PLACE HOLDER MINISTER NOT GOOD ENOUGH

 

It is unclear what will become of the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio under the Turnbull Government’s chaos.

 

In announcing his Deputy Prime Minister yesterday, Malcolm Turnbull made no reference as to who will be responsible for the portfolio of Veterans’ Affairs.

 

The chaos and dysfunction of the Government has gotten to the point where one of the oldest and most important portfolios of government is now facing uncertainty.

 

New Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack has been so busy enjoying his plush new digs and keeping an eye on his new friends on the Nationals backbench has failed to act swiftly to appoint a new Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister.

 

There are over 287,000 veterans, ex-service personnel and families who access services from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and it is unclear who is fighting for them in government.

 

There are over 55,000 permanent members of our ADF who serve our country and it is unclear who is standing up for them in government.

 

They need a champion – and they don’t have one.

 

The Senate tabled an important report on veteran’s suicide last August – implementing its recommendations should be one of the main priorities of the government.

 

Veterans unemployment is at a rate of 30 per cent – rather than focusing on this, the Nationals are more worried about divvying up their own jobs.

 

With the Deputy Prime Minister now acting as a place holder as the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, the Turnbull Government clearly do not consider this a priority.

 

Whoever gets the job will the third minister in three months – this clearly poses the question; how seriously do they take this portfolio?

 

The men and women who have served our country deserve better than the uncertainty the Turnbull Government have delivered them.