

- Title
VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS AMENDMENT (DIRECT DEDUCTIONS AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2004
Second Reading
- Database
Senate Hansard
- Date
24-06-2004
- Source
Senate
- Parl No.
40
- Electorate
Western Australia
- Interjector
- Page
24910
- Party
ALP
- Presenter
- Status
Final
- Question No.
- Questioner
- Responder
- Speaker
Bishop, Sen Mark
- Stage
Second Reading
- Type
- Context
BILLS
- System Id
chamber/hansards/2004-06-24/0166


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-
Hansard
- Start of Business
-
PETITIONS
- Defence: Involvement in Overseas Conflict Legislation
- Education: Funding
- Indigenous Affairs: Government Policy
- Indigenous Affairs: Natural Law and Spirituality
- Indigenous Affairs: Government Policy
- Education: Educational Textbook Subsidy Scheme
- Workplace Relations: Paid Maternity Leave
- Education: Funding
- Education: Funding
- Education: Funding
- NOTICES
- BUSINESS
- CORPORATE CODE OF CONDUCT BILL 2004
- COMMITTEES
- EDUCATION: EDUCATIONAL TEXTBOOK SUBSIDY SCHEME
- COMMITTEES
- ENVIRONMENT: NATIONAL WATER INITIATIVE
- COMMITTEES
- FOREIGN AFFAIRS: IRAN
- HEALTH: MIDWIVES
- LANDS ACQUISITION AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2004 (NO. 2)
- NOTICES
- PARLIAMENTARY ZONE
- CRIMES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (TELECOMMUNICATIONS OFFENCES AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2004
- TELECOMMUNICATIONS: VIDEOPHONE FACILITIES
- BUSINESS
- HUMAN RIGHTS: CHILDREN
- FOREIGN AFFAIRS: CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS TREATIES
- COMMITTEES
- BUDGET
- COMMITTEES
- BILLS RETURNED FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- SUPERANNUATION LAWS AMENDMENT (2004 MEASURES NO. 2) BILL 2004
- TAXATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 7) 2003
- CORPORATE LAW ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAM (AUDIT REFORM AND CORPORATE DISCLOSURE) BILL 2003
- BUDGET
- COMMITTEES
- PERSONAL EXPLANATIONS
- PARLIAMENTARY ZONE
- BUSINESS
- CUSTOMS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (AIRPORT, PORT AND CARGO SECURITY) BILL 2004
- FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (INCOME STREAMS) BILL 2004
- BUSINESS
- HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 2) 2004
- BUSINESS
- AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (EXPORT CONTROL) BILL 2004
- FAMILY AND COMMUNITY SERVICES AND VETERANS’ AFFAIRS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (SUGAR REFORM) BILL 2004
- HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PODIATRIC SURGERY AND OTHER MATTERS) BILL 2004
- INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS (NOTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT) AMENDMENT (LOW REGULATORY CONCERN CHEMICALS) BILL 2004
- VETERANS’ ENTITLEMENTS AMENDMENT (DIRECT DEDUCTIONS AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2004
- EXCISE AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (COMPLIANCE MEASURES) BILL 2004
- ABSENCE OF THE PRESIDENT
- MINISTERIAL ARRANGEMENTS
-
QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
-
National Security
(Ludwig, Sen Joe, Ellison, Sen Chris) -
Environment: Water Management
(Ferris, Sen Jeannie, Macdonald, Sen Ian) -
Centrelink: Debt Recovery
(Buckland, Sen Geoffrey, Patterson, Sen Kay) -
Defence: Budget
(Macdonald, Sen Sandy, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Centrelink: Debt Recovery
(Crossin, Sen Trish, Patterson, Sen Kay) -
National Radioactive Waste Repository
(Allison, Sen Lyn, Minchin, Sen Nick) -
Education: University Funding
(Carr, Sen Kim, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Trade: Free Trade Agreement
(Murphy, Sen Shayne, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Women: Domestic Violence
(Kirk, Sen Linda, Patterson, Sen Kay) -
Howard Government: Economic Policy
(Watson, Sen John, Coonan, Sen Helen) -
Science: Cooperative Research Centres
(McLucas, Sen Jan, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Environment: Burnett River
(Brown, Sen Bob, Macdonald, Sen Ian)
-
National Security
- Debate
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: ADDITIONAL ANSWERS
- QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE: TAKE NOTE OF ANSWERS
- COMMITTEES
- PETITIONS
- DOCUMENTS
- COMMITTEES
- IRAQ
- SUPERANNUATION LAWS AMENDMENT (2004 MEASURES NO. 2) BILL 2004
