Mr BOB BALDWIN —My question is addressed to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. A number of young veterans in my electorate of Paterson have approached me seeking assistance to obtain civilian employment. Minister, what hope does the government provide for veterans in this situation and to others who may be experiencing difficulties continuing in their current employment?

Mr BRUCE SCOTT (Veterans' Affairs) —I want to acknowledge the member for Paterson and the tireless work that he does for his veterans community in the seat of Paterson.

Mr Melham —He is Paterson's curse!

Mr SPEAKER —The member for Banks has been warned. I suggest he remain silent.

Mr BRUCE SCOTT —I want to assure all members of this House that the government does provide assistance to those who have seen service for their country and who have had difficulty finding civilian employment or who are having difficulty remaining in employment. The government recognises the unique nature of the training of those who have served this country, particularly those who have served in a war zone, and the effect it does have on many of these people, both psychologically and physically. Through my department, we have introduced a vocational rehabilitation scheme and I want to reassure all members of the House—and the member for Paterson I know is most interested in this, because he has a very large population of veterans in his own community, particularly Vietnam veterans; I think there are over 270 Vietnam veterans currently receiving assist ance in his electorate from my department—that this scheme is entirely voluntary. It is not going to be forced on any veteran and I want to reassure members of the House of that point.

What those veterans get is a personally tailored rehabilitation service to assist them either to remain in work or to find work in the civilian work force. The assistance is in the form of professional advice to make sure that they are getting the right advice to remain in that work, but also, importantly, if they have had trouble—particularly those younger veterans with entitlements—they know that when they are on this scheme those entitlements are legislated and will not be taken away from them. I think that has been a major barrier for many younger veterans who feel that the entitlements that they have, should they enter the work force, may be revisited by my department. Let me assure them and members of this House that those entitlements will not be taken away while they are on this rehabilitation scheme. They are entitlements that they are entitled to while they under this scheme.

The scheme has been running for about six months now. Whilst the numbers who have been through the process and are actually now in work are only modest, there are many more coming forward. And that is very encouraging. It does deserve the support of all members of the parliament.

Because of the level of interest in the scheme coming from the younger veterans particularly, we now will be contracting that service out through the Commonwealth rehabilitation scheme. That means it will be able to bring professional advice and professional services to veterans right across Australia.

I just want to say to those veterans who choose to take up this scheme because they see a need to seek that professional advice that they will be able to get it. It is not compulsory. I am certainly looking forward to being in the electorate of the member for Paterson next week where I know this will be a subject that will be dear to many of his constituents' hearts.