Labor's light-on second term agend for veterans

19/08/10

The magical and silent appearance of Labor’s second term veterans’ affairs agenda on Labor’s website just days from the election is heavy on spin and light on substance.

It shows a re-elected Labor Government will have a low-priority view of veterans’ affairs. But should we really be surprised?

After raising expectations within the veteran and ex-service community before the last election, Labor failed to deliver on promised changes to military superannuation indexation and disabled veterans’ pharmaceutical costs.

Now, after 11 reviews, Labor promises more navel gazing and delayed action.

Importantly, Labor has not promised one new dollar in spending for veterans’ affairs, potentially threatening veterans’ entitlements to pay for new initiatives.

Labor’s “Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Scheme” will be a complex administrative nightmare.

The scheme creates two classes of disabled veterans – those with and those without ‘qualifying service’, something not supported by the ex-service community.

Veterans will still have to pay for 60 scripts a year and wait for a reimbursement some time in 2013. This contrasts starkly with the Coalition’s plan to extend the safety net to a maximum of 30 scripts each year with no further out of pocket expenses once the lower limit is reached.

Real action for veterans, not more spin.

Labor also refuses to take action for DFRDB superannuants. The Coalition is committed to providing fairer indexation from 1 July 2011 for DFRDB and DFRB superannuants aged over 55. Labor refuses to take action. Instead Labor stands behind the discredited Matthews’ Report to justify not taking action on DFRDB superannuation indexation.

Labor’s addiction to reviews continues, with a review into aged care for veterans. This contrasts with the Coalition’s clear plan to invest almost a further $1 billion into aged care through an aged care agreement over the next four years. This will bring to at least 12 reviews announced by Labor in the veterans’ affairs portfolio in just three years.

Labor has not used its policy document to respond to the reviews it has already commissioned and which have reported – reviews into:
Military Superannuation, and Veterans’ Advocacy Funding.

After so much expectation, Labor has broken the trust of the veteran and ex-service community. Labor’s so-called Plan for Veterans’ Affairs, the same name they used in 2007, is big on spin but light on substance.

The Coalition’s comprehensive direct action plan for veterans and their families is a clear contrast to Labor’s spin and delayed action.
Labor cannot be trusted with veterans’ affairs.