- TAXATION LAWS AMENDMENT BILL (NO. 7) 2003
- BUSINESS
- NATIONAL HEALTH AMENDMENT (PHARMACEUTICAL BENEFITS—BUDGET MEASURES) BILL 2002 [NO. 2]
- COMMITTEES
-
-
In Committee
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Allison, Sen Lyn
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Evans, Sen Chris
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Evans, Sen Chris
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Nettle, Sen Kerry
- Division
- Division
- Third Reading
-
In Committee
- COMMITTEES
- BUSINESS
-
APPROPRIATION (PARLIAMENTARY DEPARTMENTS) BILL (NO. 1) 2004-2005
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 1) 2004-2005
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 2) 2004-2005
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 5) 2003-2004
APPROPRIATION BILL (NO. 6) 2003-2004 - COMMITTEES
- PRIVILEGE
- ASSENT
- COMMITTEES
- BUSINESS
- SUPERANNUATION BUDGET MEASURES BILL 2004
-
- CORPORATE LAW ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAM (AUDIT REFORM AND CORPORATE DISCLOSURE) BILL 2003
- COMMITTEES
- TAX LAWS AMENDMENT (2004 MEASURES NO. 3) BILL 2004
-
AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET BILL 2004
TRADE PRACTICES AMENDMENT (AUSTRALIAN ENERGY MARKET) BILL 2004- Second Reading
-
In Committee
- Cherry, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Cherry, Sen John
- Lees, Sen Meg
- Murphy, Sen Shayne
- Campbell, Sen George
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Lees, Sen Meg
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Campbell, Sen George
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Cherry, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Cherry, Sen John
- Cherry, Sen John
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Cherry, Sen John
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Lees, Sen Meg
- Brandis, Sen George
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Division
- Division
- Third Reading
-
- TREASURY LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS) BILL 2004
- TRADE PRACTICES AMENDMENT (PERSONAL INJURIES AND DEATH) BILL (NO. 2) 2004
- EXTENSION OF CHARITABLE PURPOSE BILL 2004
- BUSINESS
- ANTI-TERRORISM BILL 2004
- CUSTOMS LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (AIRPORT, PORT AND CARGO SECURITY) BILL 2004
- BUSINESS
-
ELECTORAL AND REFERENDUM AMENDMENT (ENROLMENT INTEGRITY AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2004
- Second Reading
-
In Committee
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Faulkner, Sen John
- Brown, Sen Bob
- Minchin, Sen Nick
- Third Reading
- SUPERANNUATION BUDGET MEASURES BILL 2004
- SEX DISCRIMINATION AMENDMENT (TEACHING PROFESSION) BILL 2004
- MARRIAGE AMENDMENT BILL 2004
-
WORKPLACE RELATIONS AMENDMENT (CODIFYING CONTEMPT OFFENCES) BILL 2003
-
In Committee
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Marshall, Sen Gavin
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen George
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen George
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Campbell, Sen George
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Hogg, Sen John
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Hogg, Sen John
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Hogg, Sen John
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Forshaw, Sen Michael
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Marshall, Sen Gavin
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Campbell, Sen George
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Carr, Sen Kim
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Wong, Sen Penny
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Campbell, Sen George
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Ludwig, Sen Joe
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Lundy, Sen Kate
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Ludwig, Sen Joe
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Ludwig, Sen Joe
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Procedural Text
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Bartlett, Sen Andrew
- Campbell, Sen Ian
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Murray, Sen Andrew
- Cook, Sen Peter
- Division
- Division
- Division
- Third Reading
-
In Committee
- BILLS RETURNED FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
