Media Release The Hon Danna Vale MP   Minister for Veterans' Affairs Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence Federal Member for Hughes

VA45 Thursday 2 May 2002

LABOR SILENT ON VETERANS' ENTITLEMENTS REVIEW

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Danna Vale today expressed disappointment at Labor's failure to make a submission to the independent committee established by the Coalition Government to review veterans' entitlements.

"The Review of Veterans' Entitlements is an excellent opportunity for Labor to articulate their policies and how they would fund them. They have failed to do so," Minister Vale said.

"Instead, Labor's spokesperson on Veterans' Affairs only comments on this important policy area through the media, demonstrating a greater interest in headlines, rather than in better outcomes for veterans war widows.

"The veteran community has no idea what Labor stands for. At the last election Labor's promises for veterans were a pale imitation of the Coalition Government's commitment to further extend the Gold Card to veterans over the age of 70 with qualifying service.

"Labor's recent attacks on the Government regarding war widows are also hollow. Labor's 10 pages of election promises for veterans did not once mention war widows. In contrast, the Coalition is committed to improving indexation arrangements for war widows receiving the income support supplement.

"Almost 2,000 submissions from individual veterans and ex-service organisations have been received by the review committee and I applaud the contribution the veteran community has made to the committee's deliberations."

Submissions to the Review of Veteran's Entitlements, chaired by former NSW Supreme Court judge the Hon John Clarke QC, closed on 18 April 2002.

Under its terms of reference, the committee is considering perceived anomalies in eligibility for access to veterans' benefits and qualifying service that may be raised by groups including some World War II veterans, veterans of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan, Australian participants in British atomic testing in Australia, Australian service personnel engaged in counter terrorist and special recovery training and other interested parties.

The committee is also considering the appropriateness of current veteran disability benefits and the extent to which the medical, social and vocational rehabilitation needs of compensation recipients are being met.

The Minister said the committee was due to report in mid-November 2002, enabling the Government to consider its recommendations in the context of the 2003 Federal Budget.

Media contact: Rachael Thompson (02) 6277 7820 or 0417 265 289



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