me, who saw active service, have been compensated, after years of struggle, but those who served in Australia, PNG and Malaysia, have not. The DVA white card which they have now been grudingly granted offers very limited support.
Here is a piece I wrote about my experience, which is far from unique. I am one of the lucky ones. Three members of my rifle section had succumbed to trauma by the time of the Welcome Home march in October 1987. It was too late for them - https://independentaustralia.net/australia/australia-display/reflections-on-the-fall,4404
So until you’re ready to publicly advocate for an apology for national servicemen, you won’t get any support from me. Every email you send simply reinforces my opinion that you put political affiliation before support for veterans. Prove me wrong.
Bob Whittaker
5 Platoon, B Coy, 7RAR, 1970