- GEOSCIENCE AUSTRALIA
- GENE TECHNOLOGY
- AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE INDUSTRIES: FORMER SITE
- COMMITTEES
- LEAVE OF ABSENCE
- ADJOURNMENT
- DOCUMENTS
-
QUESTIONS ON NOTICE
-
Transport and Regional Services: Legal Services
(Ludwig, Sen Joe, Campbell, Sen Ian) -
Environment: Moreton Bay
(Lees, Sen Meg, Macdonald, Sen Ian) -
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Crops
(Brown, Sen Bob, Macdonald, Sen Ian) -
Agriculture: Genetically Modified Organisms
(Brown, Sen Bob, Macdonald, Sen Ian) -
Environment: Toxic Waste
(Allison, Sen Lyn, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Gambling
(Allison, Sen Lyn, Patterson, Sen Kay) -
Family and Community Services: Suspected Leaks
(Collins, Sen Jacinta, Patterson, Sen Kay) -
Defence: Abrams Tanks
(Evans, Sen Chris, Hill, Sen Robert) -
Sports Aboriginal Corporation of Tasmania
(O’Brien, Sen Kerry, Vanstone, Sen Amanda) -
Health: Aluminium Dust
(Brown, Sen Bob, Campbell, Sen Ian)
-
Transport and Regional Services: Legal Services
Page: 24910
Senator MARK BISHOP (1:50 PM)
—Senator Bishop’s incorporated speech read as follows—
This Bill is pretty straight forward.
In short it provides for a number of amendments to the Veterans’ Entitlements Act some of which could affect a very small number of veterans and widows.
They flow directly from a number of anomalies and technical drafting issues which need to be addressed to provide for some minor items of fairness.
I won’t go into the detail as that has already been done on my behalf by the Member for Cowan in the other place.
There’s little to add to that, except that one reform is very worthwhile.
That’s the direct deductions amendment.
Flowing from this will be an ability for the first time, for veterans and war widows to have regular payments deducted from their pensions by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
This’ll be of enormous benefit to veterans who now either have to pay in cash or by cheque.
For things like rent payable to a public housing authority, this is very difficult.
Sometimes it involves a great deal of inconvenience—as well as for families.
The same will be possible for deductions into other accounts, and for mortgage repayments, for example.
This is an enormous convenience for older people who’ve trouble getting out.
It also means they don’t have to worry about paying on time because it’s done for them.
They don’t have to risk paying penalties for late payment any more.
However, given that this should have been done long ago, why has this Bill taken since 25 March to get through the House of Representatives?
One can only wonder why it is that the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs seems to be asleep at the wheel.
The rest of the Bill is quite uncontroversial.
As usual we find with these omnibus bills some technical corrections fixing drafting or unforseen issues.
It’s also unfortunate that sometimes we see amendments to the Veterans’ Entitlements Act made necessary by previous changes to the Social Security Act.
In this case there’s one such change with respect to superannuation assets, which was made to the Social Security Act in 1995.
But 9 years later, it’s now introduced into the VEA.
Why does it take so long for these two Acts to be brought into line?
In fact, how did they get out of line in the first place?
Perhaps there’s actually been a task of reconciliation undertaken to identify the inconsistencies and to fix them.
If that’s the case then credit is due, but the fact remains that the gaps should not be allowed in the first place.
As I commented on another Bill in the Senate earlier in the week, there does seem to be some dysfunction between these two departments.
In fact it seems to me there’s direct conflict on some policy. But it’s a conflict which is full of contradictions.
This may well be the last piece of veterans’ legislation to come before the Parliament before the election.
I say that advisedly because I understand there is another Bill just introduced implementing changes to the VEA flowing from the Prime Minister’s vote buying in the sugar industry.
It’s appropriate therefore, in the time available to me, to reflect on the consideration of the Parliament of veterans’ issues over the last three years.
To begin with I must say that typically, there’s been very little concentrated focus on veterans issues at all.
