The Coalition has reacted with fury to revelations veteran journalist Les Carlyon was removed from the Australian War Memorial governing council at the request of Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon.
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Two serving board members have told The Canberra Times that the former newspaper editor was approached last year by the memorial's outgoing chairman, General Peter Cosgrove, to take over the role for the next three years.
Despite Mr Carlyon having the support of the majority of council members, Mr Snowdon told him in February he would not be offered another term, making him ineligible.
Opposition veterans affairs spokesman Michael Ronaldson said yesterday he was ''deeply disturbed'' by the revelations.
''Minister Snowdon cut Mr Carlyon's plans down and dumped him from council, thwarting the council's attempts to elect their own chairman,'' he said.
Mr Snowdon appoints the board but has no role in electing the chairman. But in the wake of the decision to remove Mr Carlyon, the council rejected an ALP-linked candidate for the post in favour of its own man.
National RSL president, Rear Admiral Ken Doolan, was elected in a board meeting last month, defeating former West Australian Labor MP Graham Edwards in the vote.
Mr Edwards decided to stand for the chairman's position after the failure of a motion at the March 8 meeting to elect an ''interim chairman''.
An interim choice would have allowed the new chairman to be chosen from among the three incoming council members; writer Peter FitzSimons, who will replace Mr Carlyon, former Defence Department secretary Allan Hawke and Major-General Paul Stevens.
Mr Ronaldson said the Government should answer allegations Mr Snowdon had tried to politicise the board.
''After being embarrassed by the leaking of General Cosgrove's letters pleading for more money, then being dragged kicking and screaming to do anything about it, it seems Minister Snowdon wanted to put a 'friendly' face onto council to stifle any future discontent.''
Mr Snowdon's spokeswoman yesterday said the Minister had wanted to reinvigorate the council, and Mr Edwards - a Vietnam veteran - was well qualified for the chairman's role.
By removing Mr Carlyon, Mr Snowdon removed his eligibility for the chairman's role.
But his spokeswoman said, ''The Minister categorically rejects these baseless allegations.''
''Mr Carlyon's second three-year appointment to the council expires at the end of April. He will be replaced by the well respected Australian author Mr Peter FitzSimons.''
