Veterans Affairs News ....... Part Two

[Keith]

Dear Minister Griffin,
 
The Veteran community will be the poorer for your decision to move to the backbench. I wish to take this opportunity to thank you personally for your dedication, intelligence, willingness to truly serve us and your many many long hours of work whilst DVA Minister.
 
Your job has been a very difficult one because you have had to endure stupid attacks and criticism from a minority of Veterans who are irrational and selfish. It is my experience that most Veterans have been content whilst you have been DVA Minister.
 
In my opinion the DVA Minister's job is the most difficult in the Ministry because of the myriad of Legislation which a DVA Minister is responsible for and because it is rare for a Minister to have so much face to face and other personal contact with those he/she is responsible for.
 
It is also my opinion that the Vietnam Veteran community is probably the most dysfunctional in the community and this alone has made your job difficult.
 
Best wishes for your future and thank you for your sincerity and dedication.
 
Keith Tennent.
Rockhampton.

FAQ about Homeless Veterans
http://www.nchv.org/background.cfm

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states the nation?s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly five percent being female. The majority of them are single; come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About one-third of the adult homeless population are veterans.

The Blockade Of Fort Hood By US Vets
http://www.politicaltheatrics.net/2010/09/the-blockade-of-fort-hood-by-us-vets/

Five peace activists successfully blockaded six buses carrying Fort Hood Soldiers deploying to Iraq outside Fort Hood?s Clarke gate on August 23rd at around 4 a.m. While the activists took the width of Clarke Rd. and slowed the buses to a halt, police made no arrests, but instead beat the activists out of the streets using automatic weapons and police dogs so the deploying Soldiers could proceed.

[Keith]

 
Griffin set to take a back seat

Michelle Grattan and Nick O'Malley

September 9, 2010

THE AGE

VETERANS Affairs Minister Alan Griffin is stepping down to the backbench, leaving Prime Minister Julia Gillard with another vacancy as she reshuffles her frontbench over the next days.

Mr Griffin, 50, said that after 12 years in various frontbench roles, ''I decided it's time to take a break.''

He will not create a byelection - he holds the Victorian seat of Bruce - but may leave Parliament at the end of this term and start a new career. He has been in Parliament since 1993.

The other vacancies are those of former finance minister Lindsay Tanner, who has left Parliament, and outgoing defence minister John Faulkner who has chosen to be on the backbench.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is set to return to the ministry, with strong speculation he will get his choice of foreign affairs.

Ms Gillard is waiting on independent Rob Oakeshott to decide whether he will accept a new cabinet-level post as minister for regional Australia.

This minister would run a new Department of Regional Australia, which would oversee the implementation of the government's promised multibillion-dollar spending package that was a central part of Tuesday's deal between the government and two of the three country independents.

Mr Oakeshott would chair a new regional Australia cabinet subcommittee that would involve the Prime Minister, Treasurer and relevant ministers and parliamentary secretaries, according to the agreement between Ms Gillard and the independents.

Mr Oakeshott said he had not made a decision on whether to accept the offer.

He would like to work out if it was possible for an independent to hold a cabinet post yet still have free voting rights in areas outside his portfolio.

He said he was keen to talk with Karlene Maywald - who as a South Australian National had been a member of the state Labor government - to see how such a model could work.

In Tasmania, an agreement between the Labor government and the Greens allows a Green to leave the cabinet room when an issue is discussed outside their area and vote against the decision later.

But a constitutional expert said last night that while it would be possible to rewrite the convention of cabinet solidarity, it would be something the Gillard government would have to consider very cautiously because it could undermine cohesion and unity.

Ms Gillard has not given Mr Oakeshott a deadline, but he aims to give his answer by the end of the week. He is discussing it with his wife, Sara-Jane, but said he did not believe that it should be impossible to maintain a healthy work/life balance.

If Mr Rudd is accommodated in foreign affairs, possibilities for the Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith, could be defence or finance.

Parliamentary secretary Bill Shorten, from Victoria, a key figure in the coup that installed Ms Gillard, is expected to be promoted to the ministry.

Ms Gillard's changes will be carefully watched for how she treats her backers in the coup.

The Labor caucus meets in Canberra today.

 

 
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All truth passes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Second, it is violently opposed.  Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

[Keith]

Exclusive: One Iraq veterans harrowing journey from the battlefield to suicide
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/iraq-veterans-harrowing-journey-battlefield-suicide-part/

He said three times that he should have just died in Iraq and I would have loved him forever, because he didn't think we were going to get back together,Krissy Caudill, Sgt. First Class Spencer Kohlheims fiance said after his grandmother found him hanging in her garage less than a month after he returned from Iraq.

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
Nashos to be honoured with memorial

 
Recognition: the fountain memorial is the first to be dedicated to national servicemen. (ABC Local: Jim Trail)


Australia's national servicemen will be recognised for the first time today with the unveiling of a memorial in Canberra.

The fountain memorial will recognise the national servicemen who served in the Defence Force between 1950 and 1972.

Governor-General Quentin Bryce will unveil the memorial, designed also to commemorate the 212 servicemen who died in various theatres of war.

National Servicemen's Association spokesman Allen Callaghan says today's ceremony will offer closure for servicemen and their families.

"This is the first time the nation has recognised the contribution that national servicemen have made to Australia's defence effort for over three decades," he said.

"Also it honours those who died on active service in Borneo and Vietnam; two died in Borneo and 210 in Vietnam."

Mr Callaghan says the memorial has taken nine years to complete.

"It's now ready for dedication, but the main point is that it brings closure to the Vietnam era because we have already had the parade of the Vietnam veterans," he said.

"We've had the return of the last of the missing in action. This now brings closure particularly for the families that lost national servicemen."

 
 
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All truth passes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Second, it is violently opposed.  Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

[Keith]

Its just a pity about the dead British Veterans buried in the lonely cemeteries and the disabled British Veterans who face a life of pain, suffering and minimal incomes. Blair, like Howard and the whole sick cabal, have no conscience, and worse still have trampled on the bodies of young Military members to make their names politically and set themselves up financially. Don?t hang by your thumbs waiting for either to have an epiphany and suddenly admit they lied and ignored the peoples will.

Keith Tennent.

SMH

I'm still a public servant, says $34m man Blair

Mary Riddle

September 7, 2010

"It's no great shock to say Gordon's not ... touchy-feely" ... Tony Blair, former British Prime Minister.

LONDON: For a prophet crying in the wilderness, Tony Blair scrubs up well. Though erstwhile disciples are scuttling to distance themselves from New Labour's founding father, sackcloth and ashes are not his style.

Mr Blair wears jeans and a pristine blue shirt, unbuttoned to reveal a gold chain nestling among greying chest hair. A crucifix, I presume, not a medallion? ''Yes,'' he says. ''Though we used to wear medallions in the '60s. Or was it the '70s?''

We meet in his London office after he arrives from Washington, where he had dinner with the US President, Barack Obama, and the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, discussing what may be ''the final opportunity to establish a peace''. He reports: ''Obama's completely up for it.''

Having missed the publication of his memoir, The Journey, Mr Blair is back in Britain for his publicity tour to promote the Brand Blair bible. Being an author strikes him as ''marvellously scary''; a verdict with which his former chancellor may concur.

In denouncing ''impossible'' Gordon Brown, a plotter of ''zero emotional intelligence'', did he not worry about being cruel? ''I wanted to make sure that, while it was essentially truthful, it also paid tribute to his enormous qualities.''

Did he warn Mr Brown of the character assassination? ''No. Anyway,'' he adds defensively, ''it's no great shock to say Gordon's not a touchy-feely politician.''

And has he spoken since the book was published to the man he once deemed as close as a lover? ''No, but I'm sure I will.''

Mr Blair says he still thought Mr Brown was the best for the job, and besides, he adds, he was loath ''to have [Mr Brown] outside the tent in what could have been a far more destructive form''.

This is the only newspaper interview Mr Blair has given since his book was published. Wealth (estimated at up to $34 million), staff (about 130), and the airy opulence of his headquarters have conferred on him the quasi-regal distance of the privileged. Whatever his critics think of him, he has absorbed the odium with some dignity and grace. Even so, he exudes the faintly glacial bonhomie of a man on his guard.

His book, more gripping and witty than his detractors allow, is a political bodice-ripper.

In person, Mr Blair is less expansive, not least because ''what most people are interested in are how much trouble you cause the next lot''.

Some have questioned whether Mr Blair's journey, like his father's, has ended at the portals of Tory HQ. ''I am Labour and always will be,'' he says. Does he admire David Cameron? ''I don't want to talk about my politics through his. I don't want to cause difficulties for him.''

And did he go over to the dark side when he took a 2.5 million ($4.2 million) salary from JP Morgan Chase (and a reported 2 million from Zurich Financial Services) Despite giving an expected 4 million in book royalties to charity, is his dash for cash not unseemly

''I am basically a public service person. I would have been very happy carrying on as PM or taking the job in Europe [the EU presidency]. I spend two-thirds to three-quarters of my time on unpaid work, as a Middle East envoy and for charity.''

But his string of properties showcases a fabulous lifestyle.

''Look, I work enormously hard, but I'm really lucky to be able to provide for my family ? I simply make the point that I [would] prefer a full-time public service job. If I can't, I'll do it like this because it allows me to pursue the same ends in a different way.''

He is, he says, ''working as hard as I've ever worked''.

''I don't know what I will do in the future. I'm basically a public service guy, so if the right job came up I'd definitely do it. But I enjoy the freedom to do different things. I'd be hopeless at retirement. For me there is absolutely no way that is ever going to happen.'' You have been warned.

❏ Mr Blair said he may cancel a book-signing session in London tomorrow after he was pelted with shoes, eggs and plastic bottles by people protesting against the Iraq war at a similar event in Dublin on Saturday.

Telegraph, London

 
 
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All truth passes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Second, it is violently opposed.  Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

[Keith]

Former army chief slams Blair and Brown

Patrick Hennessy, London

September 6, 2010

THE AGE

THE former head of the British army has accused Tony Blair and Gordon Brown of letting down the armed forces during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In a damning verdict, General Sir Richard Dannatt accuses Mr Brown of being a ''malign'' influence by failing to honour guarantees on defence spending during his time at the Treasury, and charges Mr Blair with lacking ''moral courage'' for failing to overrule his chancellor.

General Dannatt's book, Leading from the Front, with extracts published in The Sunday Telegraph, is the first major public critique of the Blair/Brown administration by a senior outside figure who served under both men.

He was Chief of the General Staff from 2006-09. He describes his efforts to persuade Mr Blair and Mr Brown that the army - fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan and suffering heavy casualties - was facing almost unbearable pressures as ''pushing a rock up a steep hill almost all the way through''.

His book is further evidence of the cripplingly dysfunctional nature of the relationship between Mr Blair and Mr Brown, which Mr Blair spelt out in his own memoir, A Journey, published this week.

The general also reveals in his book and in interviews for this newspaper that:

■ By early 2009, when the army was suffering a punishing casualty rate in Afghanistan, he had not had a face-to-face meeting with Mr Brown for six months. Eventually he was forced to ''ambush'' the prime minister during a chance meeting to get his concerns across.

■ The 1997-98 Strategic Defence Review (SDR), which set out a ''good framework'' for future defence policy, could not cope with troops being committed to Iraq and Afghanistan at the same time and was ''fatally flawed'' through being underfunded.

■ The intelligence about weapons of mass destruction in Iraq under Saddam Hussein, cited as the main reason for Britain joining the United States in the 2003 war, was ''most uncompelling''. Planning for the aftermath of the conflict was, he said, an ''abject failure''.

General Dannatt reserved his strongest criticism for Labour's two prime ministers, accusing them of letting down the troops they sent to Afghanistan and Iraq. He writes: ''History will pass judgment on these foreign adventures in due course, but in my view Gordon Brown's malign intervention, when chancellor, on the SDR by refusing to fund what his own government had agreed, fatally flawed the entire process from the outset.''

Mr Blair ''lacked the moral courage to impose his will on his own chancellor''.

Asked why he thought Mr Blair did not overrule Mr Brown, he replied: ''To me it seems extraordinary that the prime minister cannot crack the whip sufficiently to his very close friend apparently, his next door neighbour, the chancellor.

''In the war cabinet that Margaret Thatcher put together in 1982 [during the Falklands conflict] there was no one from the Treasury. It's tough to criticise lack of moral courage, but moral courage is what you need.'' General Dannatt warns that carrying on with the current rate of casualties in Afghanistan would be unacceptable. ''We've got to have cracked it by 2014, 2015,'' he says.

TELEGRAPH

Ripping off Dead War Vets' Beneficiaries
http://poorrichards-blog.blogspot.com/2010/09/ripping-off-dead-war-vets-beneficiaries.html

Wall Street and other financial scammers do it from the living, Prudential and many insurers from the dead, ripping off families of killed war vets. On July 28, Bloomberg.com's David Evans discussed how it works in an article titled, "Fallen Soldiers' Families Denied Cash as Insurers Profit," a polite way of explaining grand theft. From the living, it's bad enough, from the dead, it gives chutzpah new meaning, affecting countless thousands of bereaved families.
 

[Keith]

From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Saturday, September 04, 2010 11:24 AM
Subject: DVA Entitlement Increases

http://www.dva.gov.au/news_archive/Documents/Pension_increase_veterans_and_war_widows.pdf

From 20 SEP 10 TPI increases by $23.60 PF,
100% by $8.40
and
War Service entitlement by $15.00 for single recipients!

[Keith]

Dang Vets - veterans should voluntarily give up their disability benefits to help reduce the deficit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj06nIHMF_g

Dang Vets are Hurting this country this excludes me because i don't get Veteran monetary aid
the above is in the most extreme scene Hyperbole but this is what they want you to believe watch and be amazed

[Keith]

 
From: Peter and Marilyn
Sent: Friday, September 03, 2010 5:12 PM
Subject: SCAMwatch email alert: Aussie veterans targeted by scam [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Aussie veterans targeted by scam

Read alert online.

Added: September 2010

SCAMwatch is warning veterans to be cautious of potential scammers posing as representatives from the Australian Government Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA).

Scammers are reportedly offering veterans false government services such as free electricity or pension benefits, in exchange for their personal information including banking details and DVA client numbers.

DVA is investigating the incidents and is aware of several approaches in both Victoria and Queensland, warning similar scams may surface in the other states and territories.

Please help SCAMwatch and the DVA to warn Australias veteran community about this scam. If you know someone who is a veteran, please pass on the following tips.

Protect yourself

If you receive a phone call or letter asking for your DVA client number or banking details, do not provide them. Contact your nearest DVA office to confirm the request is legitimate.

Be cautious if you are contacted out of the blue by someone claiming to be from ANY government department requesting personal information, always contact the organisation before responding using contact details from a trusted source.

NEVER give credit card or other personal details to someone you do not know and trust.

Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails (spam)delete them NEVER send personal and account details via email or enter them into a website unless you are certain it is genuine and secure.

If you think you have provided your account details to a scammer, contact your bank or financial institution immediately.

If you think you have provided your DVA number to a scammer contact the DVA office.
Report

You can report a scam to the ACCC via the report a scam page on SCAMwatch or by calling 1300 795 995.

If you, or someone you know, has been approached by someone posing as a DVA representative contact your nearest DVA office on 133 254 or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).

More information

For more information about how you can protect yourself, check out the Requests for your account information (phishing scams) page on SCAMwatch.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has also issued a media release about the scam.

[Keith]

The Coalition election campaign included a promise to change the indexation of the DFRDB superannuation payment. This was a very popular promise among the comparatively few DFRDB recipients. Most Australians Veterans and ex Service members are not in receipt of DFRDB. In light of the Treasury costings of the effects of the Coalition position on the budget bottom line which have been released by the Independents the question naturally flows " Does this error in the Coalition costings include the DFRDB promise?".
 
Keith Tennent.

Full report: Coalition Treasury costings
http://resources.news.com.au/files/2010/09/02/1225913/045634-coalition-treasury-costings.pdf
 
$10b Treasury blow to Opposition Leader Tony Abbott

Phillip Hudson
From: Herald Sun
September 01, 2010


Independent MP for New England Tony Windsor has labelled the Coaltion's alleged costing error as a $10b 'black hole'. Picture: Alan Pryke Source: The Australian

TONY Abbott's budget credibility was under fire last night with Treasury saying there was an error of up to $10.6 billion in his election promises.

Tony Windsor, one of the three independents who asked for the costings, last night described it as ``a black hole''.

But Mr Abbott stood by his election costings and insisted he would improve the Budget bottom-line by more than $11 billion.

The Treasury documents released at 10pm by the independents found the Coalition would improve the Budget bottom line by $863 million over the next four years - well below the $11.5 billion improvement predicted by the Liberals.

The Liberals would deliver a Budget bottom line that was eight times better than Labor, but only a fraction of what they had promised.

Treasury's five-page report on the Coalition's costings suggested the bottom-line could rise from $863 million to $4.5 billion if other assumptions were made. Mr Abbott said those other assumptions could be ``responsibly achieved through prudent economic management''.

Treasury said Labor would improve the bottom-line by $106 million - double its prediction of $44 million.

The Coalition had refused to submit its costings to the Treasury during the election campaign and Mr Windsor last night said ``I think we understand now why he wasn't interested in releasing the numbers''.

``(It's) what I call a black hole anyway of probably somewhere between seven and 11 billion in terms of difference between what the Coalition said their costings were and what the Treasurer would suggest in terms of an incoming government s to their bottom line,'' Mr Windsor told the ABC's Lateline program.

He said the issue would be ``in the mix'' in deciding whether to support Mr Abbott or Julia Gillard for Prime Minister.

He said the independents were trying to decide who to trust and would demand answers from shadow ministers during meetings scheduled for today.

Mr Windsor said Treasury discovered the Coalition planned to cut $3.3 billion worth of spending but did not tell anyone during the campaign.

Mr Windsor said Treasury as the ``independent umpire'' had assessed the promises of both applicants for the job of PM.

Mr Abbott said Treasury and the Department of Finance had confirmed that 95 to 96 per cent of Coalition policy costings were correct, covering 304 decisions worth $90 billion.

``The Coalition maintains that our election policies will deliver a Budget bottom line that is improved by more than $11 billion over the forward estimates,'' he said.

He said under Treasury's ``worst case scenario'' the Coalition's bottom line would be $7 billion better than Labor.



The release of the documents caught both Labor and the Liberals by surprise and came after Mr Windsor, Bob Katter and Rob Oakeshott met with Treasury officials in the Cabinet room.

The briefing was part of their demand to be better informed about whether to choose Mr Abbott or Julia Gillard as PM.

A spokesman for Treasurer Wayne Swan said: ``This huge costings blackhole finally proves why Mr Abbott and Joe Hockey abandoned Peter Costello's charter of budget honesty.

This costings shambles is damning evidence of the risk the Liberals pose to the budget and to the economy.''



Earlier,  Mr Swan had boasted that other world leaders ``would kill'' to have the economic report card delivered yesterday for the Australian economy.

The Gillard Government's economic credentials were boosted by the Bureau of Statistics saying the economy posted its best quarterly growth for three years of 1.2 per cent to be humming at an annual rate of 3.3 per cent.

CommSec economist Savanth Sebastian said the economy had ``hit the sweet spot'' and was one of the strongest economies in the advanced world.

``While other countries are still attempting to artificially stimulate their economy, Australia has clearly moved into third gear,'' Mr Sebastian said.

But he said without the mining boom in WA, national growth would be about 2.5 per cent.

Mr Swan said the figures were outstanding and the mining boom was supported by household spending, building investment, strong exports and more jobs.

``It's a strong outcome when you consider the shaky conditions that exist in countries like the United States and Europe,'' Mr Swan said.
 
``Prime Ministers elsewhere would kill for a set of outcomes such as these.''

Economists said with inflation under control, the Reserve Bank was unlikely to consider increasing interest rates before its November meeting on Melbourne Cup Day.

Mr Swan said business plans to inject $123 billion into investment in the year ahead would be a ``massive'' boost.

He said the figures were ``an endorsement of what the Government has done over recent years to support our economy'' and why Labor should stay in power.

Mr Abbott said the Howard Government had set up the good result.

``I think that the strength of the Australian economy is fundamentally due to the reforms of previous governments, not to the spending spree of the current government,'' Mr Abbott said.

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
Ceremonies remember Battle for Australia
 

Ceremonies will be held around the country today to mark the Battle for Australia during World War II.

The Battle for Australia commemorates the efforts to defend Australia from the Japanese over the period from 1940 to 1945.

In Melbourne, a service will be held at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Victorian RSL president, Major General David McLachlan, says it is important to reflect on how close Australia came to being on the front line during World War II.

"When you look at what was happening to the north of our nations, the bombing that happened, the activity in the oceans to the east, it came very close," he said.

 
 
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All truth passes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Second, it is violently opposed.  Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

[Keith]

SMH

Britain, France may share aircraft carriers

Paola Totaro

September 1, 2010

LONDON: The age of austerity in Europe is set also to quash age-old rivalries, forcing Britain and France to share aircraft carriers.

The proposal is to be outlined at a summit in November by the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, and has immediately sparked a flurry of anger in Britain at the potential loss of shipyard jobs.

The arrangement is expected to commence soon after the announcement, the Times in London reports, and would ensure that three ships, one French and two British, are to be kept on constant duty patrolling the northern seas together. At present, there are periods of the year when the British ships used for this work are in dock for maintenance as they are ageing. So far such talk is concerned with only sharing carriers.

Whitehall sources were quoted saying that if Britain is to have ''just one carrier'', at least in a shared arrangement, it can continue to ''project power on the sea''. Discussions are also reported to be under way to devise a protocol if a threat to a British interest, such as the Falkland Islands, were to emerge when the French are in command. The decision has emerged at a time when British armed forces are under enormous pressure to cut costs as part of a national review of defence spending and a proposal to construct two new carriers, at a cost of ?5.2 billion ($9 billion), is being questioned.

Speculation is rising that while both are already under construction, the new government may decide to cut down the capability of the second carrier to carry an army brigade but only allow helicopter, not jet, landings, thereby slashing costs. The spending review is due to report next month.

The proposal has come under immediate criticism as economists and historians raised the two nations' differing national priorities and interests. Professor Gwyn Prins, a research professor at the London School of Economics, told the Times that at first glance, a shared pool of aircraft carriers might seem sensible but ''a moment's reflection in the light of past history and of modern geopolitics shows why that is unwise''.

 

 
 
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All truth passes through three stages.  First, it is ridiculed.  Second, it is violently opposed.  Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.

[Keith]

From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2010 9:46 AM
Subject: BURN PIT EXPOSURE

SOURCE: VETERANS TODAY

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/18/iraq-vet-claims-burn-pit-exposure-heads-to-war-related-illness-and-injury-center/

Iraq Vet Claims Burn Pit Exposure, Heads to War-Related Illness and Injury Center

posted by Michael Leon

August 18, 2010 

ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) An Iraq War Veteran hopes to finally get a diagnosis for whats killing him. You first heard Tim Wymores story when investigator Chris Hayes exposed a military dirty little secret, that could be the cause.

