Petition to the Parliament of Australia

Subject: Recognition of Second-Generation Exposure to Dioxin and the Health and Rights of Children of Vietnam Veterans

We, the undersigned, respectfully request that the Parliament of Australia review and amend policies relating to the recognition and support of individuals who, as children of Vietnam War veterans exposed to dioxin, continue to suffer from long-term health conditions resulting from that exposure.

Background:

• International law—including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) (1989) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR)—clearly protects the rights of children to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health and to be protected from environmental harm. Australia’s failure to recognize the generational effects of dioxin exposure violates these rights, as well as broader human rights principles. The Australian Government is obligated to protect its citizens, particularly children, from long-term environmental harm, as is evident in international law.

• I will always be the child of a Vietnam veteran exposed to dioxin, regardless of my age. This exposure has caused lifelong health consequences for me, as well as for other children of veterans who were exposed to toxic chemicals such as Agent Orange. My father, who served in the Vietnam War, received a Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) pension for his service-related health conditions and tragically died from a presumptive illness in 2015. Despite this, the policies in Australia continue to fail to recognize the generational impacts of his exposure on me.

• I have seven connected multiple system conditions, confirmed by a qualified medical practitioner, which are directly related to my exposure to the same neurotoxins my father was subjected to during his service in the Vietnam War. These conditions, including but not limited to neurotoxic disorders, chronic systemic inflammation, and genetic mutations, are debilitating and continue to worsen over time. Despite the confirmation from a medical professional, my condition is not adequately recognized or compensated by current Australian policies.

• Over the decades, Australia has repeatedly failed to provide adequate protections or compensation for the children of veterans exposed to dioxin, and policies have continuously overlooked the generational effects of this exposure. The lack of national policy change has resulted in ongoing suffering and inequity for affected families.

• International law has consistently highlighted the rights of children to live free from harm, and Australia’s commitment to international human rights treaties such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) necessitates that the Australian Government take immediate action to recognize the generational impacts of this exposure.

Request for Action:

1. Recognition of Second-Generation Exposure to Dioxin: We request that the Australian Government officially recognize the health impacts of dioxin exposure on the children of Vietnam veterans as a public health issue and implement compensation and support programs for affected individuals.

2. Review of Existing Policies: We request a review of the policies and regulations that have denied second-generation victims of neurotoxin exposure access to healthcare, compensation, and support over the decades. This includes rectifying the policy changes that have continuously disregarded the rights of these individuals since the initial exposure in the 1960s and 1970s.

3. National Inquiry: We call for a national inquiry into the long-term health effects of the Vietnam War on children of veterans and a report on how these impacts can be more effectively addressed through national health policies.

4. Implementation of Support and Compensation: We urge the Australian Government to adopt a policy similar to the United States in providing healthcare, compensation, and other forms of support for the children of Vietnam veterans affected by the harmful chemicals used during the war.

We, the undersigned, call on the Parliament of Australia to acknowledge the generational health impacts caused by the Vietnam War, ensure the provision of healthcare and compensation for affected individuals, and implement comprehensive policy changes to address these ongoing issues.

If you support this petition, please reach out to include your name.