For Veterans

Veterans disability and compensation entitlements are covered under various legislation and regulations. These are reviewed frequently by Government, mainly resulting from bureaucratic initiatives. On occasions, changes are made based on Ex-service organisations' and veterans' initiatives, but only after intense pressure from these groups or their local member. These reviews and other DVA reports, will be published as they are released.

We will also publish contentious issues where veterans and ex-service members entitlements and benefits are threatened by poorly considered government decisions - as displayed below.

FAIRGO4VETERANS

The Government has made it plain that it stands by the report by Professor Mathews and not accept any variation to the way Public Service and Defence Force superannuants have their pensions indexed. Federal Finance Minister Lindsay Tanner has rejected calls to increase public service and military superannuation beyond rises in the consumer price index. The Government's decision directly affects about 300,000 Australians, including more than 40,000 in the Canberra region. Over the past 20 years, Federal MP's pensions have increased by 130%, the aged pension has risen by 110%, but public service and military pensions have increased by only 70%. Local ACT politicians wrote to Mr Tanner last month, saying that the Government had 'abandoned the spirit of the election commitment to a review that would address the inadequacy and inequality of the indexation method'. Check to see what WE SAY at fairgo4veterans

The Minister and the Government don't seem to acknowledge that Commonwealth and military superannuants have paid for their superannuation and they rely on it to live, just the same as the politicians rely on their generous superannuation to live. Responsibility for MilSuper has been moved to the Dept of Finance from where the Minister receives his advice. One wonders if the public servants who provide this advice realise that they, too, will suffer an eroding standard of living when they retire after years of paying for their superannuation. If you are unhappy with this outcome, please let your local political representative know of your concern. In the Canberra area, contact: MPs Mike Kelly, Bob McMullan, Annette Ellis, and Senator Kate Lundy (see her supportive position at KateLundy). You may wish to advise them that this is a matter that we will remember at the next election

Now the Government wants to combine the civilian and military superannuation boards into one - with a 10 member board: 5 nominated by Government, 3 ACTU members and 2 Defence members. With that breakdown, what chance does the veteran or ex-service member have of being heard? Most importantly, the unique nature of service in the ADF will be eroded as the other board members will have little idea what the ADF engages in or accomplishes.

The Government's actions run contrary to the federal ALP pre-election promises in 2007 that Labor will work hard to achieve six goals for veterans, and to give veterans a strong leadership voice. It has announced on two occasions, via press releases, of its intention to merge the Boards of ARIA, MSBS and DFRDB, wihtout any consultation with any Ex-Service Organisations. Together with the Government's refusal to index Military Superannuation at a fair level, following the Matthews Report, one wonders what other 'poor deals' will be handed out to veterans.

The RAAF Association submitted a paper to the Senate Committee recommending against the planned Government action - you can download it below. You can also view the Senate Committee's report at Senate Report