For years, the military denied that the practice of burning hazardous waste on bases could make our troops sick. We exposed the burning practice this spring. 

Then during our investigation, the V.A.began recognizing related illnesses. Now in August, a Vet in St. Charles is finally going to get a diagnosis.

It used to be common practice on military bases to burn waste. Troops reported that military contractors torched everything from rubber and plastic to nuclear waste. 

Veterans, like Tim Wymore, Said they inhaled the thick black smoke every hour of every day.

In March, 2010, Wymore said. I can [still] smell it. Its a nasty taste in your mouth.

We can see the steady decline in Wymore?s health since our visit in March. Last Spring, he said doctors knew he had lesions on the brain, but they couldnt give a reason or a solid treatment plan.

In our follow-up August visit, Wymore said, Nobody wants to diagnose me. I dont know why.

Now he can barely move. He said, ?Breathing is harder. Everyday Im coughing up stuff you know, what I call call Iraqi gunk.

He needs a wheelchair to get around and his wife Shana has to help him in and out of it. He added, Lying here, I?m drained. This is where I am for the rest of the day. This is not the way I wanted to live.

After our May report, Veterans Affairs finally recognized officially burn pit symptoms. 

The V.A. sent out a training letter to all government hospitals instructing doctors not to turn away patients.

But it didnt offer a quick solution for Wymore, who told us, Everywhere weve gone to try to get help, weve had to fight you know we hit a brick wall and when we hit that brick wall we?ve got to fix whats going on to get to the next brick wall.

After months of pushing, he and his wife got approval to fly to New Jersey to the War Related Illness and Injury Center. 

The Wymores hope to finally have a diagnosis this week. 

That could be the beginning of Tim Wymore getting the treatment he needs to save his life.

[Keith]

Vietnam Veterans Want CIA Sanctioned
http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/08/27/29919.htm

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - The Vietnam Veterans of America asked a federal judge to impose sanctions on the Central Intelligence Agency, for failing to produce documents on the CIA's testing of hundreds of kinds of drugs - including sarin and phosgene nerve gas and LSD - on thousands of soldiers.

The Vietnam Veterans of America sued the CIA in January 2009, claiming the agency had experimented on soldiers at Edgewood Arsenal and Fort Detrick, Md., testing the effects of mind-controlling drugs.

The VVA says soldiers were treated "in the same capacity as laboratory rats or guinea pigs." The underlying federal complaint claims that at least 7,800 soldiers were subjected to "at least 250, but as many as 400 chemical and biological agents."

Veterans group: CIA blocking lawsuit over experiments on troops
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/0827/veterans-group-sanction-cia-experiements/

An advocacy group working on behalf of Vietnam veterans has asked a federal judge in California to sanction the CIA, saying the spy agency has been blocking efforts to uncover its role in alleged experiments on US soldiers from the 1950s to 1970s.

The Vietnam Veterans of America filed a lawsuit on behalf of six Vietnam War veterans in January, 2009, claiming that the CIA had used an estimated 7,800 US service members as "guinea pigs" in experiments involving "at least 250, but as many as 400 chemical and biological agents," according to Courthouse News.

Among the chemicals the lawsuit alleges were used on the soldiers were LSD, sarin and phosgene nerve gases, cyanide, PCP and even THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.

Webmaster's Commentary: http://whatreallyhappened.com/
Unflipping believable.

This lawsuit should go forward, these documents should be released, and every single Vet who had these experiments done to them without their consent should be compensated, and well, period, end of discussion.

[Keith]

www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO1008/S00486/commandos-pay-political-price.htm
 Saturday, 28 August 2010, 6:50 pm


COMMANDOS PAY POLITICAL PRICE?

By Sasha Uzunov

Australian commandos involved in a botched raid which resulted in 5 civilian deaths in Afghanistan could face courts martial because of intense political pressure from the media, as www.scoop.co.nz  warned last year.

The Fairfax press, which together with the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS TV) have been ferociously investigating the incident, reported on 27 August 2010 that:

www.theage.com.au/national/diggers-may-be-charged-over-deaths-20100826-13u5j.html

In an unprecedented move that has angered some senior military officers, Brigadier Lyn McDade has told the army she is preparing to lay charges in connection with a deadly raid involving Australian troops near the village of Surkh Morghab in Oruzgan province.?

But both Fairfax and SBS TV have for reasons unknown not taken the story further. The focus has been on the soldiers, not the politicians or the highly paid defence experts.

A scoop article titled Commando Regiment in Firing Line, on 7 December 2009, revealed:

www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00060.htm

The Australian Armys elite reservist unit, 1 Commando Regiment, is being made a scapegoat over allegations of misconduct in Afghanistan, a former unit member has told TEAM UZUNOV [blogsite].

The experienced ex-Commando said that he was deeply concerned over claims that poorly trained and led members had breached rules of engagement during a raid on house in Afghanistan which resulted in the deaths of 5 local children after grenades had been thrown last February.

My concern is the unit has been left out to dry by the Defence Department even before judgement has been passed. Let due process of law take place, he said. If people were innocent then that should be shouted from the rooftops but if people were guilty then throw the book at them. 

Whatever the outcome of the investigation, the responsibility is with the government of the day as well Defence Department bureaucrats. It is they who send troops to war.

It boils down to an unfortunate incident which saw Commandos entering a Taliban compound and being fired upon. And in the fog of war a grenade was thrown into the wrong house. Now it has been blown up, pardon the pun, into My Lai Massacre proportions.

The Australian newspapers Rory Callinan and Jeremy Kelly have summed up the dilemma for the soldiers involved:

www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/fateful-oruzgan-grenade-was-part-of-training/story-e6frg6nf-1225911089567

A source said the troops came under fire from a building in the compound and they responded with a grenade. When the firing continued they responded with another one as their training required, the source said. "What were they supposed to do?"

The source said there was anger among the troops about what they would do if prosecution for a possible manslaughter went ahead. "Every time someone goes into a compound and gets shot at they will be thinking will we get charged with manslaughter if we use a grenade." 

The former governor of the province where the incident occurred, Asadullah Hamdam, described the night raid as a mistake but one largely attributable to the behaviour of the raid's alleged target, who was killed while shooting back at the commandos.

SBS TVs Dateline program reporter, the self-styled media tough gal, Sophie McNeill, broke the story, which initially got off to a false start, and Tom Hyland, self-appointed defence expert, has followed it for Fairfax. 

McNeill back in 2008 asked not to be contacted to discuss media issues, including Afghanistan. It would appear taking no for an answer only applies to those who do not scrutinise SBS or Fairfax journalists!

McNeills advice for young journalists ( Walkely Magazine, issue 62, Aug-Sep 2010, page 37):

Dont take no for an answer. And once they actually let you in the building refuse to leave. Just quietly take over a desk and become part of the furniture...

The ABC TVs Media Watch program, hosted by Jonathan Holmes, revealed that SBS Dateline on 8 March 2009 with such haste put together a story by McNeill, which ended up quoting Zahir Khan, a survivor of the commando raid. But it turned out he was an imposter.   

www.abc.net.au/mediawatch/transcripts/s2853029.htm

A year later McNeill went to Afghanistan and finally tracked down the real Zahir Khan. SBS Dateline threw the blame on wily Afghan media fixer Fazel Reshad Arshad Wardak for the mistake in the first story. If all else fails, blame the hired help!

You can see Wardak boasting about his services to SBS in 2008 on this youtube clip. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-5TaNvLsrk

Jonathan Holmes then smacks naughty Sophie McNeill on the hand with the full force of a feather duster: as if the second story somehow redeems the first big mistake, a sack able offence. Great spin by Holmes. If only all journalists got such second chances.

Holmes: 

?Sophie McNeill's second report is compelling. It includes film of the surviving family, and the graves of the victims, in their village in Oruzgan. And it poses serious questions about the ADF's original account of the incident, and why a year later it has said nothing more, and not even interviewed this family.

Youre now beginning to get the picture: a boutique scandal which has Walkley Award, Australia?s version of the Pulitzer Prize, written all over it. 

While the ABCs Media Watch, quite rightly criticises the Australian Defence Force (ADF) over a lack of information on the commando story, an ever skeptical Australian public is still waiting for any more information about the controversial life and death of ABC cameraman Paul Moran who had alleged links to the CIA and was killed in Iraq in 2003. It seems the ABC is reluctant to open up its own scandals. Link: 

www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0912/S00083.htm

A source, former Australian Special Forces soldier who served in Afghanistan, has revealed that there are far worse incidents involving Australians in Afghanistan and cannot believe they have been buried and ignored. 

I cant understand why theyre picking on the Commandos he said.

There could be three reasons why a court martial could be held. First, there is enough evidence of misconduct. Second, there is not enough evidence but a court martial would appease the media but find the soldiers eventually were not in the wrong. Third, and dare we even mention it, someone within Australias Defence Department, has a grudge against Commando reservists and wants them out of the frontlines.

The Sydney based 1 Commando Regiment is largely a reservist Special Forces unit, and has a high number of New South Wales State police officers who serve within the ranks. 

Hyland, flashing his Fairfax Media Sherriff?s Badge, wrote on 21 March, 2010.

http://teamuzunovmedia.blogspot.com/2010/03/fairfax-crusade-against-1-commando.html

" Along the way, it has exposed a rivalry almost as old as the army itself, between full-time troops and part-time reservists - chocos, some regulars call them, chocolate soldiers who can't take the heat."

"The regiment's experiences have triggered an intense debate within army ranks - about Special Forces tactics, and wider questions about a political and military preference for sending Special Forces, rather than large infantry units, to conflicts like Afghanistan."

Hyland, after picking up the correct scent, pardon the military pun, then pulls back and does not take another step forward, likewise SBS TV?s Dateline. But why?

Here is a key point that has been missed: why is it Australian Defence Policy to use Special Forces in an infantry role in Afghanistan, as well as throwing Army reservists in the deep end? Who caused this dramatic shift in defence thinking?

The change came about in Defence policy when two key experts Professor Paul Dibb and ex-Fairfax journalist turned government advisor Hugh White decided to cut back the number of full time infantry soldiers with the consequences of using reservists in combat roles.

Mr Bruce Haigh, a former diplomat, in an interview which slipped under the radar, told SBS TVs Dateline program on 27 September 2000 that:

Defence is the department thats divided amongst itself, as far as I can gather, and there are certain people inside Defence whove taken a certain line for a long period of time - the Paul Dibb line, if you like, which is high-tech, US-alliance - and youve got others who are saying, "No. Weve got the situation to the north- we need to have more people in uniform, we need to have them trained, we need to have night-vision equipment provided for them.  the Australian Army can see what needs to be done, but many of the civilian Defence personnel, whove built their careers on playing up to this particular line, are arguing the other case, and feeling increasingly isolated, because they are not facing reality. Thats the problem.

Respected Brigadier Jim Wallace, former Special Forces Commander, wrote in 2003:

Unfortunately, Australian defence policy has been mainly wrong for the whole of this period. Even after we committed troops to East Timor, Professor Paul Dibb, the policy's chief architect, was standing in front of parliamentary committees vowing that Australia would not be conducting what he called "expeditionary" operations out of the region. This was despite a series of major UN deployments over many years to places as far afield as Rwanda and Somalia. Afghanistan and Iraq have hopefully now discredited this logic.

At the same time, Dr Hugh White was arguing in initial drafts for the 2000 white paper to reduce the size of our army to about 19,000, on the basis that, like Professor Dibb, he didn't see the Government needing options for deployment out of the region, particularly for sending the army. The result has been an incredible demand on the dedication and professionalism of our special forces as they have again been thrown into the breach that our supposedly expert defence planners couldn't predict.

McNeill and Hyland now need to take their story all the way and not just take aim at sitting targets?soldiers But we seriously doubt if failed defence theorists and ex-Fairfax journalists will be scrutinised.

(end)

About the author: Sasha Uzunov graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Australia, in 1991. He enlisted in the Australian Regular Army as a soldier in 1995 and was allocated to infantry. He served two peacekeeping tours in East Timor (1999 and 2001). In 2002 he returned to civilian life as a photo journalist and film maker and has worked in The Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan. His documentary film Timor Tour of Duty made its international debut in New York in October 2009. He blogs at Team Uzunov.  http://teamuzunovmedia.blogspot.com


TIMOR TOUR OF DUTY FILM WEBSITE

http://timortourofduty.blogspot.com/

[Keith]

Army hero who lost a leg in Afghanistan denied a disabled parking permit by council bosses 'because he might get better'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1306655/Army-hero-lost-leg-Afghanistan-denied-disabled-parking-permit-council-bosses-better.html

Lance Corporal Johno Lee has clocked up 800 in fines for parking in disabled bays in his home town of Newark, Nottinghamshire, on days when he uses a wheelchair or feels unable to walk very far.

When he first applied to Nottinghamshire County Council for a blue badge, he was advised he was young and 'may get better'.

DoD Suicide Task Force Contradicts Army Findings
http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/08/27/dod-suicide-task-force-contradicts-army-findings/

This week a congressionally mandated task force released its final report on military suicides to the Pentagon citing heightened operational tempo, repeated deployments and insufficient quantity and quality of dwell time? as contributing to incredibly high suicide rates in the military.

The report noted that from 2005 to 2009, more than 1,100 servicemembers committed suicide an average of 1 suicide every 36 hours. Suicide rates in the Marine Corps and Army have severely increased and the Army rate has more than doubled. Since 2001, 252 servicemembers have killed themselves in Iraq and Afghanistan.

[Keith]

 
ABC NEWS
 
Memorial for Sandakan death march victims
 
Governor-General Quentin Bryce and independent Federal MP Rob Oakeshott will be among those attending a memorial service for victims of the Sandakan death marches today.

The Lismore service will remember those who died in what is regarded as the greatest atrocity committed against Australians during war.

Towards the end of the World War II, the Japanese marched 2,434 Australian and British prisoners of war across the island of Borneo.

The gruelling trek took its toll and those that did not die in the jungles were later killed. Only six Australians escaped and survived.

Taking time out from political negotiations with the country's leaders, independent MP Rob Oakeshott will be in Lismore to remember his grandfather, who was one of the remaining 15 men killed at the end of the gruelling marches.

Ms Bryce, will unveil the memorial to commemorate the lost men.

 
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[Keith]

From: Keith Tennent
To: RSL Nat President ; President Capricornia & Rockhampton Region RSL Sub Branch ; Defence Force Welfare Assoc ; Veterans Email List ; ESO List
Cc: Federal Parliamentary List ; Media List
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 2:11 PM
Subject: Independents round on Abbott in costings row


Veterans, ex Service members and War widows have a stake in the figures from both sides. We need to see if all figures add up. Surely leaks are one thing.Remember Godwin Gresch? Implying that Treasury cannot be trusted to impartially do it's job is extraordinary. 

Keith Tennent.

ABC NEWS

Independents round on Abbott in costings row
By online political correspondent Emma Rodgers
 
'Not a good start': The independents have criticised Tony Abbott for not complying with one of their key demands. (AAP: Mark Graham)

Key independent MPs have described Tony Abbott's refusal to hand his policies over to Treasury for scrutiny as "extraordinary" and "silly".

Rob Oakeshott, Tony Windsor and Bob Katter are expected to hold the balance of power in a hung parliament and yesterday gave a list of demands to Mr Abbott and caretaker Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

Among another requests, they want the Coalition's policies to be examined by Treasury - a key demand which has already been rejected by Mr Abbott.

Member for New England Tony Windsor says Mr Abbott has been "silly".

"It's not a good start," he said. "I can't see why an independent authority such as Treasury can't be trusted."

Speaking from Townsville, Member for Kennedy Bob Katter said Mr Abbott's decision was "extraordinary".

"Obviously every person in Australia at the present moment believes that he's got something to hide," he said.

"He's been very ill advised to take this stand."

During the election campaign the Opposition refused to submit its policies for costing because a Treasury document which revealed a shortfall in one of its polices was leaked to the media.

Mr Abbott has described the leak as "utter political bastardry".

He has also accused Ms Gillard of trashing the Westminster system by agreeing to make changes to caretaker conventions, if needed, to accommodate the requests of the independents.

"This is a desperate Government further debasing our polity in a desperate attempt to hang onto power," he said.

Both Labor and the Coalition now hold 71 seats, with three still hanging on a knife edge.

Ms Gillard is expected to hold talks in Melbourne this Saturday with the likely fourth Independent, Andrew Wilkie, who is set to pick up the Tasmanian seat of Denison.



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[Keith]

From: Ron King
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 12:27 PM
Subject: WARNING ON NASHO RIP OFF

Please publish  Keith  
 
RK
 
From: Caroline Wright
To: caprslpres
Sent: Wednesday, August 25, 2010 11:42 AM
Subject: WARNING ON NASHO RIP OFF


Hey Ron,

Please see below.

Could you get this out to your members and anyone else that may want to be aware.

For info I am on leave from next week (2nd Sept) to 4th Oct.  Someone from HQ is coming down to man the office some of the time I think, don?t know details as yet.

 I will call you before I go off.

Cheers

Caroline

Caroline Wright
Advocate | Pensions, Advocacy & Welfare Services
RSL (Queensland Branch)
www.rslqld.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Suite 6, 214 Quay Street, Rockhampton QLD 4700
PO Box 1041, Rockhampton Qld 4700
Ph: (07) 4922 7747 | Fax: 07 4922 7747 | Mob: 0432 124 513
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any distribution, copying or dissemination of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error or are not the named recipient, please notify the Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) immediately and destroy the original message.
 
LEST WE FORGET
 

From: John King
Sent: Wednesday, 25 August 2010 11:32 AM
To: Viv Quinn; Gary Conquest; Andrew MacDonald; Darrell Edwards; Caroline Wright; Michael Voytas; Michael Boyd; Sharon Baker; Steve Kerle; Jan Coley; Ron Bird; Rod Thompson; Barry Quinn
Subject: WARNING ON NASHO RIP OFF

Hi All

  I have just been advised by DVA Cairns that some people are scamming mainly ex National serviceman. The ex serviceman is initially sent a letter advising them that they are entitled to Service pension and to contact the author. Once they do this they are then sent a letter with AMF (not used for many years) headed paper asking for bank details to put the service pension into, date of birth and other personal  information. Their bank accounts are then cleaned out. Please advise as many others as possible of this scam.

Cheers

John King JP (Qual)
Advocate | Pensions, Advocacy & Welfare Services
RSL (Queensland Branch)
www.rslqld.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shop 1, 129-133 Abbott street, Cairns 4870
PO Box 1102, Cairns Qld 4870
Ph: (07) 4031 5446 | Fax: (07) 4031 5448 | Mob: 0447 190 734
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any distribution, copying or dissemination of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error or are not the named recipient, please notify the Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) immediately and destroy the original message.
 
LEST WE FORGET

[Keith]

THE NBN POLICY IS CRITICAL TO THE WAY WE OPERATE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND ESOS.

 
Privatisation has become the buzz word in many circles over the last 20 years or so. The truth is that privatisation has been a disaster for Australia because this philosophy has been allowed to dominate most thinking and economic planning and action from both sides. It really took off under the Howard Government.
 
The truth is Governments have a responsibility to employ people and to invest in the national future and prosperity. Ergo look at how the railway from SA to WA was funded. It was funded by the development bank [ The old Commonwealth bank ] and ultimately at no cost to Australian taxpayers.
 
The new communications systems are a national responsibility which should be shouldered by the national Government. The cost will be huge but the benefits immense to the country and because of the accrued benefits in business activity, learning, efficiency etc tax receipts will roll back into the Federal coffers and over time the NBN will pay for itself as far as Government construction outlays are concerned.
 
On a parochial note the people in the regions and bush need and deserve to best communications the world can provide if we are to survive. These communications should not be reserved for the big cities. The privatisation of Telstra has been a disaster for the bush and regions. I live in Rockhampton and just 30 kms from me I know a bloke who up until recently was still hooked into the old copper wire system whether he liked it or not.
 
 
Sometimes Governments must employ people and must make investments for the future of the country. Will the NBN roll out be perfect. Of course not. The trouble with the world today is people want everything now without fault, and the world is not like that. Of course they [ the critics ] are always allowed to make errors!!
 
Roll out the NBN and let's get this nation ready for the middle of the 21st century.
 
Keith Tennent.

NBN wins regional backing

Guy Healy
From: The Australian
August 25, 2010

THE National Broadband Network would be superior for regional students to the Coalition's solution, says innovation review chairman Terry Cutler.

"The learning and research aspects of the NBN -- as well as the e-health and environmental management benefits -- would more than justify its roll-out," Dr Cutler told the HES on Monday.

"Any recourse to plugging the gap with [the Coalition's] wireless solutions on a widespread basis is simply not a sustainable alternative because of the physics."

Increased numbers of users quickly diminished the bandwidth speeds of wireless, unlike fibre which was "incredibly scalable" into the future, he said.

Access Economics recently found that the NBN would improve educational productivity as lectures were delivered through high-quality videoconferencing.

By focusing on the $43 billion cost of the NBN, the debate had overlooked the fact the commonwealth's cash exposure would peak at $23bn, Dr Cutler said.

Outlays increasingly would be offset by revenue from government, business and household consumers, he said.

Matthew Allen, an Australian Learning and Teaching Council fellow and Curtin University professor of internet studies, , said a consensus of distance educators backed high-speed broadband such as the NBN.

"There's no evidence current commercial arrangements have worked to extend high-speed, high-quality access to all regional and rural areas," he said.

Universities had made considerable investments in streaming audio and videoconferencing, but the bandwidth needed for successful use was higher than most rural and many regional students could get, he said.

Video links worked somewhat, but the unreliability was distracting and learning was impeded by the grit in the system, he said.

Professor Allen said the Facebook generation was seriously here and universities actively encouraged students to use social networking to help student learning and counter drop-outs.

Charles Sturt University IT student Matt Bartier, 24, said internet access was pretty bad compared with that in the city.

Mr Bartier, who now lives in Melbourne, said: "My course is mostly online. I use normal broadband. It's mostly adequate.

"But if you are working with other students collaboratively and want to upload large files such as PowerPoint, it can time-out. NBN would be great."

CQU head librarian and Australian Library and Information Association president Graham Black said students needed greater, and more reliable, bandwidth to fully use the increasing resources universities put online

 

 
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[Keith]

If Governments don't want health bills for War Veterans stop sending our kids to stupid, party politically motivated Wars, driven by the wants of greedy corporations, brain dead war mongers and ambitious politicians....Keith Tennent.

Thousands strain Fort Hood's mental health system
http://www.usatoday.com/news/military/2010-08-23-1Aforthood23_CV_N.htm

About every fourth soldier here, where 48,000 troops and their families are based, has been in counseling during the past year, according to the service's medical statistics. And the number of soldiers seeking help for combat stress, substance abuse, broken marriages or other emotional problems keeps increasing.

