To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament.

We the undersigned are members of the Nepean Wives of Vietnam Veterans’ Womens Support Group Incorporated which is a self help and support group for wives and widows of Military Veterans. Wish to draw to the attention of the house our objection to the changes made by the government to the Service Pension as at 1st January 2009.

That we believe that we should be treated with the respect we deserve as we have supported Australia’s returned servicemen through many turbulent years and sometimes to the detriment of ourselves and our children.

Your petitioners therefore request the House:

To create a special service pension payable to all wives of returned servicemen so long as that wife should remain either the legal wife or common law wife, or after the time of separation or divorce until such time as that ex wife should enter into a new marriage or common law wife situation.