5 years ago
GOVERNMENT FAILS TO RULE OUT SCRAPPING GOLD CARDS
SHAYNE NEUMANN MP
The Government has today failed to rule out a key recommendation from the Productivity Commission (PC) to scrap the veterans’ Gold Card as we know it.
The PC’s Inquiry into compensation and rehabilitation for veterans recommended that eligibility for a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card be removed for anyone other than veterans with severe service-related impairments, including all dependants.
In Question Time in the Parliament today, I asked the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester if he would rule this out.
Unbelievably, the Minister refused to reject this terrible proposal that would significantly reduce the entitlements of many veterans and their dependants.
This proposal has caused considerable anxiety among many ex-service people and their families, including elderly and vulnerable war widows.
Many ex-service organisations, including the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Federation, have written to myself and other MPs to raise their concerns.
Labor believes in a strong system of benefits and entitlements for veterans and their families, including partners/carers, widows/widowers and children, as a meaningful way of demonstrating our nation’s gratitude for the service they have provided.
Also, this recognises the value to the community of the support and care of veterans provided by their partners and carers.
The veteran support system needs reform, however Labor firmly believes veterans and their families deserve to have access to all the medical treatment they need.
Labor calls on the Government to reject this recommendation and provide certainty for veterans and their families.
The Government needs to listen to the concerns of the veteran community and do the right thing by them.
The health and wellbeing of our veterans and their families should be our highest priority.
The PC’s Inquiry into compensation and rehabilitation for veterans recommended that eligibility for a Department of Veterans’ Affairs Gold Card be removed for anyone other than veterans with severe service-related impairments, including all dependants.
In Question Time in the Parliament today, I asked the Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester if he would rule this out.
Unbelievably, the Minister refused to reject this terrible proposal that would significantly reduce the entitlements of many veterans and their dependants.
This proposal has caused considerable anxiety among many ex-service people and their families, including elderly and vulnerable war widows.
Many ex-service organisations, including the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Federation, have written to myself and other MPs to raise their concerns.
Labor believes in a strong system of benefits and entitlements for veterans and their families, including partners/carers, widows/widowers and children, as a meaningful way of demonstrating our nation’s gratitude for the service they have provided.
Also, this recognises the value to the community of the support and care of veterans provided by their partners and carers.
The veteran support system needs reform, however Labor firmly believes veterans and their families deserve to have access to all the medical treatment they need.
Labor calls on the Government to reject this recommendation and provide certainty for veterans and their families.
The Government needs to listen to the concerns of the veteran community and do the right thing by them.
The health and wellbeing of our veterans and their families should be our highest priority.