A common refrain by the Army's vice chief of staff, Gen. Peter Chiarelli, is that far more soldiers suffer mental health issues than the Army anticipated. Nowhere is this more evident than at Fort Hood, where emotional problems among the soldiers threaten to overwhelm the system in place to help them.

Counselors are booked. The 12-bed inpatient psychiatric ward is full more often than not. Overflow patient-soldiers are sent to private local clinics that stay open for 10 hours a day, six days a week to meet the demand.

"We are full to the brim," says Col. Steve Braverman, commander of the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center on the post.

[Keith]

 
From: Terry DAVIES
 
Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 9:12 AM
Subject: Guard of dishonour: For war memorial sex act
 
And the old song goes something like this:

?And brave men are dying for bastards like you, Dinky Di, Dinky Di and brave men are dying for bastards like you??

SOURCED FROM: THE AUSTRALIAN

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/guard-of-dishonour-for-war-memorial-sex-act/story-fn3dxity-1225908052254

Guard of dishonour:

For war memorial sex act

By Alex Watts of Sky News From:
NewsCore August 21, 2010 5:59AM

A BRITISH woman caught on security cameras performing a sex act beside a war memorial and urinating on it was forced to walk through a "guard of dishonor" as she arrived at court for sentencing.

War veterans, sporting berets and medals, lined the court steps to show their outrage at Wendy Lewis's antics.

Lewis responded with a four-letter expletive as veterans shouted ?disgusting" when she entered the building in Blackpool, northwestern England - an outpouring of anger dubbed a "guard of dishonour" by observers.

The court date took place on the same day that veterans were marking 70 years since the Battle of Britain, Sky News reports.

There was further drama when Lewis - dubbed "Britain's most disgusting person" by sections of the UK media - disappeared from court, telling probation officers she had a "problem at home".

When she failed to show up six hours later a warrant was issued for her arrest. If she is found by police, she will spend the weekend in jail until court resumes on Monday.

Lewis, 32, admitted outraging public decency at an earlier hearing and is expected to be given community service as punishment.

She was caught on security cameras in May urinating on a town centre war memorial while drunk. When police showed up, they found her performing a sex act on a man sitting on the memorial.

Ian Coleman, president of the Royal British Legion Association, called her the "most disgusting person in this country" and said she should be jailed for her actions.

Former Royal Marine James Baker, 88, said: "This female, I nearly called her a lady, has disgraced her sex. It is unforgivable what she did in the face of these dead men."

ABC NEWS
Pilots commemorate Battle of Britain
By Europe correspondent Philip Williams

Former World War Two Spitfire pilots are amongst thousands of people who have gathered in central London to commemorate one of Winston Churchill's most famous speeches.

In it, he praised the fighter pilots who defended the country against the onslaught of the German Luftwaffe in what became known as the Battle of Britain.

The former pilots, now in their 80s and 90s, gathered outside the old wartime cabinet rooms in front of a replica of a Spitfire - the aircraft credited with saving Britain from invasion.

Despite superior German numbers, the battle from July to October 1940 was finally won by the allied pilots, which included Australians.

Today's ceremony marked the day 70 years ago former prime minister Winston Churchill paid tribute to those airmen.

"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many, to so few," he said in the historic speech.

The ceremony ended with a fly-past of a Spitfire and a Hurricane.

 
 
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[Keith]

There is something strange going on regarding the figures the Liberals have produced in relation to the cost of medicines and the list of free drugs available on the Repatriation Benefits Scheme. When I read The Australian yesterday there was an extract from the Coalition audited budget plan tables which were presented by Mr Hockey and Mr Robb which clearly showed that they intended removing some medications from the free list and also showed the savings they would make by doing this. This part of the table has now disappeared from the table which the Coalition is sending around the country.
 
Over to you for tomorrow.

Keith Tennent
 
Libs in damage control over cuts to pharmacy benefit

David Uren and Patricia Karvelas
From: The Australian
August 20, 2010  


THE Coalition, in damage control over its cuts to the pharmaceutical benefits scheme, has reassured pharmacies they will not carry the cost

University and school groups, as well as public servants, also protested at fresh budget cuts included in the $10bn of savings unveiled on Wednesday night.

Tony Abbott fiercely defended his budget costings yesterday, vowing that the price of medicines would not rise and no programs would be slashed beyond what had been outlined.

"I make no apologies for wanting to get the best possible price from the drug companies," he said.

An email from Coalition health spokesman Peter Dutton's email to the nation's 5000 pharmacists arrived yesterday alongside one from Health Minister Nicola Roxon claiming the cost and availability of drugs would suffer.

"It is simply not possible to make further cuts to the PBS of the magnitude that the Coalition is proposing without this having a major impact on community pharmacies and consumers," she said.

However, Mr Dutton said the Coalition was relying on financial modelling showing savings from reforms already implemented would be greater than the $2.5bn estimated by the government.

He said the Coalition was booking those savings, but was not changing policy on the scheme.

Both the Pharmacy Guild and Medicines Australia, which represents the drug companies, believe reforms to the benefits scheme, which cut the pricing of drugs when their patent protection expires, will produce savings far larger than the $3bn written into the forward estimates.

However, Treasury has argued that realising those savings depends on new drug suppliers entering the Australian market and driving prices lower, and the timing of this is far too uncertain to bank the savings in the budget.

Pharmacists remain concerned that if a Coalition government failed to realise these savings, it would seek to recoup them by changing the scheme.

The Coalition was also under pressure over the $1.5bn in cuts to education and training included in the budget figures released on Wednesday, which added to the $3.5bn in cuts to education programs already announced.

The Coalition plans to abolish a $330 million scheme for disadvantaged schools and a $227m program to help low-income students to gain university entry.

The Coalition is also cutting $950m from apprenticeships.

The chairwoman of the National Catholic Education Commission, Therese Temby, said disadvantaged Catholic schools would bear the brunt.

"This funding is helping schools to serve disadvantaged communities and to address the learning needs of students and families," Mrs Temby said

 

 
 
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[Keith]

From: Keith Tennent
To: Federal Opposition Leader ; Australian Defence Assoc ; AWM Gen Gower ; Defence Force Welfare Assoc ; ESO List ; President Capricornia & Rockhampton Region RSL Sub Branch ; RSL Nat President ; Veterans Email List ; Robert.Hardie@
Cc: Federal Parliamentary List ; Media List
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 4:44 PM
Subject: Re: A VETERANS POLICY QUESTION FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY


Dear Robert,

Thank you for your email. I remain confused about the Coalition policy on medications.

In my original email I referred to this article

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalitions-surplus-claims-sunk-by-attack-on-hollow-log/story-fn59niix-1225907049110

 which appeared in the Australian newspaper of today Thursday 19 August 2010 and extracted this quote from that article.

"The Coalition will also cut back the drugs allowed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, yielding a $1.2bn saving."

unquote

You have now said that there will be no change under a Coalition Government to the medications currently listed on the PBS/RPBS. From this it sounds to me that any further and new drugs may not be included on the free list, and I note this is usual assessment practice for new drugs coming online for treatment.

However what I cannot understand is this. That article in the Australian seemed to be an extract from the documents which Mr Hockey and Mr Robb distributed to the media at their costings media interview yesterday. If that quote from the Australian is not part of the documents which the Opposition released yesterday where did the Australian newspaper obtain the information/quote from?

Could you send that part of the Hockey/Robb documents which refer to the PBS/RPBS policy which were released yesterday please?

Thank you.
Keith Tennent.

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http://www.anzmi.net/  Fraud and Wannabe Website

[Keith]

From: Hardie, Robert (L. Markus, MP)
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 3:04 PM
Subject: FW: A VETERANS POLICY QUESTION FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY

Dear Keith

The Coalition will not remove any existing medications from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme schedule.

The Coalition will not increase the pharmaceutical co-contribution charge.

For veterans who receive a disability pension paid at or above 50 per cent of the General Rate (including EDA, Intermediate and Special Rate), from 1 January 2012 a Coalition Government will extend the co-contribution Safety Net from 60 to 30 scripts annually.  Combined with an increase in the pharmaceutical allowance of $6.00 annually, the Coalition will provide eligible disabled veterans with pharmaceuticals with no out of pocket expenses. 

The article in todays The Australian which referred to this was incorrect and has been corrected today by the Shadow Minister for Finance and the Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing.  I would be happy to forward the Coalitions press release to anyone who would like to see the statement clarifying yesterdays announcement.

Regards

Robert
______________________________
Robert Hardie
Adviser

Office of Mrs Louise Markus MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs | Liberal for Macquarie

?0418 432 909 | * robert.hardie@aph.gov.au 

Suite RG.51 | Parliament House | CANBERRA ACT 2600
( 02 6277 2371 | 7 02 6277 8463

Shop 24, Riverview Shopping Centre | 227 George Street | WINDSOR NSW 2756

( 02 4577 2631 | 7 02 4577 2640

Louise Markus MP | Working for our local community

www.liberal.org.au | www.louisemarkus.com.au

[Keith]

From: Keith Tennent
To: Federal Opposition Leader ; Australian Defence Assoc ; AWM Gen Gower ; Defence Force Welfare Assoc ; ESO List ; President Capricornia & Rockhampton Region RSL Sub Branch ; RSL Nat President ; Veterans Email List
Cc: Federal Parliamentary List ; Media List
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 2:40 PM
Subject: Re: A VETERANS POLICY QUESTION FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY



The question I wish answered is not if there will be any increased costs for medications for Veterans, War widows and ex Service members. The question I have asked is " will some medications be removed from the PBS/RPBS? In other words will medications be removed from the free list and will Veterans, War widows and ex Service members have to obtain authority scripts for medications which they don't at present need authority scripts for? I have received a media release from the office of the DVA Shadow Minister Ms Louise Markus which I have refused to publish because it is a party political document. I have asked the Shadow's office to send me a private email or make a non party political statement regarding my question and if I receive either of these I will post it/them out. My information on the removal of medications came from the Australian newspaper and not from the Labor Party and the way I read the news article leads me to believe the media statement has been extracted from the documents released yesterday by Mr Hockey and Mr Robb.

Keith Tennent.

Coalition accused of targeting PBS
By online political correspondent Emma Rodgers

ABC NEWS



The Coalition has been forced to defend its costings from Labor accusations that they are riddled with billions of dollars worth of mistakes.

Yesterday the Opposition released its costings which showed another $9 billion worth of savings and a return to surplus almost double that predicted under Labor.

But Labor says there are $12.4b worth of errors in the document, and it has accused the Coalition of cutting $1 billion from the Pharmaceutical Benefits System.

Labor disputes the Coalition's figures that show its surplus would be $6.2b in 2012-13, claiming that it would actually be $1.2 billion lower in 2012-13 and $2.3 billion lower in 2013-14.

Treasurer Wayne Swan says the numbers do not add up.

"There are mistakes. There are black holes. There are savage cuts for example to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme which will hit pensioners," he said.

Labor also says that the Coalition has made $900 million worth of local promises but has not said where the money is coming from.

But Opposition Treasury spokesman Joe Hockey says Mr Swan is making "hysterical" allegations.

"They never actually release any of the information to back up their claims. It is a sign of desperation," he said.

"The Labor Party still hasn't disclosed all of its costings for this election."

Campaigning in Brisbane today, Opposition Leader Tony Abbott dismissed Labor's claims on the the PBS, saying there would be no increases in medicines for pensioners.

"Our costings have been certified by a highly reputable, well respected accounting firm," he said.

"I make no apologies for wanting to get the best possible price from the drug companies."



From: Keith Tennent
To: Federal Opposition Leader ; Australian Defence Assoc ; AWM Gen Gower ; Defence Force Welfare Assoc ; ESO List ; President Capricornia & Rockhampton Region RSL Sub Branch ; RSL Nat President ; Veterans Email List
Cc: Federal Parliamentary List ; Media List
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 6:21 AM
Subject: A VETERANS POLICY QUESTION FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY


Dear Mr Abbott,

At this late stage I wish to ask you a question on the Liberal Veterans policy.

In the Liberal Veterans policy document it was announced that if elected a Government led by you would move to remove the pharmaceutical co-payment on medications for all disabled Veterans above the 50% of the general rate level.

I note in the economic costs released yesterday by Mr Hockey and Mr Robb that the following has been reported quote

"The Coalition will also cut back the drugs allowed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, yielding a $1.2bn saving."

unquote

SOURCE http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalitions-surplus-claims-sunk-by-attack-on-hollow-log/story-fn59niix-1225907049110

Can you confirm that it is Coalition policy to remove drugs from the free list currently available to disabled War Veterans, War widows and ex Service members?

If this is so then the costs incurred in removing to co-payment would possibly be offset by the costs incurred in removing drugs from the free list. Thus is it true that in effect the removal of the co-payment would cost an Abbott Government nothing.

Yours.

Keith Tennent
Rockhampton.

[Keith]

From: Keith Tennent
To: Federal Opposition Leader ; Australian Defence Assoc ; AWM Gen Gower ; Defence Force Welfare Assoc ; ESO List ; President Capricornia & Rockhampton Region RSL Sub Branch ; RSL Nat President ; Veterans Email List
Cc: Federal Parliamentary List ; Media List
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2010 6:21 AM
Subject: A VETERANS POLICY QUESTION FOR THE LIBERAL PARTY


Dear Mr Abbott,

At this late stage I wish to ask you a question on the Liberal Veterans policy.

In the Liberal Veterans policy document it was announced that if elected a Government led by you would move to remove the pharmaceutical co-payment on medications for all disabled Veterans above the 50% of the general rate level.

I note in the economic costs released yesterday by Mr Hockey and Mr Robb that the following has been reported quote

"The Coalition will also cut back the drugs allowed under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, yielding a $1.2bn saving."

unquote

SOURCE http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/coalitions-surplus-claims-sunk-by-attack-on-hollow-log/story-fn59niix-1225907049110

Can you confirm that it is Coalition policy to remove drugs from the free list currently available to disabled War Veterans, War widows and ex Service members?

If this is so then the costs incurred in removing the co-payment would possibly be offset by the costs incurred in removing drugs from the free list. Thus is it true that in effect the removal of the co-payment would cost an Abbott Government nothing.

Yours.

Keith Tennent
Rockhampton.

[Keith]

PLEASE OPEN THE ATTACHMENTS
 
From: National Office
To: 'Keith Tennent'
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 11:59 AM
Subject: POLICIES
 

Family First policy:

 http://www.familyfirst.org.au/policy/policyveterans.pdf

 

The Greens:

http://greens.org.au/sites/greens.org.au/files/policydownloads/E7%20Peace%20and%20Security%20June%202008.pdf

Could not find any specific policies supporting our ADF people or veterans. Can anyone else?

Carers Alliance:

http://www.workingcarers.org.au/options/778-carersalliance 

Les

________________________________________


Les Bienkiewicz

Executive Director

Defence Force Welfare Association

PO Box 4166

KINGSTON  ACT  2604

 

T:  02 6265 9530

M: 0411 444248

F:  02 6265 9776

W: www.dfwa.org.au

[Keith]

From: Keith Tennent
To: Veterans Email List ; RSL Nat President ; President Capricornia & Rockhampton Region RSL Sub Branch ; ESO List ; Defence Force Welfare Assoc ; AWM Gen Gower ; Australian Defence Assoc
Cc: Media List ; Federal Parliamentary List
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 10:03 AM
Subject: COMPARING VETERANS POLICIES


Dear readers,

Please find attached the Coalition and Labor Veterans policies for this election.

Keith Tennent.

[Keith]

Soldiers with PTSD dismissed, told they have ?personality disorder?
http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0815/soldiers-ptsd-personality-disorder/

At the height of the Iraq war, the Army routinely dismissed hundreds of soldiers for having a personality disorder when they were more likely suffering from the traumatic stresses of war, discharge data suggests.

Under pressure from Congress and the public, the Army later acknowledged the problem and drastically cut the number of soldiers given the designation. But advocates for veterans say an unknown number of troops still unfairly bear the stigma of a personality disorder, making them ineligible for military health care and other benefits.

Webmaster's Commentary: http://whatreallyhappened.com/
Unflipping believable: any volunteers for any of the US's armed services should never be treated like this, ever.

[Keith]

 
From: Walker, Brett (D. Hale, MP)
Sent: Monday, August 16, 2010 3:54 PM
Subject: MINISTER FOR DEFENCE- CAMPAIGN MEDIA RELEASE- TAKING DEFENCE FORWARD- 16 AUGUST 2010  

 Campaign Media Release

MINISTER FOR DEFENCE

TAKING DEFENCE FORWARD

The Gillard Labor Government today released Labors Plan for Defence.  The policy outlines Federal Labors commitment to four key pledges that will build the Australian Defence Force, protect our troops, and strengthen our defence ties.

Federal Labor commits to:

         Delivering the 2009 Defence White Paper and Force 2030. Federal Labor is committed to creating the most professional and flexible defence force in our region with the people, equipment and support systems needed for the task. Federal Labor has approved nearly $8 billion of defence projects to deliver Force 2030.

         Giving Defence long-term funding certainty. Federal Labor has committed to 3 per cent average real growth in Defence expenditure to 2017-18, with 2.2 per cent thereafter to 2030.  

         Providing the best possible support and protection for our ADF personnel on the battlefield.  Federal Labor is delivering a $1.1 billion force protection program.

         Maintaining and strengthening military and strategic ties across our region, more broadly internationally, and maintaining our strong alliance with the United States.

AFGHANISTAN

A re-elected Gillard Government is committed to seeing the job through in Afghanistan, training Afghan national security forces to enable them to take over responsibility for their own security in Uruzgan province.  

Afghanistan remains difficult and dangerous. Eighteen Australian soldiers have been killed, and 145 wounded.

But the task to prevent Afghanistan from again becoming an operating base and training ground for terrorists is in the interests of Australia and all Australians.  

Our forces, together with 46 other nations acting under a UN mandate, will continue to contribute in Afghanistan.

CAPABILITY ACQUISITIONS

As part of the $1.1 billion Force Protection program announced in the 2010-11 Budget, Australia will accelerate the acquisition of 18 Shadow 200 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to conduct battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition, at a cost of $175 million.  

The Gillard Labor Government is also enhancing the ADF?s Counter Improvised Explosive Device capability to provide additional explosive disposal robots, new force protection systems for vehicles and training systems, at a cost of $120 million.

Federal Labor has also accelerated a Defence Capability Plan project to acquire an improved targeting system for deployment to Afghanistan as soon as possible, at a cost of $30 million. This Digital Terminal Control System will improve the accuracy of coalition aircraft and other precision weapon systems and minimise unintended civilian casualties.

Funding for these projects has been provided under the Defence Capability Plan and through the Government?s response to the Force Protection Review.

INCREASED SUPPORT FOR WOUNDED PERSONNEL

If re-elected, the Gillard Labor Government will introduce an enhanced program of support and services for wounded ADF members, the Simpson Program, named after Australia?s Gallipoli hero John Simpson Kirkpatrick.  

The men and women of Australia?s Defence Forces face significant danger in the defence of our nation and our national interest.  When they are wounded or suffer illness as a result of their service, they deserve the best possible care and support.  

The Government has introduced a range of programs reflecting international best practice in providing care for wounded members of the ADF:

         The Regional Casualty Support Officers program, currently being trialled, provides support for Army members and their families.  If successful, Labor will expand this program to other services.

         A wide range of mental health support programs including comprehensive screening and a ?decompression? program for personnel returning from deployment.

         Improvements in mental health, with the expenditure of an additional $83 million.

         New rehabilitation policies, with more emphasis on retaining injured personnel where possible, and extending rehabilitation.

         A new partnership program with the Australian Paralympic Committee, providing valuable rehabilitation opportunities.

The Simpson Program will provide $21.2 million over four years to enhance and extend these services, including:

         Providing protections for wounded personnel returning to Australia to minimise financial disadvantage.

         Providing housing support and assistance.

         Ensuring greater recognition for wounded personnel.

         Ensuring access to specialist rehabilitation.

ADF HEALTH

Federal Labor is committed to ensuring ADF personnel have access to the specialist medical services required to provide the best quality care for our troops.  

Defence has entered into a strategic health alliance in Queensland with Queensland Health, the Royal Brisbane and Women?s Hospital, the Queensland Health Skills Development Centre and the University of Queensland.  

The project has involved embedding a military surgical team, establishing a high acuity ward for military patients staffed by ADF personnel, and providing access to a hyperbaric chamber to improve health service delivery and clinical training opportunities for ADF personnel.

Building on this model, a Gillard Labor Government will expand this alliance into a network of strategic alliances across Australia to deliver state of the art treatment and training opportunities for ADF personnel.  

The expanded network of alliances, costing $7.6 million over four years, will include a focus on tropical and exotic diseases, to ensure the ADF is prepared for deployment to high risk areas.  

Defence will extend specialist care in a program costing $12.1 million over four years, funding a permanent ADF specialist medical capability to meet the requirements of Defence personnel.  These specialists will provide the ADF with the capability to deploy medical teams at short notice to support global ADF operations.

The Gillard Labor Government will deliver improved health care for ADF members. The Government will review the outcomes of the ADF Family Healthcare Trial, which currently provides access to a range of medical services to ADF families.  Over 3,800 ADF dependants are already registered in the trial which will conclude in 2012.  

Once the Government has feedback from the trial, and is in a position to assess the health care model which will deliver the best results for ADF families, the Government will design the most appropriate model of healthcare for Defence Force families and extend it as a nationwide program.

RESERVES

Federal Labor recognises the vital role Reserves play in our Defence Forces.  

Under Labor, the skills of reservists will be relied upon more extensively to develop an enhanced humanitarian assistance and disaster relief Reserve capability, suited to responding to humanitarian crises, disaster situations and peacekeeping operations.  

$10.8 million will be allocated from within existing Defence resources for the new capability.  

This new Labor commitment will ensure that personnel with specialist backgrounds, such as engineering, medical and logistics, will be able to be deployed and work closely with other civilian agencies. They will cross-train with relevant civilian authorities so they can work effectively and seamlessly with other organisations during domestic crises, such as the Victorian bushfires.

The Government has already increased funding for Reserve training salaries over the past three years, and is committed to continuing to adequately fund Reserves.  

A Gillard Labor Government will make sure Defence receives adequate funding to provide every Reservist with sufficient training days to meet their training requirement.

Funding for these initiatives to look after our wounded, provide the best health care and provide new opportunities for our Reserves will be accommodated from within Defence?s existing budget.

CANBERRA

16 AUGUST 2010  

COMMUNICATIONS UNIT: Phone: (02) 9384 2220 | Fax: (02) 9264 2213

www.alp.org.au

AUTHORISED N.MARTIN for the ALP, 5/9 Sydney Ave. Barton ACT.  

This is a broadcast email - please do not reply to mediaunit@syd.alp.org.au.

