Veterans promised fairer super at local Veterans Forum

12-December-2011

Veterans from the outer east were promised better superannuation benefits by the Shadow Veterans Affairs Minister, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, at a local Veterans Forum organised by Alan Tudge MP.

Over 60 veterans and family members attended the Veterans’ Forum at the Boronia RSL last Friday, to have their say on what needs to be improved for the benefit of veterans and their families.

Mr Tudge said that he was delighted to have Senator Ronaldson attend the Forum with so many local veterans present.   “We owe a lot to our veterans.  Without the sacrifices made by our service men and women and their families, we would not have the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today.  I will continue to work to ensure they receive the recognition and support they deserve.”

One of the hot issues raised was the indexation of military superannuation.  Presently, military superannuants in the DFRB and DFRDB schemes have their pensions indexed in an unfair, unjust and inequitable way.  The Coalition is committed to righting this wrong. 

Senator Ronaldson committed to improving the indexation arrangements for the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Scheme (DFRDB) to bring it in line with aged and service pensions.  “This change will bring indexation arrangements into line with the age and service pension and benefit 63,000 beneficiaries, including widows of superannuants,” he said.

“It is now clear we will have to change the Government in order to deliver this important reform”, he said.

Other issues that were raised include recent Federal Government cuts to the BEST program which funds veteran support and advocacy groups.   Senator Ronaldson said that the Coalition is deeply concerned that the Labor Government has slashed $8 million from vital veterans’ advocacy funding over the next four years.  “The Coalition knows that volunteer veterans’ advocates workloads have not decreased and at the last election we promised to increase funding to the BEST and TIP programs, not cut it,” he said.

There was also passionate and broad discussion about the mental health of veterans and the long term impact of war service on individuals and their families, took place.  

“The challenges for this Department lie in front of it, and not behind it.  Continuing to improve the way services are delivered, especially mental health care for veterans and their families, will be a long-term challenge which the Australian Government must rise to,” Senator Ronaldson said.

Senator Ronaldson said, “Unfortunately, our current government deficit of $140 billion nett frames what we can do in the future. We will continue to meet with stakeholders and consider policy proposals ahead of the next election.”

Mr Tudge invites any veterans in Knox who wish to contribute to the development of the Coalition’s policy, to contact him on 9887 3890 or alan.tudge.mp@aph.gov.au. ends