Tribunal to examine POW cases

The defence honours tribunal will examine whether a small group of Australian prisoners of war who were murdered after escaping or on recapture deserve special recognition.

Assistant defence minister Darren Chester said the tribunal would consider the cases of 28 prisoners killed after escaping from Japanese camps in Asia.

"The tribunal will also receive submissions from members of the public nominating other defence force members who may be worthy of consideration of recognition," he said in a statement.