To discuss any information in this email please contact (02) 9384 2220 at ALP Campaign Headquarters

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received this email by mistake: (1) please notify me immediately and delete the email; (2) you must not use this email or its contents; (3) client legal privilege is not waived.
==============
PLEASE OPEN THE ATTACHMENTS

[Keith]

Labor promises $21m for wounded soldiers
ABC NEWS

Labor says it will spend an extra $21 million to support wounded Defence personnel if re-elected.

The money would go towards programs for specialist rehabilitation, housing support, and efforts to minimise the financial disadvantage suffered by wounded personnel.

The measures are part of Labor's Defence policy, which also allocates $10 million to increase the number of reservists who are able to respond to humanitarian disasters like the Victorian bushfires.

 

[Paul I]

what  we need is a guarantee  that there will be a dept of Vet Affairs after the coalition puts in place its slash and burn policy of the Public Service to achieve their projected savings. A combined Centre Link / Vet Affairs its been mooted before !!!

[Keith]

COALITIONS VETERANS POLICY

Please click this link. The forum software will not allow me to double up on attachments.

http://theaussiedigger.com/TheAussieDiggerForum/index.php?topic=624.new#new

[Keith]

 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Wednesday, August 11, 2010 4:05 PM
Subject: Fw: Help needed..again

If you are able to assist with the following request please contact
Bob Meehan direct at email address:  rneehan@bigpond.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

GDay everyone Im looking for help again. Im searching for female military uniforms for the museum. I have been looking everywhere, but they seem to be scarce. I have found some on E-Bay, which has given me a start .Can you put the word out for me again? Thanks. Im after uniforms from all the services.

I would like to find a navy hat like this one   as I found Army and Air Force hats of similar style on E-Bay.

We are doing a new display on Australian Women in the services,as we are finding we are getting large numbers of young women coming and viewing the museum exhibits.

Kind Regards Bob

Volunteer Curator, Gold Coast War Museum.

From: Jeff Mills
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 2010 8:02 AM
Subject: RE: DVA disclaimer - high dosage rates -PTSD medication


This is of significant concern.
 
There is legal ramifications as a result of that.
 
I would be interested to know how many people have been required to effectively waiver there rights.
 
This is something that requires further investigations.
 
I would be more than happy to hear from people so that I can make enquiries with the department in this regard.
 
Jeff
 
Jeff Mills
Solicitor
BURNSLAW | legal protection
  
3 Carol Avenue, Springwood QLD 4127
t:  07 3290 3900
f:  07 3290 3123
m: 0424 699 911
w: www.BurnsLaw.com.au
 
Liability limited by a scheme approved under professional standards legisltaion.
 

From: Keith Tennent
To: John & Ann
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 6:26 PM
Subject: Re: DVA disclaimer - high dosage rates -PTSD medication


Must be powerful shit? Send me six bottles
 
 
From: John & Ann
To: Keith Tennent
Cc: Tony.Abbott.MP@ ; Nikolee Ansell ; Warren Truss ; Alan Griffin
Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 3:58 PM
Subject: DVA disclaimer - high dosage rates -PTSD medication


Keith
 
I am not sure if either yourself, or any of you website readers have encountered this as yet.
 
Last Tuesday I had occasion to visit my GP, for the issue of a new script for my PTSD medication. The dosage I have been placed on is a high dosage by all accounts, and is the dosage I have now been taking as prescribed, without fail for several years now (they have proven to be most effective in the control of my PTSD).
 
Anyhow, I sat next to my GP whilst he called the appropriate DVA approving authority, to gain the necessary authority to issue the script. During this telephone conversation, my GP was advised that whilst this authority would be given, DVA legal advisors, had advised that all Veterans in receipt of PTSD medication above a certain level, were required to sign a declaration indemnifying the Department from any Legal action arising from the possibility of any effects, this medication and dosage level may have on my future life expectancy. The upshot being, that NO FUTURE AUTHORITIES FOR MY PRESCRIBED MEDICATION WOULD BE GIVEN, without such an indemnity being in place.
 
Now I figured, that I was in any case going to die at some point in my life, from whatever cause that might be, and not wishing to subject the good citizens of Kilkivan, to my less than sociably acceptable antics when not on my PTSD medication, I duly signed the indemnity form as faxed from the DVA office.
 
Yes Keith, I have read the material you posted, on the possible implications of sustained prescriptions of high levels of medication used in the treatment of PTSD. I guess that my ultimate goal of, kicking this mortal coil by way of a massive heart attack, whilst indulging in coitus at the grand age of 92 - with a nubile 22 year old soul mate, has been blown out the window - bugger.
 
Now I have no problem with the indemnity, or for that matter the Department for requesting it (mind you, they could have left me oblivious to the issues, as I blissfully pursued my life long goal).
 
What is of deep concern, and is something that has bothered me for the past week. Is that, this requirement coming out of the blue - so to speak, might well give some cause for concern to Veterans in a similar medication position as myself, particularly when the threat of issuing no further prescription authorities is given unless the appropriate indemnity is signed.
As an aside, I rather think, that this indemnity would be of no great value, given that it has been obtained under a level of duress.  Mind you that is my opinion and I could be wrong (that is not all that unusual).
 
For your dissemination as you may feel appropriate.
 
Regards
John Hevey

 
ABC NEWS
War Memorial unveils upgraded galleries
Wed Aug 11, 2010  

 
The Australian War Memorial (AWM) has unveiled a $1.5 million upgrade of its World War II galleries.

A number of exhibits previously in the Memorial's vaults are on display for the first time, including captured Italian Breda guns used by Australian troops at the siege of Tobruk.

New multimedia displays on the HMAS Sydney and the Kokoda campaign will also be on show.

AWM director Steve Gower says the changes should help visitors better understand how World War II started.

"There's an interpretive chronological framework of all the galleries now," he said.

"I believe people can come in and understand as they go through the galleries from 1939 how the war started such a short time after the war to end all wars, World War I."

Veteran's Affairs Minister Alan Griffin says the refurbishment is important for return visitors.

"It will mean those like myself who have been here many times will be able to come again, once again be surprised and once again learn and once again be in a situation to be in awe and appreciative of those who have gone before us and the most amazing courage and sacrifice they performed on our behalf," he said.

 
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http://www.austvetmatters.net/ Fraud and Wannabe Website
 
http://www.anzmi.net/  Fraud and Wannabe Website

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
Families mark Kokoda crash anniversary
 

 
The families of the 13 people who died in the Kokoda plane crash in Papua New Guinea last year have been told the report into the investigation should be available to them by November.

Some relatives of the nine Australians who died in the Airlines PNG Twin Otter crash have travelled to Kokoda for the first anniversary of the crash today.

PNG's Accident Investigation Commission says it wants to assure families the report is at an advanced stage.

But chairman Paulus Dowa says it may not answer the families' questions and a further inquiry could be called for.

"The company the relatives, they will also want to dispute the findings of the commission," he said.

"It's like if a policeman does a report and a witness comes in and says 'Oh no, I don't agree with the report', and then they will be required to give their own evidence in other avenues like the court of law or coronial inquest."

The authority has also made preliminary recommendations about voice recorders and warning systems.

Airlines PNG says its fleet of Twin Otter aircraft is undergoing a $6 million upgrade.

 
 
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http://www.austvetmatters.net/ Fraud and Wannabe Website
 
http://www.anzmi.net/  Fraud and Wannabe Website

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
Former soldier becomes first to walk the Amazon
 
A former British army captain has become the first known person to walk from the origin of the Amazon river to its mouth, after enduring "50,000" mosquito bites, attacks by hostile Indians, and tropical disease in his nearly two-and-a-half-year odyssey.

Ed Stafford, a 34-year-old from Leicestershire, England, dived into the Atlantic Ocean after taking 859 days to walk the length of the world's second-longest river, starting at the peak of Mount Mismi in Peru in April 2008.

"It's just phenomenal to be here at the end of the journey after two-and-a-half years slogging our way through the jungle," he said after arriving at the beach about 150 kilometres north-east of the Brazilian city of Belem.

"It was really difficult to envisage how this was going to feel and I'm completely overwhelmed."

Stafford briefly collapsed from exhaustion with only 85km of the 9,650km journey to go, passing out by the roadside after breaking out in a rash.

"I feel slightly humbled that my system just decided to shut down so close to the finish," he wrote on his blog at www.walkingtheamazon.com.

Stafford has aimed to use the walk to raise awareness about the threats to the Amazon rain forest and its people, using a portable satellite video to blog about his trek.

He had planned to complete the walk in about a year, but the journey was prolonged by floods that forced him to walk a roundabout route that was 3,200km longer than the 6,400km length of the Amazon, which is exceeded in length only by Africa's Nile river.

He began the journey with fellow British adventurer Luke Collyer, but the pair had a falling out early in the trek and Stafford continued alone.

He was joined in July 2008 by a Peruvian forestry worker, Gadiel Cho Sanchez Rivera, who pledged to walk with him for five days and has been with him on the walk ever since.

A statement from Stafford's media team said that the Briton had been: "wrongly accused of murder on two separate occasions, been imprisoned, had concrete stuffed in his mouth by hostile tribespeople, been chased by Ashaninka Indians with bows and arrows, been stung by hundreds of wasps and watched as his guide 'Cho' removed a botfly from Ed's head with superglue and a tree spine."

It said he had endured "50,000" mosquito bites, lived on a diet of piranha fish, rice and beans, and dodged a variety of snakes, electric eels, scorpions, and ants, as well as contracting a skin-disfiguring disease.

Famed British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes was quoted as saying in the statement that Stafford's feat was "truly extraordinary."

"No one has ever done this before and the pundits considered the route impossible," he said.

-Reuters

 
 
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[TJMALLIGAN]

Hi Keith
I am a pain in the bum, these questions we have been asking for forty years and nobody answered, we talked about
it but nobody could answer us, we honestly thought nothing was wrong with us but all of a sudden it hit us,
why were my mates dying young of Cancer and I am now getting lots of Skin Cancers,    I am off to the
skin specilist next week for maybe another lot of skin ops!
All the best

Terry

[TJMALLIGAN]

Hi Keith

   Another thing which is cropping up is us Commcen workers, the Telstechs used to clean our telprinters and page
printers in a solution which we think is Toluene and they used to bake it in a machine which dryed it? and then put it
in the Commcens for us to use still issueing the Toluene, we are haveing problems of our people dieing young of
various Cancers, us being Signals most of us did so many overseas postings  we do not know if it was other causes
or the Toluene, but we are very suspicious as we should be. Being of our Generation "we do not trust anyone of the Govedrnment"
Sounds familiar
all the best
Terry

[TJMALLIGAN]

Hi Keith

   Ref the smoke over Iraq sounds like Agent Orange all over again it was sprayed but it was'nt sprayed we all got caught in overspray or got sprayed with it what about my tours of Darwin, Ubon, South Veitnam and Butterworth we got sprayed
with DDT etc I came back to barracks from duty to be sprayed for Mossies by god knows what, I would wake up in clouds
of white smoke which I assumed was mossie repeliant but we think was DDT!   God knows what it was mate but we never
complained which what the Government wanted!
Rite Mate Keep Stirring

Terry

[Keith]

My understanding is this would benefit those on the Service Pension. It may also benefit War Widows.
 
Labor set to raise earnings cap for pensioners
ABC NEWS

The Federal Government will make a pitch to older voters today by announcing a plan to allow pensioners to earn more without taking a hit to their benefits.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will promise today that if Labor is re-elected, pensioners will be able to earn up to $6,500 a year and keep their full benefits.

They will be able to bank up to $250 a fortnight instead of the previous limit of 50 cents in every dollar of the first $500 earned.

The amount will be tallied over a full year.

The change to the work bonus scheme will cost $94 million over four years and will be introduced from July next year.

Labor estimates around 30,000 age pensioners earning $100 a fortnight will be better off.

The Government says it also plans to appoint an age discrimination commissioner.

Families Minister Jenny Macklin says she understands older Australians have concerns about discrimination in their daily lives.

"A stand-alone age discrimination commissioner ... will be a dedicated advocate for the rights of older Australians in the community and in the workplace," she said.

"This person will handle complaints under the Age Discrimination Act."

 

[Keith]

Ailing vets sue over smoke from trash fires in Iraq, Afghanistan
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38588943/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts

Some 241 military personnel and contractors who became ill after serving in Afghanistan and Iraq are suing a Houston-based firm, claiming they were poisoned by smoke from trash fires, the Washington Post reported Friday.

The claimants, who are from 42 states, are suffering from a range of conditions including cancer and severe breathing problems, which they blame on the thick, black smoke. The symptoms were reportedly nicknamed "Iraqi crud" by troops.

Webmaster's Commentary: http://whatreallyhappened.com/
This demonstrates, beyond a doubt, how completely expendable our soldiers were and are to the likes of management of Kellogg Brown & Root; this kind of carcinogenic exposure should never have happened in the first place.

Combat Vets Face More Unemployment
http://www.military.com/news/article/combat-vets-face-more-unemployment.html?col=1186032310810

Many U.S. combat veterans face significant socioeconomic challenges including higher rates of disability and unemployment, researchers found.

"Veterans who saw combat started their work lives at a relative disadvantage that they were unable to overcome," Alair MacLean of Washington State University Vancouver said in a statement.

"Soldiers exposed to combat were more likely than non-combat veterans to be disabled and unemployed in their mid-20s and to remain so throughout their work life."

The War Party Who are they? What are they?
http://mycatbirdseat.com/2010/08/the-war-party-who-are-they-what-are-they/
 
By Justin Raimondo ? Antiwar.com

I often make reference to the War Party in this space: its a convenient shorthand, one that evokes an image of something sinister, even Satanic, and this serves my rhetorical purposes well. But if we unpack the concept, and look for examples in real life, what we find is a little more prosaic than Satan with a sword.

Speaking of real life, Ive been on Judge Andrew Napolitanos Freedom Watch show twice, of late (the second show has yet to be aired), and in both cases I was matched up with someone we might reasonably describe as a charter member of the War Party.

[TJMALLIGAN]

Hi Keith

I had two Uncles both 6 Divi men stetcher bearers for the Field Hospital  went through Syria, Greece and Crete ended up
in New Guinea, so it was upsetting to see the desecration of the Memorial, I do hope this bloke get the book thrown
at him,  too some of us even thought both survived their experience, these Memorials bring back the memory of the
sacrifice these and their mates went through especially the poor old Choco's who fought so hard to stop the Japanese
and got called cowards by that Mongrel Blamey! (My Uncles still called him that until the day they died)
All the best
Terry

[Bob S]

Can this prick be named?  come on.............. 49 years old ffs.

bob     

[Keith]

ABC NEWS

Man charged over Kokoda walkway damage


A man will appear in court later this month charged over the vandalism of a Sydney memorial to veterans who fought in Papua New Guinea during World War Two.

The Kokoda Memorial Walkway in the city's inner west links Concord Hospital to Rhodes train station.

On July 24 the memorial was desecrated, with plaques covered in paint and security cameras smashed.

The Minister Assisting the Premier on Veterans' Affairs, Frank Terenzini, says it is difficult to imagine why anyone would want to damage the important memorial.

"All I can say is that perhaps it demonstrates that whoever did it does not appreciate in anyway the significance of these memorials to our community," he said.

A 49-year-old man was arrested over the attack at Hornsby in Sydney's north yesterday.

He was granted conditional bail to appear at Hornsby Local Court on August 25.

The State Government has previously said it will cover the full cost of cleaning up the memorial.


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[Keith]

ABC NEWS

Project to shed light on Gallipoli secrets
 

Australian historians are edging closer to being able to interpret the official Turkish accounts of the Gallipoli campaign for the first time.

The Australian War Memorial and Macquarie University are midway through a five-year project to translate and analyse Turkish records, written in ancient Ottoman script, including prisoner of war interrogation records and official battlefield accounts.

The memorial's head of military history, Ashley Ekins, says even though the Gallipoli landing happened 95 years ago there is still much historians do not know about the campaign.

"For one thing most of the accounts in English, French, German have never used much of the Turkish source material and we're only just beginning to get into this now," he said.

"Those records give us a new perspective on what was happening on the other side of the hill, and in Gallipoli that metaphorical phrase can be taken literally.

"We can add to [the knowledge base] from the actual raw operational reports that will be very valuable.

"The other one that's always been a question is the evacuation. The British empire forces salvaged some vestige of dignity out of this failed campaign with what was always called the secret evacuation.

"We'd like to know how much did the Turks know?"

 
 
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[Keith]

 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Wednesday, August 04, 2010 4:00 PM
Subject: 173rd Airborne Brigade.Newly Dedicated Memorial (Pictures)


These are the first photos received of the newly dedicated memorial to the fallen airborne soldiers of the 173rd Airborne Brigade.

 The memorial includes names of  Australians belonging to 1 RAR   Group who served with and alongside 173rd in Vietnam - this is an honour never before bestowed by the United States to any other foreign nation.

CLICK ON THE ATTACHS TO ENLARGE


Lest we forget

[Keith]

 
This is what War is really about. It's not about the sabre rattling which the war mongers go on with who keep their kids at home and not about the balance sheet tallied up in dollars by the boffins in Treasury. Nor is it about the propaganda put out by warie media commentators who know nothing of War. While I am at it, how is it that in the media journalists who examine economics must have economic credentials, journalists who make meaningful examination of politics must have relevant qualifications yet any gung ho, dressed up media commentator with no experience of the Military or War can make comment on military life and War, things they know nothing about?
 
 
From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Tuesday, August 03, 2010 10:44 AM
Subject: You see us and we're not full people when we come back
 
SOURCE: HEALTH CENTRAL

http://www.healthcentral.com/bipolar/c/41/16313/mental-health-care

Mental Health Care For Veterans

G.J. Gregory

Monday, August 02, 2010

I wrote this on Veteran?s day, a day the US set aside to honor those who have served our country. I have not served in the armed forces, but my gratitude for those who have runs deep.

Here in the US we have a crisis taking place with respect to our veterans. We are taking injured soldiers from the battlefield, but only treating some of them. We are ignoring many of our warriors who are suffering from mental injuries.

How could anyone serve in battle and not be traumatized?

To see what goes on in a war zone and not come away forever changed?

Yet the US is not giving our veterans the care and treatment they deserve.


From a recent NAMI email bulletin:        

                                Almost 1 in 3 veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq confront mental health problems.        

                                In 2006, the suicide rate in the Army reached its highest level in 26 years.

                                Approximately 30% of veterans treated in the Veterans health system suffer from depressive symptoms, two to three times the rate of the general population.        

                                More Vietnam veterans have now died from suicide than were killed directly during the war in the 1960s and 70s.        

                                 Approximately 40% of homeless veterans have mental illnesses. Approximately 57% of this group are African American or Hispanic veterans.        

The Dallas Morning News ran an excellent story about this a few weeks ago, Veterans are home, but not at ease. They state: 



The Pentagon and the Department of Veterans Affairs have acknowledged their failure to prepare for the large number of casualties that came with the prolonged insurgency after the U.S. invaded Iraq in 2003. 



Now, after a string of damning reports and stinging congressional hearings, there is a rush to help these wounded warriors. A massive mobilization across the Defense and Veterans Affairs departments with crucial assistance from veteran advocacy groups and nonprofit organization ? is under way to help veterans transition from combat to civilian life. 



I can't imagine trying to jump back into society after a war experience. It's not just about recovering from their injuries, but adjusting to regular life after the stress of war.

They struggle to keep their families together, find work, pay mortgages, secure disability pay, recover from war wounds and relieve post-combat stress.

Yet services for them are largely uncoordinated, sluggish and confusing. And many are in poor shape to slog through the system.



"You see us and we're not full people when we come back," said Orlando Castaneda, an Army combat veteran from Arlington. "When we come back, we are fragments of human beings, mentally and physically. We've been in the thick of it." 



Thankfully, help is showing up in many forms.

An organization called Give An Hour, a non-profit organization, is offering free mental health services to returning Veterans and their loved ones. They are recruiting mental health professionals to donate time for this cause, and are sitting at over 750 providers currently. Their goal is 10% of the mental health care community, or about 40,000 people. Imagine the benefit if they can get these resources mobilized.

NAMI, always on the forefront, has started NAMI Veterans Resource Center, with extensive information.

I strongly encourage any veterans to visit that site for information on topics such as PTSD, Public Policy, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's Issues, Multicultural Issues, Families, VA and VISN, Mental Illnesses, Suicide, Homeless Vets, and more.

As with all NAMI endeavors it is thorough, well thought out, and most likely well implemented. My hat is off to NAMI for not allowing our vets to slip through the cracks.



For anyone who has served, thank you.

We all owe you a debt of gratitude.

NAMI: NATIONAL ALLIANCE ON MENTAL ILLNESS.

http://nami.org/

 

 
 
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[Keith]

 
From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Sunday, August 01, 2010 5:18 PM
Subject: Navy Veteran shot dead in bungled city hold-up
 
SOURCE: COWRA COMMUNITY NEWS

http://cowracommunitynews.com/viewnews.php?newsid=5427&id=47

Country boy, Navy hero shot dead in bungled city hold-up

Sunday, August 01, 2010

THE man shot dead by a cash-in-transit guard during a bungled robbery outside a Sydney RSL club has been named as a former boarder at St Stanislaus? College, Bathurst, whose family lives at Young.

Nathan Brodbeck, 32, died from a single gunshot to the chest when, armed with a pistol, when he attempted to rob three Brinks? guards collecting takings from Dee Why RSL Club on July 26, according to police.

The guard fired three shots, one striking Brodbeck, another wounding a bystander in the leg.

The former Royal Australian Navy (RAN) seaman, a clean-skin who had never been in trouble with the law, didn?t use drugs and didn?t stay out late, the Sunday Telegraph reports, died in hospital after the shooting. His family and friends are reportedly in shock.

?We?re devastated,? the newspaper quotes Brodbeck?s 24-year-old brother, Patrick. ?We have no idea why he did it. He?s a security guard himself. He was always willing to help anyone out.?

He said committing such a heavy-duty crime was so out of character of his brother. ?It?s the last thing I would have expected of him,? Patrick Brodbeck is quoted.

The Telegraph says police identified Brodbeck only after releasing details of his distinctive tattoos to the media, prompting a friend ? unknown to the family ? to contact police with more information.

The former RAN seaman grew up in Coonamble but boarded at the Catholic St Stanislaus? College in Bathurst.

At 19 he joined the RAN, serving in peace-keeping missions and later in assignments in the Middle East at the height of the war on terror. Awarded the Australian Active Service Medal in 1998, he later served in East Timor and Solomon Islands missions.

During 12 months in the Persian Gulf, he served with the US coalition?s Boarding Party, the newspaper says.

In 2003 he was welcomed back to Young where his family lives. He later quit the RAN and moved to Darwin. 

In 2005 he applied to re-enlist in the RAN but was reportedly rejected for ?health reasons?.

