Service medals are awarded by federal governments to members of the armed forces for their service in war zones.

Wearing them is a singular honour. Wearing them when you haven't earned them is regarded as 'stolen honour' in the U.S., and those who do are called 'medal cheats' or 'walts' (after Walter Mitty who fantasised about being a war hero.)

Under the Australia's Defence Act, 1903 (Section 80b as amended) it is a federal crime to claim to be a returned soldier, sailor or airman, or to wear any service decoration one has not earned.

Alan Price of Algester, Queensland (pictured, with the green tie) served in Vietnam for 106 days in 1968 and was entitled to just ONE service medal from that conflict. However, he went and purchased another service medal he had not qualified for and had NOT been awarded (the Vietnamese Campaign Medal) and added it to his medal 'rack' to be worn on Anzac Day and other ceremonial occasions to impress his wife and other veterans.

To put it simply, to have been entitled to it, Alan Price had to satisfy any one of three criteria- to have spent a minimum of 181 days 'in country', or be wounded in action, or be injured during contact with the enemy.

Price did not fulfil any of those criteria. In fact, according to the Infantry Narratives, his total 'war' service amounted to just three minor contacts with the enemy on three consecutive days (with 10 Platoon 4RAR) in 1968. He was repatriated home with a knee injury after falling over.

Price was outed on the Australian and new Zealand Military Impostors (ANZMI) website as a medal cheat, and readily admitted it when cornered. He is listed alphabetically. See: 

http://www.anzmi.net/index.php/component/sobipro/?sid=61&task=list.alpha.p&site=3&Itemid=0

He was duly reported to the office of the Attorney-General, and then to the Australian Federal Police who recommended that the matter be dealt with locally by the Queensland Police Service.

The matter was subsequently referred to the Calamvale Police in Queensland.

The Calamvale police declined to charge Alan Price- thereby creating a legal precedent in Queensland. Senior Sgt R.L. Bowman of that police station stated that Price could argue, 'Mistake of Fact'...that he 'didn't know he wasn't entitled to wear it', and on that basis, pressed no charges.

But the fact is, Alan Price served in the Australian Army for many years, rising to the rank of Warrant officer after the war, and has served as the President of the 4RAR Association (QLD) for decades- and in those capacities well knows the rules and protocol for wearing war service medals.

By not charging Alan Price with being a medal cheat, the Queensland Police Service effectively has created a precedent whereby every criminal wearing a 'tin medal' can simply argue ignorance of the law.

This petition is to the Attorney-General of Queensland to act and protect the integrity of medal-wearing by genuine war veterans by charging Alan Price. If he doesn't- then anyone in Queensland can pin any war medal on their chest and get away with it.