Friday, 10 December 1965
Dr J F Cairns (YARRA, VICTORIA) rns asked the Acting Minister for Defence, upon notice –
- What casualties of Australian forces in Vietnam have resulted from men being (a) killed, (b) wounded or (c) taken ill?
- What forms of illness have occurred?
- How many men of the Australian forces, because of casualties, are now permanently unavailable for combat duties?
- Is he able to say what will be the rate of, or the need for, replacements based upon known and anticipated casualty rates?
- What is the number of Australian troops now available for combat duties in Vietnam?
Mr Hulme – The answers to the honorable member’s questions are as follows –
1. (a) 16 killed
(b) 79 wounded
(c) 99 taken ill (this figure includes those accidentally injured).
2. The following illnesses, requiring hospital treatment, have occurred
(i) Malaria
(ii) Hepatitis
(iii) Meningitis
(iv)Dengue fever
(v) Amoebic dysentry
(vi) Respiratory infections
(vii) Gastro intestinal infection
(viii) Fevers of unknown origin.
3. There are 14 soldiers who are unlikely to be available for combat duties as a result of injuries received (the precise figure is not known as none has yet been medically downgraded).
4. To date the replacement rate has averaged 1.7 per cent, per month. There is no known reason why this rate should increase.
5. The Government has approved of military assistance to South Vietnam to the extent of a battalion group, an army training team and an air transport flight, the personnel of which total about 1,500.
