Minister vows VC justice for Sheean

ONE of the key players in the push for Tasmanian war hero Teddy Sheean to receive a posthumous Victoria Cross says he will not stop fighting until the honour is awarded.

The state’s Veterans Affairs Minister Guy Barnett welcomed news of a fresh review into a recommendation for Sheean to receive a VC for his heroic actions during World War II.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said an independent expert panel would advise him whether a 2019 review by the Defence Honours and Awards Appeal Tribunal had any significant new evidence compelling enough to support a VC recommendation.

The tribunal had recommended a VC be awarded, but it was denied by the Federal Government last month.

Mr Barnett told the Mercury he considered the latest development “the last hurdle to ensure Teddy Sheean receives justice, and a VC”.

But he said the push would not be abandoned even if the panel did not support the recommendation of a VC.

“Of course we’ll keep fighting, because he deserves the VC,’’ Mr Barnett said.

Mr Barnett revealed he had a “lengthy” conversation with the PM last week, and put his arguments forward about why Sheean should be honoured.

“We are totally convinced of the merits of the case, and now we have a further chance to prove the case and are confident that we can,’’ Mr Barnett said.

Sheean died in 1942 when HMAS Armidale was torpedoed and sunk by Japanese bombers in the Timor Sea.

The 18-year-old strapped himself to an anti-aircraft gun as the vessel went down, and is credited with saving the lives of many of his crewmates.

Mr Morrison this week said the awarding of a retrospective VC would only occur in light of compelling evidence or if there was evidence of “significant maladministration”.

Mr Barnett said there would be an argument that there was maladministration in early 1943, when a commendation was made to the British Admiralty about Sheean’s actions.

“Firstly, they spelt his name wrong. Secondly, they got his position wrong.

“And thirdly, there was an entirely insufficient description of his act of bravery,’’ he said.

Senator Jacqui Lambie criticised the PM’s ordering of the review, saying Sheean’s actions had already proven to be worthy of a VC.

The panel is due to report back to the PM by July 31.