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Challenging Anzac: anti-war and left-wing veterans in Australia
In the 21st century, the Australian military has promoted critical thinking and diversity of thought as key assets needed to effectively wage contemporary war. Yet recent research has revealed that serving personnel who challenge the military’s agenda and practice – for example with intelligence failures or reports of war crimes – are silenced and even abused by their peers and leaders.
The silencing of critical voices within the Australian forces has long historical antecedents. This paper explores the evidence of anti-war and left-wing service members and veterans challenging Australian militarism, and the institutional efforts to silence them, from the First World War to the present day. The siloing of politically diverse service members begins with basic training and manifests throughout their service. After service, veterans have been pressured and excluded by veterans’ organisations for expressing criticisms of the military or left-wing views. In addition, left-wing and anti-war veteran activism has historically been downplayed and disconnected from war service in Australian media coverage, and the Australian War Memorial has avoided including critical perspectives in their collections and publications. Despite the sustained efforts of academic war historians to document antiwar and left-wing veterans, there is an enduring public perception that Australian veterans are conservative and feel proud of their service.
As a result, there are many veterans who hold anti-war and left-wing views in Australia but who do not feel comfortable speaking publicly about them. Radical veterans are isolated and excluded in Australia, when their experiences could enrich Australia’s understanding of past wars and bring nuance to public debate on our involvement in future conflicts.
16th April 2025, 11am AEDT
Burwood: C2.05.01
Waurn Ponds: IC1.108
Zoom: Click here
Mia Martin Hobbs is an oral historian of war and its legacies. Her research interests include the Vietnam War, the War on Terror, memory, trauma, place, gender, peace, and security.