It has been revealed today that Prime Minister Scott Morrison has wasted more than $62,000 of taxpayers’ money to pay members of his hand-picked ‘expert panel’ to review the recommendation of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal (DHAAT) to award Tasmanian war hero Teddy Sheean a posthumous Victoria Cross (VC).

In what is a review of a review of a review, we have now learnt that the Prime Minister’s refusal to accept the recommendation of the independent DHAAT is adding unnecessary cost in addition to unnecessary time.

It has been revealed that Scott Morrison is paying two members of his review panel $1,500 a day – the same as the fortnightly rate of the JobKeeper payment.

How does Scott Morrison justify paying members of his hand-picked panel $1,500 a day, despite already receiving a detailed report and recommendation on this issue from an independent tribunal, when at the same time Australian families are struggling?

It is worth remembering that just last month it was revealed that Liberal Party pollster MediaReach was conducting polling in Tasmania on Teddy Sheean receiving the VC.

The independent DHAAT is the appropriate body to consider these matters and has already recommended Teddy be awarded a posthumous VC.

The reality is this latest review is nothing more than a manufactured excuse from Scott Morrison following his refusal to award Teddy Sheean a VC, despite the DHAAT recommending he do so.

It seems everyone except Scott Morrison already knows Teddy is a hero and worthy of a VC. We don’t need another review to tell us that.

Rather than admit he got it wrong and accept the recommendations of the independent umpire, the Prime Minister has completely undermined proper process and politicised this issue with a stacked review.

It’s time to stop this wasteful spending and end this injustice for Teddy, his family and supporters, and all Tasmanians. Scott Morrison should award Teddy the honour he deserves now.