5 years ago
LAUNCH OF VETERAN CARD AND DISCOUNT SCHEME
SHAYNE NEUMANN MP
Labor welcomes the launch of a new Veteran Card, which will provide veterans with access to a range of discounts and benefits from participating businesses and organisations.
Labor supports our veterans and any measures that helps to thank them for their outstanding service to our nation.
There are obvious concerns that the Veteran Card has taken too long to roll out and Labor has questioned the Morrison Government’s commitment to delivering it.
This is the third time the Government has recycled the launch of the card since it was first announced on 27 October 2018.
At the outset, no businesses were on board and even now, there are still no details on how the card will interact with other existing veteran discount schemes.
The Government even attached the Veteran Card to enabling legislation introduced into the Parliament back in February 2019, only for it to lapse before the election.
After the election, the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Bill 2019 was reintroduced and only passed on 22 October 2019.
Today’s announcement means veterans have had to wait more than a year to see the benefits of the Veteran Card since it was first announced.
It was also never made clear why this legislation was necessary in the first place, especially as the card is simply a reissued veteran health card.
The legislation also delivered the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant, which provides formal recognition of the unique nature of military service and a commitment from the nation to support veterans and their families.
The Veterans’ Covenant follows Labor’s earlier proposal for a Military Covenant, which was developed in close consultation with the veteran community.
While the Covenant is largely symbolic in nature, Labor welcomes the fact that the Veteran Card will deliver some practical recognition for our veterans through access to a discount scheme.
Labor encourages all businesses to get on board with the Veteran Card and show their support by participating in the discount scheme.
However, Labor wants to see initiatives like these backed up with more tangible benefits, such as better veteran support services when it comes to mental health, suicide prevention, homelessness and aged care.
There are obvious concerns that the Veteran Card has taken too long to roll out and Labor has questioned the Morrison Government’s commitment to delivering it.
This is the third time the Government has recycled the launch of the card since it was first announced on 27 October 2018.
At the outset, no businesses were on board and even now, there are still no details on how the card will interact with other existing veteran discount schemes.
The Government even attached the Veteran Card to enabling legislation introduced into the Parliament back in February 2019, only for it to lapse before the election.
After the election, the Australian Veterans’ Recognition (Putting Veterans and Their Families First) Bill 2019 was reintroduced and only passed on 22 October 2019.
Today’s announcement means veterans have had to wait more than a year to see the benefits of the Veteran Card since it was first announced.
It was also never made clear why this legislation was necessary in the first place, especially as the card is simply a reissued veteran health card.
The legislation also delivered the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant, which provides formal recognition of the unique nature of military service and a commitment from the nation to support veterans and their families.
The Veterans’ Covenant follows Labor’s earlier proposal for a Military Covenant, which was developed in close consultation with the veteran community.
While the Covenant is largely symbolic in nature, Labor welcomes the fact that the Veteran Card will deliver some practical recognition for our veterans through access to a discount scheme.
Labor encourages all businesses to get on board with the Veteran Card and show their support by participating in the discount scheme.
However, Labor wants to see initiatives like these backed up with more tangible benefits, such as better veteran support services when it comes to mental health, suicide prevention, homelessness and aged care.