

Media Release

ALAN GRIFFIN MP  Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Federal Member for Bruce  BILLSON BACKFLIPS ON HIS SUPPORT FOR NUCLEAR VETERANS  The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Bruce Billson MP, has reneged on his support for Australian Nuclear Veterans.   Mr Billson, in a submission to the independent Clarke Review into Veterans Entitlements in 2002, argued for Nuclear Veterans’ service to be declared non-warlike hazardous service.      In its final findings the Clarke review supported this position recommending that:   participation by Australian Defence Force personnel in the British atomic tests be declared non-warlike hazardous and the legislation be amended to ensure that this declaration can have effect in extending VEA coverage  The House of Representatives has today considered the Government’s response to the issues relating to Nuclear Veterans in the Australian Participants in the British Nuclear Test Bills.  The Bills give effect to the Government’s decision to provide no-liability treatment of cancers to Australian participants in the tests.    The Bills do not implement the Clarke Recommendation to declare the Nuclear Veterans’ service as non-warlike hazardous service.    This means that the Nuclear Veterans are not given the chance to apply for a disability pension for war related injuries. It also means their widows cannot apply for a pension when the Veteran has died of his war injuries.    This was what the Clarke Review recommended, and this was what the Minister had previously supported.    The Nuclear Veterans understandably feel betrayed.







Labor supports the measures contained in this bill for all participants, military  and civilian.  However, it questions whether the Bill has gone far enough for  Veterans given the Clarke Recommendations on this issue.



Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin, questions why the Minister  is avoiding the opportunity to fix what he himself described as “unfair” and  “disappointing” treatment of Australian Nuclear Veterans.

“Is this just another example of the Howard Government being strong on  rhetoric when it comes to its treatment of the Veterans’ community, yet weak  on action?” Mr Griffin said.

“This is unfortunately yet another example of the Howard Government  ignoring the recommendations of its own independent reviews that were  conducted at great taxpayer expense”.

11 October 2006

Media Contact:  Rod Hilton 0403 831 179  ATTACHMENT: Copy of Mr Billson’s submission to the Clarke Review.