Having obtained a security licence while working in Wagga Wagga, he moved to the Sydney beachside suburb of Collaroy where he is believed to have lived alone.

He was recruited to cash-in-transit jobs, providing him with inside information, the newspaper reports.

A former New South Wales police officer, Velado Santalab, 32, from Sydney?s Sutherland, has been charged with being an accessory before the fact and is due to front court in Sydney tomorrow (Monday).

Police allege Santalab was employed by Brinks and provided Brodbeck with the gun he used, the Telegraph says.

[Keith]

THE AGE

Slash cash for arms, says ex-Army chief

DAN OAKES

July 29, 2010

A FORMER Australian Army chief has cast doubt on tens of billions of dollars of spending on defence hardware and advocated slashing in half the nation's commitment to buy next generation fighter planes.

Peter Leahy, who retired in 2008, called for a radical rethink of spending priorities, saying more emphasis should be placed on non-military security and aid programs.

He said Australia should buy 50 Joint Strike Fighters from the US, rather than the 100 it has committed to at a potential cost of $20 billion.

He also questioned the wisdom of Australia's commitment to spending an estimated $36 billion on 12 new submarines, saying the purchase had never been adequately explained.

Professor Leahy, who now heads the University of Canberra's National Security Institute, said there was sympathy for his views within the Australian Defence Force.

In a paper published by the Kokoda Institute this week, Professor Leahy says the changing security environment means Australia needed to shift its defence spending from high-end acquisitions. Instead, he suggested ''bolstering the country's broader civilian, domestic and international diplomatic aid and security efforts''.

Australia announced in 2002 that it would buy Joint Strike Fighters from the US to replace its ageing F-111 fighter-bombers and FA-18 Hornet fighters. It confirmed last year that it intended to buy 100.

But Professor Leahy said 50 would be more than enough for the task of supporting an Australian land or sea deployment as part of a coalition - the most likely scenario.

The decision to buy 12 submarines to replace the six infamous Collins Class submarines was made in the Rudd government's defence white paper last year.

But Professor Leahy told The Age last night: ''The justification, particularly for the submarines, was never really made, and it's a debate yet to be had. We came out with a headline in the white paper, but it really wasn't covered in any detail.''

In his paper Professor Leahy says the white paper correctly predicted that Australia would not be threatened territorially in the near or medium future because it is far from any theatres of conflict and has good relations with its neighbours.

However, he says, the white paper then wrongly concluded Australia needs to invest in equipment that can keep our air and sea approaches secure.

''This approach neglects the nature of current ADF activities and the most likely future threats the country will face. There is little evidence that the agility demanded by [former] prime minister Rudd is being achieved,'' Professor Leahy writes.

''To pursue and protect the country's interests requires a balanced whole-of-government, diplomatic aid and security effort, as well as a balanced defence force. In this way security is achieved in a proactive and co-operative manner. It is increasingly obvious that the new security environment is not a place for soldiers alone.''

Professor Leahy has been vocal in recent months about the way Australia goes to war. He argued last month that Parliament should have to vote on the deployment of Australian troops to conflict zones.

He told The Age that former colleagues within the Defence Force share his views on defence procurement and the nature of the wars we can expect to fight.

''In discussions with colleagues in the Defence Force, they've shown interest in my point of view, and some sympathy towards it,'' he said.

Professor Leahy also hinted that he had argued against the decision to buy the 100 JSFs when he was still a member of the Defence Force, saying: ''There were a range of debates on the JSF and I expressed my point of view. I made solid contributions to the debate.''

 

 
 
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[Keith]

Increases or decreases in the inflation rate affect the Service Pension and the Special Rate [ TPI ] because the CPI is a measure of inflation. These pensions are indexed to movements in the CPI and MTAWE.
 
'No rate hike' on soft inflation numbersBy online business reporter Michael Janda

ABC NEWS

 
Headline inflation was 3.1 per cent for the year to June. (ABC News: Giulio Saggin, file photos)

A surprisingly soft inflation number has all but ruled out the chance of an interest rate hike next week.

The ABS Consumer Price Index's headline figure rose 0.6 per cent in the June quarter compared with the previous quarter - that was well below the median analyst forecast of a 1 per cent rise.

Of the 21 economists surveyed by Bloomberg the lowest estimate was for a 0.8 per cent rise, while many economists were a long way off the mark, with one forecasting a 1.2 per cent surge.

The relatively modest 0.6 per cent June quarter increase leaves headline inflation at 3.1 per cent for the year to June.

But the two measures of underlying inflation preferred by the Reserve Bank, which take out the most volatile price movements, rose only 0.5 per cent in the quarter.

That meant the rate of underlying inflation was 2.7 per cent for the year to June, well inside the Reserve Bank's 2-3 per cent target band.

St George Bank's chief economist Justin Smirk says today's inflation data has taken the chance of a rate hike off the table at the Reserve Bank's August meeting next Tuesday.

"It is without a doubt highlighting that right now the RBA does have clear time to wait, pause and ponder on the global events and just how our own economy is making the shift from being driven by public stimulus and back towards more private investment," he told Reuters.

"So no rate hike next week."

RBC Capital Markets senior economist Su-Lin Ong had been forecasting a much higher result of a 1.1 per cent headline inflation rate for the quarter.

She says today's soft figures may see the Reserve Bank keep interest rates on hold for some time to come.

"I think the odds of further hikes have fallen quite substantially given today's numbers," she told ABC News Online.

"We think it's unlikely the Reserve Bank will hike next week at its August board meeting and there's a good chance that this pause that we're seeing in this tightening cycle, that began quite aggressively, there's a very good chance that this pause becomes extended and the RBA sits on the sidelines for the next few months at least."


Retailers 'trim prices'

Su-Lin Ong says the weak price rises, and price falls, were almost across the board, and this surprised market analysts.

"There were quite a number of downside surprises in some of the components of CPI," she said.

"If you look at the details, there was softness right across the board, with the exception of some increases in the tobacco component that we knew about, as well as health, everything else was very much flat."

The ABS figures show food prices fell 0.3 per cent in the quarter (due to a 4.8 per cent fall in fruit prices and a 3 per cent slide in vegetable prices), while recreation became 1.8 per cent cheaper (mainly because of a 6 per cent slide in the cost of domestic travel) and communication costs slipped 0.1 per cent.

Clothing and footwear and education costs were flat in the three months to June.

Alcohol and tobacco rose 5.9 per cent, with tobacco prices surging 15.4 per cent on an increase in excise, while health costs increased 2.2 per cent.

CommSec chief economist Craig James says he was not overly surprised by the result, even though the Commonwealth Bank was forecasting 1 per cent headline inflation in the quarter.

"In an environment where retailers are falling over themselves to trim prices in order to get consumers to spend, it would have been difficult to have believe that inflation was still a problem," he wrote in a note.

"Fortunately we don't have to go down that path. The anecdotes line up with reality - inflationary pressures are indeed easing in line with the soft spending conditions."

Over the past week retailers Woolworths and Coles (and their related department and electronics stores), as well as Harvey Norman, have been reporting very low inflation, and even deflation, in many goods.

Recent comments by Gerry Harvey about the falling cost of electronics have been backed up by the ABS data showing a 6.3 per cent quarterly slump in prices for audio, visual and computing equipment.

Inflation was highest in the resources boom areas of Perth and Darwin, largely due to increasing housing costs in Perth.

Canberra, Sydney and Hobart had the lowest increases in prices during the June quarter.

The Australian dollar tumbled from above 90.1 US cents before the data release to 89.45 US cents by 1:40pm (AEST).

 
 
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[Keith]

 
Memorial vandals 'un-Australian'

AAP
From: AAP
July 24, 2010
HERALD SUN


Kokoda Memorial chairman Rusty Priest at the vandalised site. Picture: Simon Bullard Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE desecration of a Kokoda Track war memorial in Sydney was an un-Australian act and those responsible should hang their heads in shame, NSW Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell says.

The Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway, which links Concord Hospital and Rhodes train station in Sydney's west, was vandalised sometime between Friday night and Saturday morning.

Graffiti was sprayed on parts of the site and CCTV cameras were smashed.

The memorial spans 800 metres and includes a centrepiece structure of granite walls and 22 stations that represent important battles fought during World War II.

It has been a constant target of vandals since it opened in 1995.

Mr O'Farrell, who recently walked the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea, said the "heartless" attackers should be immediately brought to justice.

"Walking the Kokoda Trail gave my family and I a new appreciation of the sacrifices made during World War II, and it's devastating to think there are people in our community who would want to disrespect that," he said in a statement.

Mr O'Farrell said memorials were a place to reflect on the courage, mateship, sacrifice and endurance of those who have fought for Australia.

"Those responsible for this brazen attack have shown none of those great characteristics," he said.

Anyone with information about the attack is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000

 

 
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[Keith]

Depleted Uranium. A VERY POWERFUL VIDEO.
 
The media won't talk about it. Politicians won't talk about it. The medical fraternity won't talk about it. But we will.
 
 
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=8199922330478323814#
 
 
Latest documents advocating the ban of depleted uranium
http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_6144.shtml

According to the UK Uranium Weapons Network, now submitting its evidence to the Iraq War Inquiry, ?The UK Uranium Weapons Network (UWN) announced today that it has submitted its report on British military use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in the 2003 Iraq War to the Chilcot Inquiry.

At least two Iraqi cities are known to be suffering from public health crises. Fallujah has seen a 15 fold increase in serious birth defects, whilst Basra has experienced a rise in cancers since DU was used in urban combat. The World Health Organisation is currently investigating the causes of the Fallujah birth defects and ICBUW is still waiting for confirmation from the US that depleted uranium was used there.

Iraqi city has higher cancer rates than Hiroshima
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/1307887/Iraqi-city-has-higher-cancer-rates-than-Hiroshima-

A report has been published indicating cancers and other diseases in the Iraqi city of Fallujah are significantly higher than those of the survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs of 1945.

Webmaster's Commentary: http://whatreallyhappened.com/
The radioactive isotopes from a nuclear weapon have fairly short half lives, measured on scales of thousands of days for the longest-lived isotopes. In contrast, depleted uranium has a half life of four and a half billion years. Iraq will never be rid of this poison.

UK admits using DU ammunition in Iraq
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=135896&sectionid=351020201

UK defense secretary says American and British forces used depleted uranium (DU) ammunitions during the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Webmaster's Commentary: http://whatreallyhappened.com/
And this http://www.thewe.cc/weplanet/news/depleted_uranium_iraq_afghanistan_balkans.html is the result!

But remember, they only hate us for our freedoms!!!

[Keith]

How ironic is this? The US [ SEE BELOW ] is to strengthen ties with Communist Vietnam. We were told that if the Commies took over in Vietnam the domino theory would unfold and all of South East Asia would fall to the Communists. Therefore we were sent off to protect those poor little Vietnamese villagers and the rest of SE Asia from the supposed Communist scourge. Now we are all best friends with the Communists! It's amazing what the lure of money can do to loyalties.
 
 As young Soldiers we naturally believed what we were told and most of us had no qualms about being sent off on what has now turned out a wild goose chase. This is the nature of Soldiering. Young men and women in the Military live in an insular societal group and believe what they are told. Serving in the Military is like living in a parallel universe.
 
Oh and the US is hardly in a position to criticise China over human rights abuses. Nations in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
 
 
THE AGE

US to train Indonesian commandos
JOHN POMFRET, WASHINGTON
July 24, 2010



Indonesian elite soldiers of Special Forces Commandos (KOPASSUS), sporting their signature red beret during a parade at a ceremony commemorating the 58th anniversary of the Indonesian Army in Jakarta, Indonesia. Picture: AP/Dita Alangkara

THE Obama administration plans to resume relations with Indonesia's special forces, despite the unit's history of alleged atrocities and assassinations.

The move comes as a significant step by the United States to strengthen ties in east Asia as a hedge against China's rise.

It comes at a time when the administration's tone with China has turned tougher, especially on the issue of human rights. In recent speeches and interactions with Chinese authorities, the administration has abandoned an earlier approach of patience and quiet engagement.

Defence Secretary Robert Gates announced the decision on Thursday after meeting President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

The decision to lift a ban that was in place for more than a decade and to take steps towards training the unit, Kopassus, was reached after intensive debate among the Pentagon, the White House and the State Department.

''These initial steps will take place within the limits of US law and do not signal any lessening of the importance we place on human rights and accountability,'' Mr Gates said in Jakarta. He called the steps ''a measured and gradual program of security co-operation activities''.

The Indonesian government lobbied hard for an end to the 1999 ban, and officials dropped hints that the unit might explore building ties with the Chinese military if it remained.

The Pentagon had long pushed for the ban to be lifted but met resistance from the State Department and White House. The decision drew immediate criticism from human rights advocates.

''In the Bush administration, we saw them seek military allies regardless of human rights abuses in pursuit of the war on terror,'' said Sophie Richardson, Asia advocacy director for Human Rights Watch. This administration, she said, ''will seek military alliances regardless of human rights abuses - in response to China''.

But some analysts said that given Indonesia's transition towards democratic governance, it made sense to re-engage with powerful elements of its military, in part to build up counterweights to China's increasing power in the region.

China's rise is also a significant factor in the Obama administration's moves to strengthen ties with traditional allies, such as South Korea and Japan, as well as with Malaysia and Laos, and even with Vietnam, a former foe. It also was a factor in the recent opening to Burma.

In the past decade, the Indonesian military lost much of its political influence and power to the national police, whose abuses and corrupt practices have become the focus of society.

WASHINGTON POST, NEW YORK TIMES

Maimed Private Aron Shelton loses benefits after walking with prosthetic leg

From: NewsCore
July 24, 2010
THE AUSTRALIAN


A BRITISH soldier who lost his leg after fighting the Taliban in Afghanistan had his disability benefits stopped because he is now able to walk 400 metres.

Private Aron Shelton, from Bridlington, northern England, was badly injured in an explosion in Lashkar Gar, Helmand Province, in June 2007.

He suffered such excruciating pain, his left leg was amputated below the knee in December 2008. He could also lose his other leg because of arthritis linked to his injuries

After months of physiotherapy the soldier managed to walk unaided over a short distance using a prosthetic limb, even though it left him in pain.

When he told officials at the UK Department for Work and Pensions, they ruled he was no longer entitled to his ?180-a-month ($310) Disability Living Allowance.

He will also have to return his specially adapted car.

He said, "I managed to walk 400 metres off my own back. It took sheer guts and determination. Because I can walk that distance and was honest enough to tell them, the benefit is being taken away from me and with it my means of getting around."

A spokesman for the DWP said, "Disability Living Allowance isn't paid based on the condition someone has but on the extra costs they may have because of their specific needs or difficulties."

 

 
 
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[Keith]

 

MSPA 311/10 Thursday, 22 July 2010
Australian World War I soldier remembered at Menin Gate

Private Alan James Mather of the 33rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, was today remembered at the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.

Private Mather's relatives, represented by great niece, Kim Blomfield and nephew John Mather, today joined Dr Brendan Nelson Ambassador to the European Union, Belgium and Luxembourg and the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie in a solemn remembrance ceremony led by the Last Post Association.  

Wreaths were laid for Private Mather, who was one of the 6,178 Australian men killed in action, with no known grave from World War I, and one of 54,896 soldiers who lost their lives on the Western Front.

Private Mather's great niece Ms Kim Blomfield said he will be forever remembered.

"It's the last night that my great uncle's name is relevant here at the Menin Gate because he is no longer missing. As a family we've all grown up knowing about our uncle, great uncle and great, great uncle who was killed in the war and had no known grave, now we know where he was killed how he was killed and we now know where he will be buried," Ms Blomfield said.

Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie said it was a soul-searching place to visit, and a fitting way to allow family to pay their respects.

"I find it to be a particularly soul-searching place to visit, especially when the buglers are playing, it is spine chilling. You look at the thousands upon thousands of names here on the walls and understand that none of these people have any known graves.

"I'm looking forward to the ceremony tomorrow very much. To be able to give one of our fallen a grave and a name and a family inscription at the bottom of it is truly special," General Gillespie said.

There are many organisations and people who need to be recognised as making this identification possible - the Archaeological team from No Man's Land and their many professional links and partners, members of the Australian Army History Unit, the Belgium National Institute for Criminology, and of course the Mather family, who generously participated in the identification process.

Tomorrow, the Australian Army will bury Private Mather at Prowse Point Military Cemetery, Ploegsteert. Members of Australia's Federation Guard will carry Private Mather to his final resting place. He will be buried with full military honours in a ceremony attended by members of the Mather family, community and military dignitaries.  

He was killed in action in the Battle of Messines on 8 June 1917.

Media note:
Still imagery is available at the following link: www.defence.gov.au/media/download/

ABC NEWS
 
WW1 digger finally buried in Belgium
 

An Australian soldier discovered more than 90 years after a World War I battle has been buried with full military honours in Ploegsteert, Belgium.

The remains of Private Alan James Mather of Inverell of NSW were discovered in August 2008 at the site of the Battle of Messines Ridge, which took place in June 1917.

Pte Mather died aged 37 when a shell hit him.

He was serving with the 33rd Infantry Battalion, 9th Brigade, 3rd Australian Infantry Division at the time.

He was identified using a combination of bone tests, grave site analysis, and DNA testing.

His nephew, John Mather, flew all the way from Australia to attended the burial ceremony on Thursday.

John Mather said it gave him "a bit of peace" to know that his uncle had been laid to rest after being missing for more than 90 years.

More than 150 people, including several descendants and Australian and Belgian dignitaries, attended Pte Mather's funeral.

Archaeologist Martin Brown, who helped excavate the site where Pte Mather was found, said it was a very special and rare occasion to watch the soldier being buried with full military honours.

"As an archaeologist, it's not something you would get to do with any other time period, the Romans, the medievals, certainly not prehistoric. It's beyond special," said Brown.

"We're very honoured to be here."

- APTN

Never let decency, principle and gratitude stand in the way of making a fast buck.

THE AGE

War memorial to make way for Aldi supermarket carpark in Somerville

Antonia Magee
From: Herald Sun
July 23, 2010


THE daughter of a World War I Digger says she is insulted the land he donated for a war memorial is to be sold to make way for a carpark.

Leila Shaw, 83 was horrified when a councillor informed her the memorial infant welfare centre on the Frankston-Flinders Rd at Somerville would be knocked down and replaced with an Aldi supermarket carpark.

Mrs Shaw's father, Thomas Brunnings, a sapper who served in France, gave the land to the Somerville community and there is still a plaque in his honour hanging on the building's entrance.

"This building means everything to me and not just to me but to everyone I speak to," Mrs Shaw said.

"I think it's an insult to the returned soldiers and my father definitely would have fought for it."

The three-time author and historian also said other memorials had vanished in the past, including gates, avenues of trees with war plaques and a cannon.

Mrs Shaw said she would like the land to become a memorial garden or a library but did not want to see the cenotaph moved. "It belongs to the community, not to the council," she said.

The land is home to the Somerville preschool, which will move to a new building at the Somerville Primary School to cater for more children and give pupils safer access away from the busy road.

Aldi owns the block next door and is believed to be negotiating to buy the memorial's land for $700,000 to expand its business.

The Mornington Peninsula Shire Council approved moving the preschool in May and a council spokesman said the the council was willing to negotiate with the community to find a suitable place for the memorial. The council decision also ensured a World War II memorial was present in the town.

Somerville Preschool's president Bernadette Carne said everyone loved the building, but the school needed more room and the road was extremely dangerous for small children. "We love the building but because of regulations we cannot fit both three and four year-old kids, there is just not enough room," she said.

"The new building at the primary school will be fantastic. It will still have the memorial plaques but it will be safe for the kids."

Local Flinders MP Greg Hunt was also sympathetic to Mrs Shaw's cause, but said the memorial would be better placed elsewhere.

"I would like to see the status of our fallen soldiers and veterans from the Somerville area elevated with a memorial park in the centre of town," he said

 

 
 
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[Keith]

HERALD SUN

Governor opens fort to public
From: AAP
July 22, 2010

IT was built by convicts to deal with a fear of the French, now Sydney Harbourside walkers have access to the historic defence structure known as 1801 Fort.

The sandstone fort, at Middle Head in Sydney Harbour National Park, is a cut rock battery that forms part of a network of tunnels and gun emplacements.

Convicts began building the fort in 1800 to allow military personnel to fire down on vessels attempting to enter the harbour between Sydney's North and South Heads.

"This remarkable structure was hewn by convicts from the local sandstone and is a reminder of how fearful the fledlging colony was of invasion - particularly from France," Acting Minister for Planning Steve Whan said today.

Today Mr Whan and NSW Governor Marie Bashir will open a track to give history lovers access to the fort.

Mr Whan said the National Parks and Wildlife Service had spent $1.3 million upgrading tracks along the northern shore of Sydney Harbour National Park between Manly and Taronga Zoo over the past three years.

The track to 1801 Fort can be accessed from the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust car park on the corner of Chowder Bay Road and Middle Head Road, Middle Head

 

 
 
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[Keith]

READER PHOTOS - VETERANS' VILLAGE IN SAN DIEGO
http://whatreallyhappened.com/IMAGES/StandDown/index.html

I was in San Diego this weekend and couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this temporary tent city to help homeless vets. This place give the homeless vets in Sa Diego a place to saty for 3 nights in tents. They also offer medical help and job placement during this event.
I tried to get into the event but the guards at the entry would not allow me to enter even without a camera. Here are some photos that I was able to get without entering the site.

Webmaster's Commentary: http://whatreallyhappened.com/
This is how the US Government rewards those who serve in its wars of conquest.

If there is a large homeless tent city near where you live, please (without endangering yourself) take pictures and send them in. I intend to post a permanent gallery of the photos to use in reply to all those drones screaming about how the recovery is on track.

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
Veteran's medals intact after house burns down
Sun Jul 18, 2010

A World War II veteran says he is lucky to be alive after escaping a fire that burnt down his home in Sydney's west.

Jack Chant, 87, says he was woken by a smoke detector and made it out through the front door of his flat in Blacktown.

The only things he has left are the pyjamas he was wearing at the time and the medals he received for his service.

He says he was elated when they were given to him this morning.

"They were in a drawer - my bed I made myself, and it was over a foot high, but I put three big drawers, full-width, underneath," he said.

"My medals are kept in a box in that drawer and fortunately that drawer survived and the medals survived."

 
 
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[Keith]

Samuel and Eric Wilson are blood brothers side by side until the end

Lucy Carne
From: Sunday Herald Sun
July 18, 2010


Esther Joyce Gray pictured in her Gosford home with photographs of her three uncles. Source: Herald Sun

WHETHER it was a coincidence or an act of compassion, no one knows.

But the incredible discovery of two brothers lying side-by-side in a mass grave in France has astounded archaeologists and the brothers' family.

DNA tests in March revealed Australian soldiers Samuel and Eric Wilson were uncovered lying next to each other in the mud pit alongside 250 Australian and British soldiers in Fromelles, north France.

