In a move that reeks of a communist-esque opposition to Christianity and blatant disregard for Australia’s military heritage, the Labor government has effectively killed off a 125-year-old Anzac tradition.

The victim?

The venerable Sally Man – that unsung hero of the Salvation Army who has bolstered the morale of our troops through wars, peacetime deployments, and everything in between. This isn’t just a budget trim, it’s a gut punch to the spirit of the Diggers, and it exposes the Labor government for having no interest in defending the nation’s soul.

The Sally Man represents the best of Christian charity and the Anzac tradition. Emerging in the late 19th Century, amid the Salvation Army’s early forays into supporting Australian forces during the Boer War, the Sally Man became a fixture in military life.

Clad in their distinctive uniforms, these Salvation Army officers, known colloquially as Sally Men, provided hot brews – tea, coffee, biscuits, and often a listening ear to soldiers far from home. It was during the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 that their role truly embedded itself in the Anzac legend. Amid the mud, blood, and ceaseless artillery, the Sally Man was a beacon of humanity, reminding our troops that someone back home cared.

This tradition, stretching back to the Boer War era around 1900, has endured through two world wars, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and countless peacekeeping missions. It’s not hyperbole to say it’s woven into the fabric of Australian identity, much like the slouch hat or the rising sun badge.

Fast forward to 2025, and the Albanese government’s latest federal budget has quietly axed funding for the Salvation Army’s military support programs, including the frontline Sally Man initiatives. Buried in the fine print of defence allocations, this estimated $1.5 million annual cut will force the Salvos to scale back their presence in barracks, on exercises, and during deployments.

No more impromptu cups of tea in the field, no more quiet chats that help soldiers process the traumas of service. In an era where mental health crises in the Australian Defence Force are at alarming levels, with veteran suicide rates stubbornly high, this is nothing short of reckless.

The government claims it’s about ‘streamlining efficiencies’ and redirecting funds to ‘modern capabilities’ like cyber defence and drones. But tell that to the young recruit fresh from basic training, or the veteran grappling with PTSD. Morale isn’t built on algorithms, it’s forged in human connections, the kind the Sally Man has provided for generations.

Critics might dismiss this as nostalgia, but history tells a different story.

During the first world war, General Monash himself praised the Salvation Army’s contributions, noting how their simple acts of kindness sustained troop spirits under unimaginable strain.

In the second world war, Sally Men were embedded with Anzac forces in the Pacific, offering solace amid the jungle horrors. Even in recent times, during the ADF’s operations in East Timor and Iraq, the Salvos’ support has been credited with reducing isolation and boosting resilience. Study after study, from Department of Veterans’ Affairs reports to independent analyses, shows that non-governmental organisations like the Salvation Army play a critical role in maintaining military cohesion.

Cutting the Sally Man’s funding won’t make a material difference to the budget. It’s purely ideological warfare.

Combat power consists of three key elements: firepower, manoeuvre, and morale. Without each element, combat power is compromised. Not only is the Albanese government destroying the morale of everyday Australians through their socialist agenda, aided and abetted by the weak opposition provided by Sussan Ley, but they are now destroying root and branch the human element that makes our forces effective.

Let’s not ignore the broader context. This Labor administration, ever eager to virtue-signal on social issues, seems oddly indifferent to the traditions that bind us as a nation. While pouring billions into renewable energy stupidity and union-backed projects, they’ve found it expedient to cut funding for the very institutions that uphold our values.

Albo waves his Medicare card like a talisman, but where’s the support for our servicemen and women? Avoiding reality, he doesn’t wave his credit card like everyone else must when they visit the GP.

The hypocrisy is staggering. Albo is maxing out the nation’s credit card while destroying our ability to pay the bills.

If the government truly valued defence as they claim, they’d recognise that morale is the invisible armour of any army. Without it, recruitment suffers, retention plummets, and readiness erodes. We’ve seen this before. Post-Vietnam neglect led to decades of rebuilding trust in the ADF. Do we really want to repeat that mistake?

The Albanese government must reinstate the funding, honour the Anzac legacy, and let the Sally Man continue his quiet work. Anything less is a betrayal of those who serve and a stark reminder that under Labor, our national icons are expendable.

Dr Michael de Percy @FlaneurPolitiq is the Spectator Australia’s Canberra Press Gallery Correspondent. If you would like to support his writing, or read more of Michael, please visit his website.