True, there’s been a very large piece of legislation passed for a new military rehabilitation and compensation scheme.
While it has some major imperfections and unsatisfactory compromises, it’s at least one scheme.
It does remove the system of dual eligibility which has been so messy for over 30 years.
But of course it affects nobody—yet.
The current unsatisfactory system of two schemes being administered side by side will continue for another 80 years at least.
I know the Minister is so proud of what she sees as a major accomplishment.
But I think most would agree that it was achieved in spite of her. That Bill was foreshadowed as long ago as 1994.
In fact the only contribution made by this Government in the veterans’ affairs portfolio in the last three years has been one of procrastination.
There’s no greater symbol of this than the Clarke report. Costing $1.7 million this review was set up for one reason.
That was to keep the veterans’ portfolio policy free for three years.
That way the Minister could defer for three years any hard questions for which veterans needed answers.
And that’s exactly what happened.
In the meantime the ministerial diary could be devoted to lots of ribbon cutting around the world and posing for photo opportunities.
In fact I must say that of all the feedback I’ve received from the veteran community, the strongest is the objection to the politicisation of veterans’ affairs.
Veterans’ view of the Government is that veterans are only of use for publicity purposes.
This point is made so aptly by Vietnam veterans who have recently seen the Long Tan scholarships converted to a media stunt for Government Members and Senators.
These scholarships worth $6000 for one year of study for veterans’ children, are advertised for selection late in the year, for announcement well before the academic term begins in the following year. Not this year.
The Minister, in typical fashion converted the entire process to one of her own glorification.
The entire process was commandeered.
Functions and morning teas were organised and the Department was pressed into service to produce media releases for all Government backbenchers and Senators.
As a result the announcement was delayed until May. This is simply disgraceful.
It is one thing to manipulate veterans in the Government propaganda machine, but it is something entirely different to use their children.
Too late Minister.
Too cynical and too self serving.
That of course does highlight again the poverty of the Government’s attitude to veteran policy.
The policy with respect to the health of veterans’ children is a case in point.
The 1998 morbidity study of Vietnam veterans’ children provided a sharp shock to veterans for what it revealed about the health of their children.
What they suspected was confirmed.
That is, there were some very serious problems indeed.
In short, congenital abnormalities varied from three to eleven times the expected rate.
Death from suicide was reported at three times the expected rate.
The reported incidence of cancer was also found to be higher.
In the following year a validation study was undertaken which in large part confirmed these reported findings.
Little has happened since.
Yet veterans continue to be concerned at the health of their children.
Labor has already announced that when elected to government we’ll conduct a detailed fresh study of the health of Vietnam veterans’ children.
We simply cannot allow this issue to fade away unattended.
Some credit is of course due.
Labor has always been willing to recognise initiatives which benefit veterans.
That’s why we inevitably agree to legislation providing better benefits.
Those included in the Bills that passed the Senate last Monday evening are a case in point.
We were pleased to be able to support the initiatives giving rent assistance to war widows.
Likewise we support the effective exemption of disability pension from the means test.
This is notwithstanding the technical policy issues which sometimes leave a lot to be desired.
In fact there is nothing we have failed to support.
However, we in Labor do not resile from our responsibility in attacking the Government whenever it reneges on commitments.
That is our responsibility on behalf of veterans.
There have over the course of the last three years been numerous instances of this.
As the election approaches it is timely to remind veterans that there remain at least two open sores.
The first is the cutback to the Home Care program costing $4 million next year.
The Minister’s lame defence is that the budget is pegged to the number of card holders.
But this is not a suitable measure.
As we all know, frailty increases with age. Services required need to increase.
Any reduction in card holders is more than made up for by increasing need.
The second is the continuing and increasing refusal of medical specialists to accept the Gold card.
The Government’s budget announcement does not take effect until next January.
And even then there’s absolutely no assurance that specialists will find what’s on offer nearly attractive enough.
I’ll leave my remarks there. This particular Bill isn’t controversial.
It’s a great pity that it was not put before us many months ago. Thank you.