The soldiers will finally be reburied on Monday in the first Fromelles commemoration ceremony - 94 years after they were abandoned.

"I got the call from the Australian army early in the morning and when they told me I stood there and I could not believe it," the brothers' niece Esther Joyce Gray, 87, said.

"I kept thinking how sad it was that those two didn't stand a chance and they lay there forgotten for so long."

The Wilson brothers - Samuel, 29, Eric, 21, and Jim, 17 - were inseparable at home and at war.

Together they worked alongside their father at the timber mill in Port Macquarie, together they went to enlist in World War I and together they arrived in France in the 53rd Battalion to fight the Germans.

Three weeks later - on July 19, 1916 - in the desperate battle in a field in the north of France, Samuel and Eric were killed and dumped by the Germans in an unmarked mass grave.

The youngest, Jim, was shot in the neck and left fighting for his life in no-man's-land.

The deaths sparked a real-life Saving Private Ryan, with the Red Cross enlisted to find the missing brother, who was found in an English hospital unaware his brothers were dead.

The grief was too much for their mother and she died, the family believes, of a broken heart before she knew her youngest would return home.

For almost a century the Wilson family never gave up trying to find the two brothers who never returned.

"When they were finally identified, it was just so emotional," Mrs Gray said. "It's to do with our mums, their sisters. Their family suffered so much grief in not knowing. They passed on the need to know where they were."

Mrs Gray believes it was a coincidence the brothers were buried together.

But Oxford Archaeology's Dr Louise Loe, who led the Fromelles excavation, said she believed the brothers were deliberately laid together in an act of compassion.

"Having seen all of the graves and all of the soldiers, my own view is they had all been laid out with a degree of care by the Germans," Dr Loe said.

"This was in the middle of summer and the Germans had to get these bodies buried quickly, but they weren't just thrown in."

Fifteen Wilson relatives from NSW and Queensland, ranging in age from 8 to 71, will honour the brothers tomorrow with a private memorial by their new graves, which are also side by side.

Jim Munday, the brothers' grand-nephew, will join Prince Charles and Governor-General Quentin Bryce in an official ceremony for the forgotten soldiers.

"It will be a day of sadness and celebration," Mr Munday said.

In her home in Gosford, on the NSW coast, Mrs Gray will have a silent reflection.

"I will be thinking about those young fellows going off to war," she said.

"But I will mainly be thinking of my mum and her mum and the immense sadness that was in their household when they knew the brothers weren't coming home."

 

 
 
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[Keith]

Inquiries into unresolved recognition issues for Royal Australian Air Force personnel who served at Ubon between 1965 and 1968

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, announced today that the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into unresolved recognition issues for Royal Australian Air Force personnel who served at Ubon, Thailand between 1965 and 1968.

?I am pleased that the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into this long standing recognition issue,? Dr Kelly said. 

?This inquiry represents a continuation of reviews into long standing Defence honours and awards issues identified by the Government in 2007.? 

Calls for submissions will be released shortly in the national press.  Submissions to the inquiry close on Monday, 30 August 2010.

?Many people have written to me concerning this issue and I would encourage them to now take advantage of this opportunity to make a submission to the Tribunal,? Dr Kelly said.

The Tribunal can be contacted at:

Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal

Locked Bag 7765

CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE ACT 2610

Or via email to DHA.Tribunal@defence.gov.au

The terms of reference for the inquiry and guidance on how to make a submission can be obtained at: www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au

Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal inquiry into recognition of service with the task group medical support element during the Gulf War 1990 ? 91

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, announced today that the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into recognition of service with the Task Group Medical Support Element One during the Gulf War in 1990-91. 

?I am pleased that the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into recognition of service with the Task Group Medical Support Element One during the Gulf War in 1990-91. 

?The Tribunal has commenced or completed inquiries into all of the issues identified by the Government in its Defence election policy.  This is one of many additional issues that the Government has referred to the Tribunal for review,? Dr Kelly said.   

A call for submissions will be released shortly in the national press.  Submissions to the inquiry close on Monday 23 August, 2010.

Service with the Task Group Medical Support Element One is currently recognised with the Australian Service Medal with Clasp ?Kuwait?.  The issue of recognition by way of the Australian Active Service Medal has been raised with the Government and the Tribunal.

I would encourage those interested in this issue to now take advantage of the opportunity to make a submission,? Dr Kelly said.

The Tribunal can be contacted at:

Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal

Locked Bag 7765

CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE   ACT   2610

or via email to DHA.Tribunal@defence.gov.au

The terms of reference for the inquiry and guidance on how to make a submission can be obtained at: www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au

[Keith]

 
VA047                                                                                                                         Friday, 16 July 2010 

VETERANS ENCOURAGED TO GET HEALTHY FOR LIFE

Veterans and their families are encouraged to take part in the many activities happening across the country next week during Veterans Health Week, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Alan Griffin said today.

Mr Griffin said Veterans? Health Week, 19 to 25 July, focuses on good nutrition and encourages members of the veteran community to think about their overall health and wellbeing and to lead a stronger, healthier and happier life. 

Good nutrition is essential and has important health benefits eating a balanced diet can help lower the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, improve heart health and energy levels and ultimately make you feel better, he said.

Veterans Health Week is an opportunity for veterans to get involved in some entertaining and educational activities, reflect on their diet choices and learn how to make some positive changes that will improve their health and fitness in the long term.

Mr Griffin said more than 130 fun and interactive activities will be on offer across the country including celebrity chef demonstrations, BBQ cook-offs, nutrition expos, organic gardening, fresh food markets, and Indigenous food exploration.

Veterans Health Week activities will be held in local areas and towns all around Australia not just capital cities.  From the Art of food in Melbourne to Ettalongs Beach Walk & Vegetarian Lunch; from Healthy Food Preparation in Goonellabah and Eat well to feel great in Launceston to a Nutrition expo in Brisbane and an Eat well, live well expo in Adelaide.

I encourage all members of the veteran community and their families to take part in Veterans Health Week activities happening in their local community between 19 and 25 July.  Nutrition is an essential part of healthy living and it is important for veterans and the wider community alike to get healthy for life.

Veterans Health Week demonstrates the Australian Government?s ongoing commitment to veteran health care, Mr Griffin said.

For a full list of Veterans Health Week activities visit www.dva.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/vhw or contact the Department of Veterans Affairs on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers). Northern Territory callers please call 1300 551 918.

[Keith]

THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY AM MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support

Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal Report into Recognition of SAS Counter Terrorist and Special Recovery Duties

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, Dr Mike Kelly, today announced that the Government had accepted the recommendations of the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal Inquiry into Recognition of Australian Defence Force Service for Special Air Service Counter Terrorist and Special Recovery Duties.

The Inquiry recommended that:1. Service in an online Tactical Assault Group (TAG) since its inception in 1980 (as well as service in the Interim TAG in 1979) should be recognised by the award of the Australian Service Medal with a new clasp, to be entitled Clasp 'CT/SR'.

2. To be eligible for a medal, recipients should:

Have served in the online TAG for a minimum of 60 days continuously.

Have been a member of the TAG, which comprises a Regimental Special Operations Command and Control Element, signalers, intelligence staff and other specialists, a squadron or company headquarters as applicable, and land, water, sniper, and signals troops.

Have been a specialist member of the Australian Defence Force (eg Special Operations aviation personnel in support of the TAG), but only so long as they meet the requirement to serve continuously online for 60 days.

"The release of the findings fulfils a key election commitment," said Dr Kelly.

"From the raising of this unique TAG capability to the present, those involved have maintained a world-class capability ready for all situations in support of Australia's interests." 

Defence is currently working through the implementation aspects and further information will be released concerning specific eligibility once deliberations have been finalised. 

"I would like to thank the Tribunal for its work on this and the other matters it continues to deal with.  I believe members of the Tribunal have undertaken their work diligently, fairly and with an open mind.  I continue to have complete confidence in the Tribunal," Dr Kelly said.

Media Note:
The full Report is available online at www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au

[Keith]

http://theaussiedigger.com/TheAussieDiggerForum/index.php?topic=549.0

GORDON DUFF: VIETNAM, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE FORGOTTEN
http://mycatbirdseat.com/2010/07/gordon-duff-vietnam-for-those-who-have-forgotten/

SO MUCH MORE THAN THE BLOWHARDS, KERRY, McCAIN AND NORTH

I got back from Arizona a bit ago, visiting with friends, mostly Vietnam vets. From Veterans Today we had Jim Hanke, Jeff Gates, regular Army and me, as usual, the lone Marine and with our hosts, Navy Seal Hershel Davis. Years ago it would have been talk about POWs and politics. Now its down to motorcycles and single malt. We did get a few minutes in on John McCain as he is running around the state playing war hero to stay in the thieving Senate. Some of us had fought both Kerry and McCain for years as POW advocates.

[Keith]

 
ABC NEWS
 
DNA tests reveal identities of Fromelles soldiers
 

Researchers have identified two more Australian soldiers who died at the Battle of Fromelles in Northern France during World War II.

Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin says further testing of DNA samples lead to the positive identifications of the soldiers.

Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Bertram Norris was from Sydney and Private Harold Charles Pitt was from Magill, in South Australia.

Ninety-six Australian soldiers who died in the battle have now been named, while 109 have been identified as Australian but their names remain unknown.

 
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[Keith]

And what about the long association Rockhampton and Shoalwater Bay has had with not only the ADF but international Military Forces? Going back to 1965.
Keith Tennent.


THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Materiel and Science

Army Iroquois choppers become national treasures

Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Materiel and Science announced today in Townsville that a squadron of Army helicopters will soon be dispatched to towns across the nation.

Mr Combet said a squadron of 11 Iroquois helicopters, which graced our skies for more than four decades, would be made local tourist attractions in Townsville and eight other communities around Australia.

"Townsville and the other locations selected have had an association with the Iroquois helicopter for a very long time. It's only fitting then that these helicopters come to rest among these communities," Mr Combet said.     

"Iroquois helicopters have played a big part in Australia's military history and Townsville has played a part in their history too.

"One Iroquois helicopter will be kept for permanent display outside Townsville's RAAF Base, where we expect it to attract military enthusiasts and other visitors." 

"Australia's Iroquois helicopters have had a long history among the country's Defence Force."

"Iroquois helicopters served Australia during the Vietnam War, on deployments to Bougainville and the Solomon Islands, and provided assistance to people who were affected by the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in Indonesia." 

Iroquois helicopters will also become tourist attractions in Point Cook in Victoria, Darwin, Holsworthy, Oakey, Enoggera, Bandiana and the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

Another five Iroquois helicopters will be kept by the Australian Defence Force as training aids and another two will be offered for sale to national returned service organisations.

[Keith]

 
From: jimh
Sent: Saturday, July 03, 2010 9:30 AM
Subject:  Bravery


Interesting !
 
 
From: laurie drinkwater
Sent: Friday, July 02, 2010 1:35 PM
Subject: Bravery
 
Sent  by an ex 6 RAR officer second tour Vietnam.

 
I have been following the blow by blow saga of the Australian soldiers killed in Afghanistan recently. Firstly the 2 Combat Engineers and their EDD dog and then the 3 Commandos killed when the helicopter they were being transported in crashed.
 
Everywhere, the media refers to these "brave" soldiers. I would have hoped that the journalists that write these stories have a reasonably good command of the English language. I have come to the conclusion that they don't and that this results in them using the wrong words at times.
 
In the first instance, my understanding is that the 2 combat engineers and their dog were about to investigate an IED and that as they approached it, it exploded (possibly command detonated). One could use the term "brave" to describe their actions, as they knew the risks of the IED exploding. On the otherhand, they were just doing the job for which they were trained.
 
In the second incident, the soldiers were being transported by helicopter when the helicopter crashed, they were amongst the ones killed with a number of others wounded. I don't think they should be described as "brave" but rather "unfortunate" or "unlucky". If they were in a taxi and suffered the same fate, would the term "brave" be used? They were not in a position to influence the outcome, regardless of their courage or lack of courage. They were just getting a ride to the office for another day of work.
 
The problem with classing all soldiers as "brave" because they are soldiers, or because they are in a war zone or because they have been killed or injured, is not only wrong but detracts from those soldiers that really ARE brave and conduct acts of bravery. In many of those cases, the individual is honoured by the award of a medal to acknowledge that bravery, along with a citation that describes the circumstance(s) leading to the award. For Australian soldiers, the highest award is the Victoria Cross, which bears the inscription For Valour. I think the terms "brave" and "hero" should be confined to these people, although I acknowledge that there are others that show the same fortitude but are not awarded or acknowledged.
 
I would prefer that soldiers killed on active duty are referred to as Killed In Action (KIA), a term of honour to distinguished them from soldiers killed in say, a training accident in Australia. Likewise with the term Wounded In Action (WIA). We don't need to be politically correct all of the time, particularly when we are in the business of killing people.
 
I also find the practice of the Prime Minister and Chief of Defence and Leader of the Opposition attending the funerals of soldiers killed in war to be setting an unsustainable precedent for the future. If there was another Long Tan, with 17 killed in one battle, who misses out on the PM at their funeral? In turn, what does this say about their loved one?
 
Let soldiers be soldiers. Very few will let the side down in battle. They will always be heroes in the eyes of their family and friends. Keep the politicians away from their funerals. The politicians could do far more by ensuring that their soldiers are properly equipped for the roles demanded from them. They should ensure that the military superannuation system is properly indexed. They should ensure that veterans benefits, particularly those arising from war service, are properly indexed. This could be easily done by an act of parliament, linking their benefits to a fixed percentage of a parliamentary backbencher salary, so that every time politicians vote themselves a pay increase, the benefits (both superannuation and veterans) are increased as well. After all, it is the soldiers who look after the arse of the politicians. It is the politicians who send them to war. It is the soldiers that do the dirty work and pay the price.
   
Brave - possessing or exhibiting courage 
Hero - person distinguished by their great courage and noble qualities
Valour=Valor - bravery or heroic courage, especially in battle
 
John Neervoort

[Keith]

VA041                                                                                                                        Thursday, 1 July 2010

 

NEW COMMISSIONER STARTS WORK


Major General Mark Kelly, AO, former Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, begins his five-year appointment as the new Repatriation Commissioner today.

Welcoming him to the role, Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Alan Griffin said Major General Kelly will help to continue to bridge the gap between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Major General Kelly is a highly experienced and respected officer and I wish him well in his work to help my Department to continue to provide a high level of assistance to veterans and ADF members, Mr Griffin said.

By virtue of his appointment to the Repatriation Commission, Major General Kelly is also a member of the Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission.

Major General Kelly served with the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Zimbabwe/ Rhodesia, was Chief of Staff of INTERFET during Operation Stabilise in East Timor, and Commander Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East Area of Operations and Afghanistan, concluding that command on 15 January 2010.

I would also like to take the opportunity to give my sincere thanks to outgoing Repatriation Commissioner Brigadier Bill Rolfe, AO, (Retd) for his outstanding service, Mr Griffin said.

Brigadier Rolfes exemplary skills as a leader and his long military service have been an asset to my Department.  His compassion and dedication to the veteran community will be hard to match but Im sure Major General Kelly will welcome the challenge, Mr Griffin said.

It has been an honour and a pleasure to serve our veterans.  I wish Major General Kelly all the very best and I trust he finds this position every bit as rewarding as I have, Brigadier Rolfe said.

[Keith]

Now this is what unselfish service means. What a difference between what this woman did and the greedy, grab all mentality which pervades the halls of the Federal Parliament.
 
 
From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Monday, June 28, 2010 7:49 PM
Subject: Pamela Murphy RIP, a great lady for veterans
 
Isn't it sad the media can tell us all about the crap that goes on,

but ignores the GOOD people.

If a movie star or politician stubs their toe we hear about it for days!!!

 

PAMELA MURPHY

WIDOW OF WW2 HERO AND ACTOR, ?AUDIE MURPHY?

Dennis McCarthy, Los Angeles Times on April 15, 2010

 



October 7, 1923 - April 8, 2010.

Pamela Murphy, widow of WWII hero and actor, Audie Murphy, died peacefully at her home on April 8, 2010.



She was the widow of the most decorated WWII hero and actor, Audie Murphy, and established her own distinctive 35 year career working as a patient liaison at the Sepulveda Veterans Administration hospital, treating every veteran who visited the facility as if they were a VIP.

 

Any soldier or Marine who came into the hospital got the same special treatment from her. She would walk the hallways with her clipboard in hand making sure her boys got to see the specialist they needed.

 

If they didn't, watch out.

Her boys weren't Medal of Honor recipients or movie stars like Audie, but that didn't matter to Pam. They had served their country. That was good enough for her.  She never called a veteran by his first name. It was always "Mister." Respect came with the job.

 

"Nobody could cut through VA red tape faster than Mrs. Murphy," said veteran Stephen Sherman, speaking for thousands of veterans she befriended over the years. "Many times I watched her march a veteran who had been waiting more than an hour right into the doctor's office.  She was even reprimanded a few times, but it didn't matter to Mrs. Murphy. "Only her boys mattered. She was our angel."

 

Audie Murphy died broke in a plane crash in 1971, Squandering millions of dollars on gambling, bad investments, and yes, other women. 

 

"Even with the adultery and desertion at the end, he always remained my hero," Pam told me.

 

She went from a comfortable ranch-style home in Van Nuys where she raised two sons to a small apartment - taking a clerk's job at the nearby VA to support herself and start paying off her faded movie star husband's debts. 

 

At first, no one knew who she was. Soon, though, word spread through the VA that the nice woman with the clipboard was Audie Murphy's widow. It was like saying General Patton had just walked in the front door. Men with tears in their eyes walked up to her and gave her a hug. "Thank you," they said, over and over.

 

The first couple of years, I think the hugs were more for Audie's memory as a war hero. The last 30 years, they were for Pam.

 

One year I asked her to be the focus of a Veteran's Day column for all the work she had done. Pam just shook her head no.

"Honor them, not me," she said, pointing to a group of veterans down the hallway. "They're the ones who deserve it." The vets disagreed. Mrs. Murphy deserved the accolades, they said.

 

Incredibly, in 2002, Pam's job was going to be eliminated in budget cuts. She was considered "excess staff."  "I don't think helping cut down on veterans' complaints and showing them the respect they deserve, should be considered excess staff," she told me.  Neither did the veterans. They went ballistic, holding a rally for her outside the VA gates.  Pretty soon, word came down from the top of the VA. Pam Murphy was no longer considered "excess staff."

 

 She remained working full time at the VA until 2007 when she was 87.

 

"The last time she was here was a couple of years ago for the conference we had for homeless veterans," said Becky James, coordinator of the VA's Veterans History Project.   

 

Pam wanted to see if there was anything she could do to help some more of her boys. 

 

Pam Murphy was 90 when she died last week.

What a lady.

******************************

List of Decorations for Audie Murphy.

 

Medal of Honor

 

Distinguished Service Cross

 

Silver Star (with oak leaf cluster)

 

Legion of Merit

 

Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster and Valor device)

 

Purple Heart (with two oak leaf clusters)

 

U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal

 

U.S. Army Good Conduct Medal

 

Presidential Unit Citation (with First Oak Leaf Cluster)

 

American Campaign Medal

 

European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal (with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France)

 

World War II Victory Medal

 

Army of Occupation Medal (with Germany Clasp)

 

Armed Forces Reserve Medal

 

French Fourragère in Colors of the Croix de guerre

 

French Legion of Honor - Grade of Chevalier

 

French Croix de Guerre (with Silver Star)

 

French Croix de guerre (with Palm)

 

Medal of Liberated France

 

Belgian Croix de guerre (with 1940 Palm)

 

Additionally, Murphy was awarded:

 

 The Combat Infantry Badge,

?   Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar,

?   Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar

 

[Keith]

INCREASED COSTS FOR DISABLED QLD WAR VETERANS


QLD SUNDAY MAIL

State reforms kick in from Thursday with new laws on pet registration and speeding reforms

From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
June 27, 2010 12:00AM
A RAFT of new state laws, concessions and revenue-raisers will kick in from July 1 affecting everyone from pensioners and patients to pooches and punters.

From Thursday, cats and dogs in most regional councils will have to be registered and microchipped, new alcohol and speeding reforms will apply to restricted licence holders, medicos will have to be nationally registered and accredited and motorists will be slugged more at tolling points.

Pensioners and patients will be the winners in the new financial year with increases in concessions for medical equipment and utilities costs.

The rebate for pensioners' power bills will increase from $190 to $216, the reticulated natural gas rebate will rise from $59.43 to $61.21 and the water rebate for South East Queensland pensioners will also increase from $70 to $100 annually.

Older People Speak Out president Val French said the assistance boost would help but only slightly.

"The big gap between what lower income people and pensioners pay and what they get back in rebates still exists," Ms French said.

"While the pension has increased, so has everything else, utilities, public transport fees and people are still suffering."

Patients reliant on kidney dialysis, oxygen support and airconditioning to regulate body temperature will also see some of their rebates and concessions rise.

All new drivers, regardless of age, will also have to stick to a zero blood alcohol limit. Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the tough new laws would remove a major risk factor for inexperienced drivers.

"These new laws will require all learner, provisional, P1 and P2 licence holders, regardless of their age, and all RE motorcycle licence holders in their first year of riding, to drive or ride with a zero blood alcohol concentration (BAC)," Ms Nolan said.

The National Registration and Accreditation for health professionals will also be introduced from July 1.

AMA Queensland president Dr Gino Pecoraro said national registration would make it easier for doctors to practice all around Australia

[Keith]

 
 
VA040                                                                                                                         Friday, 25 June 2010

 

PARLIAMENT PASSES BUDGET BILLS TO BENEFIT VETERAN COMMUNITY

Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Alan Griffin welcomed the passage of the Budget Measures Bill through Parliament, delivering benefits to veterans and ensuring more veterans are recognised for their service.

The measures passed show this Government is delivering on key election commitments, Mr Griffin said.

Long overdue recognition will be provided to military personnel who participated in nuclear tests at Maralinga, Emu Field and the Monte Bello Islands.

From 1 July 2010, a new category of service will be created under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 to be known as British nuclear test defence service, providing eligible former members or their dependants with access to pensions and other benefits and allowances. 

Up to 890 former submariners will benefit from a reclassification of certain submarine special operations between 1978 and 1992, which will provide eligible members and their dependants with access to pensions and associated benefits. 

British Commonwealth or allied defence force members, aged between 18 and 21 at the time of enlistment and therefore too young to have their domicile of choice as Australia, will gain access to pensions and benefits as Australian veterans, as a discrepancy in the Veterans Entitlements Act will now be removed.

From 1 July 2010, service in Ubon in Thailand between 31 May 1962 and 27 July 1962 will be reclassified under the Veterans Entitlements Act as qualifying service, providing eligible members and their partners with access to service pensions.  Eligible members will also qualify for a Gold Card at age 70.

The final measure ensures equal treatment of widow/ers who enter de facto relationships, with those who remarry, in the right to claim a war widow/ers pension from 1 October 2010.

