A new book warns that the upcoming centenary of World War I could overshadow important discussions about Australia's recent conflicts and treatment of veterans. Author James Brown, a military fellow at the Lowy Institute and veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, argues that Australians have limited bandwidth for military issues and often engage only superficially on Anzac Day.
Brown's book, 'Anzac's Long Shadow', suggests that the focus on WWI commemorations may block out questions about lessons from more recent wars, how veterans have been treated, and future defence spending. He notes that while Australians have learned to care for veterans since Vietnam, implementation of those lessons remains challenging.
According to Brown, many serving and recently retired soldiers feel misunderstood about their service in Afghanistan, and obstacles prevent them from telling their stories. He questions spending $300 million on commemorations when more could be done for veteran care.
Brown also highlights public ignorance about contemporary military and veterans issues, with less than 6% of voters seeing defence and national security as key election issues. He criticises the defence department's communication with media, which has hindered coverage of Afghanistan.