These changes demonstrate the Governments ongoing support for Australias current and former service personnel and their families.

These measures were part of a $246.4 million package of new initiatives announced in the 2010-11 Budget.

[Keith]

 
This from the man who says our wounded and killed kids in Afghanistan should be treated just like injured firies and SES workers. Mr Abbott is on the official record as advocating this when he was Howard's Workplace Relations Minister.

So, it?s treat our wounded kids like injured workers and treat Shadow Ministers like Kings.

 

Abbott's secret pay rise strategy

By Malcolm Farr
From: The Daily Telegraph
June 24, 2010 12:00AM


Financial shock ... Opposition Leader Tony Abbott. Source: The Australian

TONY Abbott pushed for a special allowance for shadow ministers when he was jolted by the financial shock of moving from a minister's salary to that of a backbencher.

It can be revealed that Mr Abbott privately approached Anthony Albanese, manager of Government business in the House of Representatives and a member of the new Rudd Cabinet, in early 2008.

It is understood low-key soundings were also made on behalf of Mr Abbott and other former Coalition ministers with then special minister of state John Faulkner.

All Senator Faulkner's office would say then was: "There have been no formal approaches on the matter."

Mr Abbott, now Opposition Leader, yesterday denied through a spokesman that he had asked about pay for shadow ministers, who earn the same as a backbencher despite their higher workload and responsibilities. Government sources have confirmed the unofficial approa

The Coalition's November 2007 election loss cost Mr Abbott and other Howard ministers more than $92,000 a year, a ministerial top-up he had received since 1996. In March 2008, Mr Abbott was Opposition spokesman for families, community and indigenous affairs, on an MP's salary of $127,060 instead of a $220,000 package.

Government sources said Mr Abbott's proposal was for shadow ministers to be paid a special allowance. The appeal was knocked back.

The idea had been pushed with typical Abbott boldness.

He ignored the fact a similar proposal made to John Howard when prime minister was rejected - because the Coalition government didn't want to add to the comfort of Labor figures

[Keith]

 
VA036                                                                                                                    

Monday, 21 June 2010

MONTEVIDEO MARU TRAGEDY ACKNOWLEDGED IN PARLIAMENT

Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel Alan Griffin delivered an historic statement in Parliament today honouring those lost in the Montevideo Maru tragedy, Australias worst maritime disaster.

On behalf of the Australian Government I would like to express our sincere sorrow for the tragedy of the sinking of the Montevideo Maru, where 1,053 Australians lost their lives, Mr Griffin said.

I especially acknowledge the suffering of their families and friends.  They endured many long and painful years waiting for news of their loved ones and they deserve our sympathy.

Im please to announce the Australian Government has pledged $100,000 to assist the Montevideo Maru Memorial Committee to build a national memorial in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial.  

Australia will always remember the service and sacrifice of those who perished on the Montevideo Maru, Mr Griffin said.

On 22 June 1942, 1,053 Australian prisoners of war and civilians who had been captured and held by the Japanese at Rabaul on the island of New Britain (in what is now Papua New Guinea) boarded the Montevideo Maru.

Unaware that the vessel was carrying allied prisoners, on 1 July 1942 the United States submarine USS Sturgeon fired torpedoes at the Montevideo Maru, sinking the ship and killing all those imprisoned on board and most of the crew.

The Red Cross made inquiries throughout the war, but it was not until October 1945 that a nominal roll of those on board was uncovered.  

It was more than three years after the sinking that the families of those lost on the Montevideo Maru learnt of the tragedy, confirming their greatest fears, Mr Griffin said.

All those lost on the Montevideo Maru are officially individually commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.  The service personnel are commemorated on the Memorial to the Missing at the Rabaul (Bita Paka) War Cemetery, and the civilian dead are commemorated on the Civilian Roll of Honour located at Westminster Abbey, London. Collectively those who were lost are also commemorated by the Montevideo Maru memorial at Simpson Harbour, Rabaul; by plaques at the Hellships Memorial at Subic Bay in the Philippines; and at the National Prisoner Of War memorial in Ballarat, Australia.

The full Statement on the loss of the Montevideo Maru is available on the DVA media centre.

[Keith]

 
Archaeologists discover 'museum under the sea' at Gallipoli

From: NewsCore
June 21, 2010 4:20AM
TURKISH and Australian archaeologists have discovered a "museum under the sea" at Gallipoli.

The find includes the wreck of a barge that carried injured and dead Australian and New Zealand soldiers from Anzac Cove during the World War I Gallipoli campaign in Turkey,  The Dominion Post reported.

A sonar survey also found the wreck of British destroyer HMS Lewis, along with shrapnel from lead bullets fired by Turkish snipers at Anzac troops as they swam in the sea, the newspaper reported.

The survey covered the seabed adjacent to the beaches where Australian and New Zealand troops landed in the 1915 campaign.

Archaeological photographer Mark Spencer, who was part of the 12-person team, said the barge find was particularly significant

 

 

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[Keith]

 
POWs remembered

June 20, 2010

The age

THE death of more than 1000 Australian prisoners of war aboard the Japanese prison ship Montevideo Maru will be remembered in Parliament tomorrow with a ministerial statement by Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin.

The 10,000-tonne Montevideo Maru was sunk by a US submarine on the morning of July 1, 1942, west of the Philippines island of Luzon. It displayed no markings that it was carrying prisoners.

The tragedy is Australia's worst maritime disaster.

About 350 relatives of those lost on Montevideo Maru will be in Canberra for the occasion.

 

 

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[Keith]

 
VA034                                                                                                                    Thursday, 17 June 2010

 

GRAHAM EDWARDS APPOINTED TO AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL COUNCIL

 

The Honourable Graham Edwards has been appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council, the Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel, Alan Griffin, announced today.

Mr Edwards has an enduring interest in veteran and military issues and I am pleased to announce his appointment,? Mr Griffin said.

He has had a long and distinguished career in politics and the Australian Public Service, including several years with my Department, and Im sure the Australian War Memorial Council will benefit from his experience.

Mr Edwards served in the regular army for three years (1968 ? 1971) and saw service in Vietnam with the 7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in 1970. He was wounded twice in Vietnam, the second time losing his legs to a jumping jack anti personnel land mine.

After discharge from the army and a period of rehabilitation Mr Edwards spent ten years with the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defence. He was elected as an Honorary Councillor with the City of Stirling in 1980 and in 1983 was elected to the West Australian Parliament, where he served for 14 years including seven years as a Minister.

In 1998 Mr Edwards was elected to the House of Representatives and he retired in 2007.

Mr Edwards was recognised by the RSL with the Anzac of the Year award in 1991 for service to the veteran community and has also been awarded the Rotary Paul Harris Fellow and the Lions Melvin Jones Fellow.

Mr Edwards is a member of the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-Service Matters and the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council.

Mr Griffin said Mr Edwards? appointment as a member of the Council for a period of three years beginning 3 June 2010 was approved by Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

The Australian War Memorial Council is an independent body responsible for the strategic direction of the Australian War Memorial.

[Keith]

 
From: Markus, Louise (MP)
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2010 8:48 PM
Subject: Veterans' disability pensions


Dear Keith

I refer to an email you distributed on Thursday 10 June 2010.  I felt it necessary that I respond to the issues you have raised; I have spoken to the Leader of the Opposition about your concerns, and he has asked me to respond on his and the Coalition?s behalf to your email.


The Coalition does not intend to alter the work test rules for veteran disability pensioners.


As you are aware, disability pensions paid to veterans are compensation payments.  These payments are not counted as income and are paid at rates proportional to the assessed rate of disability.  Disability pensions paid by DVA are only available to veterans or ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force.


Disability pensions paid by Centrelink are income support payments which are considered income, applications are assets and income tested.  These payments are paid to support people who are unable to work due to disability.


Payments made to veteran disability pensioners are compensation payments paid in respect of injuries sustained by veterans and ex-service people whilst members of the Australian Defence Force.  The disability pension paid to veterans in a very small way recognises the unique relationship that exists between the Australian Government and veterans and ex-service people, as well as the obligations the Australian Government has to veterans and ex-service people for service undertaken in Australia?s name.  Service in the ADF is not equitable to any other profession.


The Coalition does not currently propose to change any tests relating to work hours as they currently apply under the Veterans? Entitlement Act 1986, and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.  A review of military compensation arrangements is currently underway.  This review may make recommendations in this area.  The Coalition will closely examine any recommendations relating to work hour tests made by the review.  We believe that the current system works well and has the support of the veteran and ex-service community.

As media reports noted, Mr Abbott?s comments were made in the context of a private discussion in which ideas and information were exchanged.  It was not a forum for policy development or announcement. Further, these comments do not represent Coalition policy.


Debates about employment and welfare should play a crucial role in the Coalition?s policy and help to ensure that a future Coalition Government is best placed to assist those people who wish to be employed.  Equally, the Coalition will support any veteran or ex-service person who wishes to re-train or re-enter the workforce.  However we will not force disabled veterans to work where they are unable to.  We also have no plans to make changes to current arrangements which exclude advocacy work done on behalf of veterans from the work-hours tests.


Any members of the veteran and ex-service community concerned about this are welcome to contact me directly.


Yours sincerely


LOUISE MARKUS MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans? Affairs


______________________________
Louise Markus MP
Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs | Federal Member for Greenway


Suite RG.53 | Parliament House | CANBERRA ACT 2600
( 02 6277 2371 | 7 02 6277 8463

Shop 24, Riverview Shopping Centre | 227 George Street | WINDSOR NSW 2756

( 02 4577 2631 | 7 02 4577 2640

Support Real Action | Louise Markus, Tony Abbott and the Liberal team

www.liberal.org.au | www.louisemarkus.com.au




From: Keith Tennent
Sent: Thursday, 10 June 2010 9:56 AM
To: Veterans Email List; ESO List
Cc: Federal Parliamentary List; Media List
Subject: This is a very serious question and one which Mr Abbott must answer.
 

Tony Abbott must have studied under Mark Latham. The Opposition leader has become well known for his policy on the run habits and his erratic behaviour. However that is a matter for his colleagues to attend to. 

We note the article below. I personally have not one iota of sympathy for chronic dole bludgers and they should be forced into work or the dole taken from them in my opinion.

However the question to be asked of Mr Abbott about his unofficial policy below is this. Would a Government led by him force disabled Veterans who cannot work but who are waiting on the DVA claims system to settle their claims be forced to move and work? This is a very serious question and one which Mr Abbott must answer.
 

Tony Abbott for 6-month time limit on dole

 

Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent
From: The Australian
April 22, 2010 12:00AM
Abbott wants to ban dole for under 30s

THE Coalition is considering a radical plan to place time limits on the dole, ending payments after six months to anyone who refuses to move to a location where their skills are needed.

 

The push for a tougher deal for the unemployed is part of a hardening of opposition policy in the lead-up to this year's election. A source said the policy was strongly supported by Tony Abbott but it had not yet been considered by the opposition front bench.

 

The Australian yesterday revealed that the Opposition Leader had told a meeting of senior resources industry leaders in Perth on Monday that he backed banning the dole for people under 30 in a bid to encourage the unemployed to fill skills shortages in the booming resources sector.

 

Mr Abbott said yesterday: "I had a very free-ranging discussion with people who were complaining bitterly about the difficulty of getting people to work. And we were canvassing about whether changes to the social security system might help to create more incentives to work."

 

Bottom of Form

 

The Australian has been told by senior Coalition sources that limiting access to the dole based on time spent on welfare was the most likely outcome of the opposition's deliberations.

 

One plan involves time limiting the dole to all people under 30; the other plan is to create a time limit for all dole recipients, with exemptions for those who are vulnerable.

 

Some Coalition MPs were angry last night that their leader was talking about policy positions with industry leaders without formal approval from the front bench.

 

The mining industry has slammed Mr Abbott's dole ban idea, arguing that people could not be dropped into jobs that required high skill levels.

 

Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Mitch Hooke said the industry was happy to talk to anyone with good ideas about meeting the skills challenge.

 

"However, mining is a hi-tech industry often requiring very specialised skills," Mr Hooke said. "It is not a simple matter of picking someone off the street and sending them over to Western Australia or wherever to work in a mine".

 

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Mr Abbott did not understand the system.

 

"Unemployed people on Newstart allowance already have to satisfy an activity test," she said. "They must demonstrate they are actively looking for work or are getting training. If not, they can lose their benefits, regardless of their age.

 

"A skills shortage is just that. Places like northwest Western Australia need people with particular skills, not simply bodies. The industry has roundly criticised Mr Abbott's comments as completely out of touch with the mining industry and their needs.

 

"This is a multi-billion-dollar industry that we can't risk in the hands of a man leading a party that let the skills shortage become a crisis last time around."

 

Details of Mr Abbott's dole ideas emerged on the day British Opposition Leader David Cameron vowed a Tory government would axe unemployment benefits for people who shirked work.

 

Mr Abbott said he thought Australians did not like a welfare system that provided the dole in areas where employers needed unskilled labour: "Keeping people on welfare when there is work available, work that they could do, that's not kindness, that's cruelty."



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[Keith]

Queensland's disabled War Veterans enjoy the results of privatisation in the Sunshine State. The equation here is.
More privatisation = higher costs of living.

Cash-strapped drivers slugged millions in late registration fees
Ursula Heger
From: The Courier-Mail
June 13, 2010

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/cash-strapped-drivers-slugged-millions-in-late-fees/story-e6freon6-1225879178168

HUNDREDS of thousands of Queenslanders have been hit with nearly $27 million in late fees for failing to pay their annual vehicle registration bills on time.

Almost 600,000 late payment fees of up to $48.05 each are set to be handed out to motorists by the end of this financial year ? funnelling in excess of $73,000 into State Government coffers every day.

The record number of defaults is a further sign Queenslanders are being increasingly squeezed by rising costs of living after recent hikes in electricity, rates and drivers' licence fees. Within weeks Queenslanders will also be hit with a massive rise in water, expected to add $100 a year to the average bill.

Welfare and motoring groups have warned motoring costs are quickly escalating beyond the reach of many Queenslanders, but the State Government said penalties were needed as late payment put Compulsory Third Party Insurance coverage at risk.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said if motorists let their registration-linked CTP lapse, penalties were "more severe" than the late fees. She said a six-month registration was a cheaper option.

"Registration is a vital part of Queensland's transport system. It ensures accurate and secure vehicle records are kept," she said.

Ms Nolan said the Government would spend $3.3 billion on roads this year.

Figures released to The Courier-Mail yesterday showed $26.7 million in fees had already been collected from 540,000 late payments in the past 11 months, with the figure expected to grow to 590,000 by the end of June ? up from 570,000 last financial year.

The controversial $40 fee was introduced by the State Government in 2003, and rises with inflation annually.

From July 1, it is set to jump to $49.15 for vehicles and $12.22 for trailers and recreational ships.

The Government is expected to earn $1.3 billion from vehicle registration across Queensland this year after raising the levy by $94 for the average car last July.

"It is fair to say motorists are getting close to breaking point as far as the cost of motoring is concerned . . . but the State Government has motorists over the barrel because cars are a necessity for Queensland households," RACQ spokesman Gary Fites said.

He said the rising motoring costs could push some Queenslanders to not pay their registration because they could not afford it.

Queensland Council of Social Service board president Karyn Walsh said increasing costs of living were putting pressure on the 400,000 people living below the poverty line.

"There are a significant number of people who are underemployed so the predictability of their income is a challenge for their expenses," she said.

"There are many people who don't have the luxury of a choice between public transport and a car ? a car is essential in a lot of communities where there isn't the infrastructure of public transport."

She said the Government and other corporations that imposed late fees on payments needed to consider the impact it had on quality of life

 
The Queensland Government has gone barking mad. This confirms it. And if the Queensland Opposition supports this absurdity they are as guilty as the Government and will be treated like the Government at the ballot box.

The principle this democracy successfully operates under is ---ONE VOTE, ONE VALUE.

Now it seems that not only will the rich be handed our public assets but they may also be treated as special citizens whose vote is worth more than yours and mine.

What an absolute betrayal of the principles many have fought and died for.

Landlords and business owners may be given more than one vote in council elections

Natalie Gregg
From: The Courier-Mail
June 13, 2010 11:08PM


BUSINESS owners and people who own more than one property could get extra votes in local elections in a move being considered by a parliamentary committee.

The idea that a person's voting rights should be tied to the number of rates bills they pay is among several electoral reforms for regional Queensland councils being examined by an all-party State Parliamentary committee.

A "property franchise" vote, which is used in South Australia, gives non-residents with a financial stake in an area the right to vote.

The review also questions whether a person should be given more than one vote per division based on the number of properties they own.

"The greater your financial commitment to the area, the greater your say should be in what happens in that area," the review states.

"Conversely, arguments against property-based franchise support the view local governments should represent and reflect the will of the people living in the local area."

Other ideas under consideration include whether to allow mayors to be appointed by councillors rather than being popularly elected, and whether voting should remain compulsory. Optional proportional representation in local elections to be used alongside the existing first-past-the-post system is also being examined.

The Law, Justice and Safety Committee's review into local government elections, excluding Brisbane City's, comes ahead of a new Local Government Electoral Act being drafted.

Local Government Association of Queensland executive director Greg Hallam (inset left) said property-based voting never existed in Queensland and would be a "step backwards". "When it was introduced 200-odd years ago you didn't get a vote if you were a renter," Mr Hallam said.

"I understand that in a proper, thorough review they throw up all sorts of possibilities - they are genuine alternatives.

"But some of them are steps backwards into history."

Mr Hallam said there was also no support among local councils for the appointment of mayors.

"Mayors would become beholden to their colleagues and all sorts of deals would have to get done for people to hold power," he said.

"A popularly elected mayor has a mandate and a direct connection to the community."

To read the review or to make a submission visit www.parliament.qld.gov.au/ljsc

Submissions close on July 30

 

 

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[Keith]

Queensland's disabled War Veterans are the last group in the community to whinge and complain, and of course various Governments have played on this stoicism for years. However the disabled War Veterans of Queensland, and indeed across the country, who live on fixed incomes, are living closer and closer to the bone.

Food costs are always highlighted on TV as being exorbitant, and this may be so, but with food costs one can usually shop around and one usually has options to minimise the food bill.

The real costs which strip away incomes are the inevitable Government and corporation charges, which cannot be avoided. Things such as electricity, water, rates, insurances,bank charges and vehicle registrations. There is no option but to pay these expenses and little or no option to reduce their costs.

AND it is not just families who feel the pinch. Single persons feel the pinch just as much and contrary to popular opinion singles are not rolling in money and their lives are not all beer and skittles.

 

Cost hikes hit families hard
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-families-on-the-brink-as-power-water-and-rate-rises-bite-hard/story-e6freoof-1225878626795

11:00PM By Sophie Elsworth ELECTRICITY, water and rate rises are putting Queenslanders in the red with families saying they are struggling more than ever to make ends meet.

Bills surge: Cost of living up $1200
http://www.couriermail.com.au/money/cost-of-living-in-queensland-rises-1200-a-year/story-e6freqoo-1225872941037

Struggling families: Households in cost crisis
http://www.couriermail.com.au/business/households-hit-by-rising-rates-ahead-of-tight-federal-budget/story-e6freqmx-1225863822739

[Keith]

 
From: Terry DAVIES
 
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2010 9:45 AM
Subject: ALBANY ANZAC CENTENARY PLANS
 
ARTICLE: ALBANY AND GREAT SOUTHERN WEEKENDER

http://albany.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/anzac-centenary-plans/1855113.aspx

 

ALBANY ANZAC CENTENARY PLANS

 

Anzac centenary plans

10 Jun, 2010 10:24 AM

 

ALBANY?S hopes of playing a major part in the centenary in 2014 of the establishment of the Anzac legend has been given a boost.

The inaugural meeting of the City of Albany and Returned Services League coalition to plan the 2014/15 ANZAC commemorations was formalised last week.


COALITION: Bill Gaynor (State RSL president),

Lloyd Stewart (community member), Geoff Hand (consultant),

Peter Aspinall (RSL - board chair), Cr Des Wolfe, Laurie Fraser (RSL),

David Knox (RSL) and Mayor Milton Evan

The coalition committee comprises Mayor Milton Evans and Cr Des Wolfe, State RSL president Bill Gaynor, local RSL sub branch members and a community representative.

Coalition chairman Peter Aspinall said positive moves could now be made to ensure Albany?s role as the starting point for the Anzac legend was recognised around Australia. ?We formalised the organisation to take over from the City?s Anzac Strategy Committee,? he said.

?It will take us forward to develop strategies for Albany?s important contribution to 2014.?

Progress will be on three levels involving the community and a project team, with advice from military consultant Brigadier Geoff Hand.

There will be an advisory and working party group and community involvement in the long-term plan to commemorate the centenary.

Mr Aspinall said that as the gathering point for the first Anzac force to leave Australian shores in WWI and the contact point for returning forces, Albany was well placed to gain national recognition.

?The first meeting involved getting to grips with putting an appropriate structure in place to develop plans,? he said.

As a lot of work had already been happening, Mr Aspinall said it would not be long before community involvement was sought.

Mr Gaynor said RSL WA was very supportive of the formation of the coalition to suitably commemorate the centenary. 

He said Albany should be the focal point because the departing fleet comprised troops from the eastern states and New Zealand linking together for the first time.

?It will be huge for Albany,? he said. ?Nothing on the east coast will be able to match the importance of Albany?s part in the lead-up to the Great War. 

?Combine that with its military history going back to the 1800s.?

Mr Gaynor praised the way Albany had built a strong bond with both Turkey and France through its sister city arrangements.

?This interaction is unique,? he said.

[Keith]

Tony Abbott must have studied under Mark Latham. The Opposition leader has become well known for his policy on the run habits and his erratic behaviour. However that is a matter for his colleagues to attend to.
 
We note the article below. I personally have not one iota of sympathy for chronic dole bludgers and they should be forced into work or the dole taken from them in my opinion.
 
However the question to be asked of Mr Abbott about his unofficial policy below is this. Would a Government led by him force disabled Veterans who cannot work but who are waiting on the DVA claims system to settle their claims be forced to move and work? This is a very serious question and one which Mr Abbott must answer.
 
 
 
Tony Abbott for 6-month time limit on dole
 
Patricia Karvelas, Political correspondent
From: The Australian
April 22, 2010 12:00AM
Abbott wants to ban dole for under 30s
 
 
THE Coalition is considering a radical plan to place time limits on the dole, ending payments after six months to anyone who refuses to move to a location where their skills are needed.
 
The push for a tougher deal for the unemployed is part of a hardening of opposition policy in the lead-up to this year's election. A source said the policy was strongly supported by Tony Abbott but it had not yet been considered by the opposition front bench.
 
The Australian yesterday revealed that the Opposition Leader had told a meeting of senior resources industry leaders in Perth on Monday that he backed banning the dole for people under 30 in a bid to encourage the unemployed to fill skills shortages in the booming resources sector.
 
Mr Abbott said yesterday: "I had a very free-ranging discussion with people who were complaining bitterly about the difficulty of getting people to work. And we were canvassing about whether changes to the social security system might help to create more incentives to work."
 
Bottom of Form
 
The Australian has been told by senior Coalition sources that limiting access to the dole based on time spent on welfare was the most likely outcome of the opposition's deliberations.
 
One plan involves time limiting the dole to all people under 30; the other plan is to create a time limit for all dole recipients, with exemptions for those who are vulnerable.
 
Some Coalition MPs were angry last night that their leader was talking about policy positions with industry leaders without formal approval from the front bench.
 
The mining industry has slammed Mr Abbott's dole ban idea, arguing that people could not be dropped into jobs that required high skill levels.
 
Minerals Council of Australia chief executive Mitch Hooke said the industry was happy to talk to anyone with good ideas about meeting the skills challenge.
 
"However, mining is a hi-tech industry often requiring very specialised skills," Mr Hooke said. "It is not a simple matter of picking someone off the street and sending them over to Western Australia or wherever to work in a mine".
 
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard said Mr Abbott did not understand the system.
 
"Unemployed people on Newstart allowance already have to satisfy an activity test," she said. "They must demonstrate they are actively looking for work or are getting training. If not, they can lose their benefits, regardless of their age.
 
"A skills shortage is just that. Places like northwest Western Australia need people with particular skills, not simply bodies. The industry has roundly criticised Mr Abbott's comments as completely out of touch with the mining industry and their needs.
 
"This is a multi-billion-dollar industry that we can't risk in the hands of a man leading a party that let the skills shortage become a crisis last time around."
 
Details of Mr Abbott's dole ideas emerged on the day British Opposition Leader David Cameron vowed a Tory government would axe unemployment benefits for people who shirked work.
 
Mr Abbott said he thought Australians did not like a welfare system that provided the dole in areas where employers needed unskilled labour: "Keeping people on welfare when there is work available, work that they could do, that's not kindness, that's cruelty."
 
 
 
 
 

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[Keith]

 
 
The Australian Parliament is determined to suck more and more young Australians into a conflict area which is the home of corruption, drugs, nepotism, electoral fraud and dirty tricks. The Australian Parliament is party, wittingly or unwittingly, to US determination to eventually expand it's operational area to include American front line US Troops on the ground in Pakistan. And at the end of the day those young Australians who find themselves wounded and disabled as a result of this impoverished Australian policy, will end up on the receiving end of a more and more hostile Department of Veterans Affairs claims system. DVA policy in some areas is now clearly driven by the philosophy in the recent book which was published by a former DVA assessor and advocate who was renowned in Queensland for his deep antipathy towards the RSL and the claims process and genuine claimants. This former DVA employee clearly has a very large axe to grind in some areas and is clearly the front man for sections of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 
The Aussie Digger will not be naming his book and will not provide him any publicity.
 
And, before you start calling for Tony Abbott to save the day, you can forget about it. Tony Abbott has form regarding Veterans entitlements and the deployment of somebody else's kids to War and this information will become evident as the year progresses towards our date with the ballot box.
 


SENATOR JOHN FAULKNER
Minister for Defence

Meeting with Pakistan?s President and Defence Minister

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, yesterday met with Pakistan?s President, Asif Ali Zardari, and the Minister of Defence, Chaudry Ahmad Mukhtar, in Islamabad.

Senator Faulkner also held meetings with senior Pakistan Armed Forces leaders including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Tariq Majid.

This was the first visit to Islamabad by an Australian Defence Minister for more than a decade and highlights the growing defence cooperation between the two countries.

Senator Faulkner discussed Pakistan?s efforts to counter terrorism in the country and the successes of recent military campaigns against violent extremism.

Senator Faulkner expressed his condolences to President Zardari on behalf of the Australian Government for the losses that the Pakistan Armed Forces have suffered in its current operations. 

?Australia stands by Pakistan in this fight.  We will continue to work with Pakistan to tailor our cooperation to best achieve positive results and to strengthen our long-term partnership,? Senator Faulkner said.

Senator Faulkner thanked Minister Mukhtar for his support for the increased defence cooperation between Australia and Pakistan.

Senator Faulkner also welcomed the opportunity to sign the Australia-Pakistan Defence Cooperation Memorandum of Understanding.

?The Memorandum of Understanding is a useful framework to continue enhanced defence cooperation between our two nations,? Senator Faulkner said.

Future defence cooperation will include visits by Australian military officials, aircraft and ships, further counter-insurgency training initiatives for both Australian and Pakstani forces and increased participation in military training and education courses.

Six student instructors from the Australian Command and Staff College recently attended the counter insurgency module at Pakistan Army?s Command and Staff College in Quetta.

?Australian based training positions for Pakistani officers will be increased to over 140 next year, in addition to the doubling of postgraduate scholarships to 12. The quality of the Pakistani officers training in Australia has been consistently high,? Senator Faulkner said.

Senator Faulkner also welcomed the increase in the number of ADF officers attending training courses in Pakistan, including on courses such as desert and mountain warfare.

?Australia wishes to build an enduring relationship with Pakistan that is sustainable in the long term and mutually beneficial for both countries,? Senator Faulkner said.

 
 

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[Keith]

The attacker may have been fired up on drugs from Afghanistan. If so how ironical that would be.

 

Australian war hero Scott May survives Iraq, nearly dies in Melbourne attack

Antonia Magee
From: Herald Sun
June 08, 2010


War hero Scott May recalls his moment of terror in Melbourne



 

Scott May was attacked with a knife while walking in the city with his wife. Picture: Jon Hargest Source: Herald Sun

AN Australian war hero who survived Iraq and Afghanistan unhurt almost lost his life to a crazed street thug during a night out in Melbourne.

Scott May, 27, drove armoured personnel carriers in the war on terrorism in the Middle East.

He won a Silver Commendation medal for trying to save a US army nurse during a mortar attack in Baghdad.

But that didn't prepare him for Saturday night when he was walking back to a city motel with his new wife, Larna, 22, and friends.

A street thug slashed open his face with a box cutter in a totally unprovoked attack.

"The guy just walked up between us, reached around and, from just under the eye, dragged a knife across my face," Mr May told the Herald Sun. He said the injury was worse than anything he suffered while at war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Bottom of Form

"I saw lots of rocket attacks in both countries, and a car bomb in Afghanistan," he said.

"(Saturday night) was a really high-stress situation. It probably hit home more than my war experiences because my family were involved."

Mr May said the attack triggered flashbacks of trying to save the army nurse in Baghdad: "The blood on my hands reminded me of that lady dying."

Mr May, who grew up in Melbourne, moved back here from Queensland six months ago.

He and Larna wed just five weeks ago, and live in Pakenham.

"I kept saying to Larna, 'I really miss Melbourne'," he said.

"It's where I grew up, and it's an awesome city to go out in. (This) made me realise this is not the Melbourne I grew up in."

Mr May's mother, Silvi, said she had thought her son would be safe now he was back home. "We lived in dread during the time he was overseas, for that middle-of-the-night phone call to tell us he had been injured, or worse.

But instead we got that phone call on Saturday night, when he is on home soil and just out for a good night," she said.

Larna said they were thinking of returning to Queensland.

"I was on edge for six months while he was away," she said.

"He comes back, we're working hard, we get married, move into the house, and decide to have a night in the city - time to relax.

"We're walking down the street, and that's what happened."

Mr May said the attack had been swift and brutal. They had just stepped off a tram on the corner of Elizabeth and Lonsdale streets, about 1am.

The plastic surgeon who treated Mr May told him the blade stopped just shy of a nerve, which, if severed, could have paralysed his face.

Mr May left the army in November last year after four years of active service.

He had been considering joining Victoria Police, but said the attack had "thrown a spanner in the works".

Two men were arrested over the attack but were released pending further inquiries, a police spokesman.

Mr May was sceptical that justice would be served because judges were too lenient.

"He'll probably just get a six-month good behaviour bond, a slap on the wrist - naughty, naughty," Mr May said.

"When I was in Iraq, I spoke to an Iraqi and I said: 'How do you find it now that Saddam (Hussein) is gone?'

"And he actually said a lot of people want him back because, although Saddam was bad, he ruled with an iron fist, and you knew he was bad so you didn't step out of line

 

 
 

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[Keith]

 
For our aged, frail Veterans.
 
QLD SUNDAY MAIL

Brisbane taxi drivers rip off elderly, vulnerable by charging for airconditioning and helping with groceries
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
June 06, 2010

SNEAKY taxi drivers are ripping off vulnerable passengers and charging for simple customer services such as airconditioning and assisting with groceries.

The problem has prompted one of Queensland's largest taxi companies to warn drivers against the practice.

The emailed warning, sent by Yellow Cabs last Friday, said: "We do not charge extra for anyone who has a walker or groceries or (for) putting on heaters or airconditioning. Those who do will be reported."

One driver, who asked not to be named, said he and other drivers had been aware of illegal charges going on for well over a year and had passed on complaints to management.

He said some drivers charged $1.50 per shopping bag.

"The older drivers are disgusted by all the things going on, especially pensioners being ripped off," the driver said. "How low can you go? This is rife in the industry. Customers are complaining to us on a daily basis."

Yellow Cabs general manager Bill Parker would not say if there had been complaints from customers about drivers incorrectly charging extra fees for carrying groceries, helping elderly people to their doors or switching on the airconditioning or heating, instead saying: "There has been no spate of problems".

"It is just a reminder that we will not tolerate any indiscretions," Mr Parker said. "Behind the scenes we are spending a lot of time ensuring we do provide safe conditions and drivers know their responsibilities."

A Department of Transport spokesman said there had been no warnings issued to Yellow Cabs, but any improper conduct would be thoroughly investigated

The spokesman urged anyone with a complaint to call the Taxi Hotline on 1800 183 673.

The Australian Pensioners and Superannuants League Queensland said it had received no reports of drivers ripping off elderly customers.

Mr Parker said Yellow Cabs was working hard to restore its reputation in the community.

He said a $6 million dispatch system upgrade, to go online on June 13, would offer greater security for customers and increase driver responsibility by improving the management and efficiency of its cars.

"It will keep a closer watch on every car out there," he said.

"It is our job to ensure those drivers are acting responsibly and if they aren't we will withdraw our authority (for them to operate a taxi)."

Mr Parker said other messages communicated to drivers were: "Always ask the customer the route they want to go; always take the shortest route, and you must take assist dogs

 

 

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[Keith]

 
From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Friday, June 04, 2010 9:18 AM
Subject: ALBANY; receives AE2 Plaque
 
 

ARTICLE: THE ALBANY AND GREAT SOUTHERN WEEKENDER

Anzac sub gift to Albany

KEN MATTS

03 Jun, 2010

HMAS AE2

A RARE gift has been promised to Albany, further recognising its historical links with WWI.

The City of Albany is to receive a bronze plaque from the AE2 Commemorative Foundation (AE2CF).


The plaque includes a piece of the AE2 submarine

which departed King George Sound on December 31, 1914,

as part of the second convoy leaving Albany in WW1

The preserved piece of the submarine is etched with the AE2 Silent Anzac story and will become part of the Anzac Peace Park. Albany Mayor Milton Evans said the city was uniquely positioned to receive the very special gift.

?We are honoured to accept the plaque and place it proudly in our new Anzac Peace Park,? he said.

?We will endeavour to preserve, protect and promote the rich military history linked to Albany and the Anzac story.?

The plaque is one of only five made from the wreck to signify the link between Albany and Turkey involving the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and the first allied submarine to penetrate the Dardanelles in 1915.

The Submarine Institute of Australia?s centennial program coordinator Lloyd Blake was in Albany last weekend for the United States Submariners memorial service.

He met with Council to plan for the unveiling of the plaque which is expected to coincide with Anzac Day in 2011.

Mr Blake said the people of Australia and Turkey were committed to remembering the story and its historical significance to the submariners in Albany.

?The story of the AE2 is not just about a submarine and its fate,? he said.

?The story tells of the respect and friendship between the Australians and Turks during the war and their recollections.?

The AE2 penetrated the Dardanelles in 1915 as part of the Gallipoli campaign, on the morning the Anzac soldiers landed at Anzac Cove.

It then became the first RAN warship to conduct a torpedo attack against an enemy warship.

But after five days she fell to Ottoman gunfire and was scuttled by its crew.

Her commander, H.G. ?Dacre? Stoker, and crew were captured and spent the rest of the war as prisoners of the Ottoman Empire.

The AE2 lay in the Sea of Marmara, unseen until 1998 when she was discovered intact, 73 metres of waters off present-day Turkey.

Council intends to add the plaque to the Peace Park jetty where the ships which left Albany in WWI are already honoured.

[Keith]

 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
 
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 5:33 PM
Subject: Fw: Veterans Affairs Legislation Amendment (2010 Buget Measures) Bill 2010

 

Greetings All,

The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee has a new inquiry into the provisions of the Veterans Affairs Legislation Amendment (2010 Budget Measures) Bill 2010.   I have attached a copy of the Explanatory Memorandum which explains the Budget Measures.   If you wish to make a submission please have it to me ASAP.   The Senate is to report by 15 June 2010.   There are no Terms of Reference at this point.   For widest dissemination please.

Cheers

 

Viv Quinn
Veterans Affairs Advisor
RSL (Queensland Branch)
Viv.Quinn@rslqld.org | www.rslqld.org


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

283 St Pauls Tce, Fortitude Valley QLD 4006
PO Box 629, Spring Hill QLD 4004
Ph: (07) 3634 9444 | Fax: (07) 3634 9400 | Mob: 0423 439 812
 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any distribution, copying or dissemination of this email is prohibited. If you have received this email in error or are not the named recipient, please notify the Returned & Services League of Australia (Queensland Branch) immediately and destroy the original message.
 
LEST WE FORGET
 

 

[Keith]

 
And the same would apply to all States.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/we-pay-for-city-power-waste/story-e6freuzi-1225873252083

NSW families have been wrongly blamed for causing electricity costs to soar and are paying for the energy guzzling corporate office blocks, one of the world's leading energy experts said.

UK energy guru Allan Jones is planning to take Sydney's CBD off the grid and, in doing so, said the entire state can be saved from crippling electricity prices.

Network charges - which cover the cost of getting electricity from the Hunter Valley's power plants to Sydney - on household power bills are set to rise 58 per cent over the next three years.

But Mr Jones said that fee would be "unnecessary" once the CBD had built its own supply of tri-generation plants.

Mr Jones, who took the English city of Woking and parts of London off the grid, said households had been made to feel guilty for leaving the kettle on when the real fault lay with major consumers.

"Most of the energy needed for the city is for the big office blocks and their air conditioners. They are the primary cause of all of this," he said.

Sydney City Council is planning to build a network of trigeneration plants - which generate electricity through a gas-fired turbine and use excess heat for heating and airconditioning - at Town Hall, Customs House and its five aquatic centres.

These will provide up to 325mW within the next 15 years and could power neighbouring buildings and the entire CBD.

The new plants would offer a better service with fewer blackouts, and save the costs of transmission lines.

"Trigeneration will provide 70 per cent of the electricity needs in the city in 2030," Mr Jones claimed.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said coal-fired power stations were an "extremely inefficient and polluting means of providing electricity, with more than two-thirds wasted in generation and transmission".

"Over time this would replace our reliance on coal-fired grid electricity," she said.

Tonight, the council will consider a proposal to reinvest the $2 million a year it spent on offsetting carbon into renewable energy systems.

Energy Minister Paul Lynch said all customers contribute to the costs of maintaining and upgrading the electricity network to keep up with a growing population and economy.

"Removal of the city from the grid would still require a fail-safe back-up supply as well as enough generation capacity to meet peak demand," he said.

 

 

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[Keith]

We have a dilemma in Queensland. Privatisation is the buzz word and the Government is determined to ignore the people and privatise everything in sight to shore up the budget bottom line. Once these assets, such as the electricity industry, are sold, ordinary Queenslanders have no control over their operation and we only see the money for the assets once. Once they are sold you cannot sell them again. And the truth of the matter is that Governments do some things better than private enterprise and Governments have an obligation to employ people. Some areas do not belong solely to private enterprise.
 
The experience of privatisation in this country and overseas is price increases, less accountability, predominance of the profit motive against the needs of the people and back to the greed is good 90s.
 
So once again disabled War Veterans on fixed incomes have been slugged and we are told by this Government that these increased electricity prices are the result of progress. Progress? Spare me. It is no exaggeration to say that many will simply not be able to afford electricity for basic needs. Electricity is a right, not a privilege. It is a need, not a luxury.
 
Yet the Government thumbs it's nose at us and continues on it's arrogant way, refusing to listen to the people.
 
The real problem is we have an Opposition in Queensland which looks like a severely dysfunctional family, fighting each week and backstabbing each other in the back, which is their main focus and like any sick family which is imersed in it's fratricidal self destruction, it is deaf to what is happening in the real world.
 
So Ordinary Queenslanders are between a rock and a hard place and we will certainly vent our spleens at the ballot box. This is the day for independents, There is no doubt about that.
 
Cost of living in Queensland rises $1200 a year

by Kelmeny Fraser
From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
May 30, 2010 12:00AM


Queenslanders are braced for more financial pain, with electricity costs set to soar again.

HOUSEHOLDS already under financial pressure will have to find an extra $1200 to make ends meet this year, a Sunday Mail investigation has found.

Friday's announcement of a 13.29 per cent hike in electricity charges in Queensland comes on top of spiralling water bills, council rates and home loan repayments.

Climbing food expenses, childcare fees, road tolls, car registration bills and public transport fees are also impacting heavily on family budgets.

One in four households now admit they could be late paying some bills this year.

Are you doing it tough? Tell us below

A study by credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet last week also found one in four would most probably miss a mortgage payment if they found themselves short of cash.

Of particular concern is the trend of living costs outpacing inflation.

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Most vulnerable are pensioners and so-called working families, who have had to cut spending on everything from clothes to entertainment.

In the past 12 years, day-to-day expenses for aged pensioners soared 45.4 per cent, compared to a 41.3 per cent rise in inflation.

The last increase in single aged pensions was just $65 a fortnight in September, 2009.

The 13.29 per cent hike in electricity prices approved by the Queensland Competition Authority on Friday is the latest blow to battler budgets, and follows similar jumps in car registration and water bills.

Householders have also been warned to brace for a hefty increase in council rates.

Local Government Association of Queensland executive director Greg Hallam said council rates were likely to rise between 6-7 per cent in July, but could be higher in mining boom towns due to infrastructure demands.

Australian Bureau of Statistics data reveals that aged pensioners are the most vulnerable.

But working Queenslanders are also at great risk because of their vulnerability to climbing interest rates. Living costs for this group have outpaced inflation for the past six months after a sudden surge late last year.

An average family living in the southeast corner will have to dig deep for at least $1200 more in the next financial year just to cover rising water bills, council rates, home loan repayments, power bill rises and petrol costs.

A Brisbane family with a $300,000 mortgage can expect to pay $576 extra in repayments over the year should there be another quarter of a per cent rise, plus at least $100 extra for council rates and $62 more for water.

Rising food prices are making a big dent in family finances, with some staple items such as bread and tomatoes jumping between 38 per cent and 53 per cent since 2004.

Childcare is also expected to become more costly due to new standards introduced by the Federal Government to boost quality of care. Queensland childcare centres have warned of a 13 per cent hike to pay for the changes.

Director of the Queensland Council of Social Service Jill Lang said more government concessions were needed to help those most in need.

"Queensland is the only state that does not provide public transport concessions for the unemployed, and one of only two states that does not extend electricity and gas concessions to the unemployed," she said.

RACQ spokesman Jim Kershaw said Queensland was now the most expensive state to own a car after the scrapping of the fuel subsidy and hikes in vehicle registration fees, with most motorists $220 a year worse off.

"That double-hit to motorists' wallets is combined with the imposition of tolls on roads, bridges and tunnels, and the impending threat of additional costs generated by the ethanol fuel mandate later this year," Mr Kershaw said.

Public transport fares are also rising ? with some go card fares expected to rise 75 per cent by 2014.

Griffith University urban researcher Jago Dodson said town planners were slow to adapt.

"We are still designing our cities to be dependent on petroleum," he said

 

 
 

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[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
70 years on, survivor relives Dunkirk evacuation   
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/05/28/2911648.htm?section=justin

Seventy years ago the call went out for help. Every available boat, be it a steamer, tug, cruiser or yacht, was called to help rescue more than 300,000 British and French troops who were surrounded by German forces on the beaches at the French port of Dunkirk.

 
 

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[Keith]

 
The group below is a cross ESO and other organisations Central Queensland group which is independent of all ESOs and other organisations. This group, instigated at the suggestion of Mr Ron King OAM,meets to share information and to deliberate on entitlements, health care and all matters which affect Veterans and it answers to itself alone.
Keith Tennent.
 
From: Ron King
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2010 8:37 AM
Subject: CQ Views On Pharm
The Returning Officer
Pharmaceutical costs review.
Department of Veterans affairs.
GPO box,9998.
Canberra  ACT   2601.
 
A Meeting was held in Rockhampton on April 19 2010 with all interested ESO's in relation to the Paper on Pharmaceutical Review Costs and War Caused Disabilities.
 
 
The Australian Government in the 2007 election, committed to a review of the cost of pharmaceuticals  for war caused disabilities. The Government recognised the concerns within the veteran community with growing out of pocket costs for essential medicines to treat these conditions.
 
A report for consultation with the ex-service community has been compiled. The issues raised by the Review undertaken within the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 
In summary, the Review has found that a solution which directly links pharmaceutical usage to war caused disabilities in line with our election commitment is not viable. This is because of a range of complex policy and practical issues.
 
The group of veterans after much discussion who attended this meeting all agreed that a simple method of fixing this problem.
Is first reject both option 1 and option 2 in their entirety because of the unfairness they present.
The current prescription amount be CAPPED at $5.40 for the co-payment and safety net threshold be set back to 52 scripts per year.
As for Illness, Disabilities and Disease that are not accepted conditions that may well be a follow on to the disabilities should also covered under the accepted treatment.
 
 
It is therefore suggested and recommended by the group of representatives who attended this meeting that CAPPING of the current cost of $5.40 and the safety net threshold be reduced to 52 scripts per year to all veterans and war widows/er would satisfy and help the government to keep its faith and well meaning to DVA dependents.
 
 
Yours Sincerely
 
Ron King OAM
President RSL
Capricornia Sub-Branch
 
Supporting ESO's
 
Naval Association Australia Capricornia Sub-Section
Max   Mullinger.
Ray Parsons.
John.Mccrohon.
Bill.Mcgrath.
Tony.Lohnson.
WAR WIDOWS.
Olwyn Cordell.
Ellie Ricks.
CAP DISABLED SERVICE MEN /WOMAN.
Edna .Royal.  OAM.
Emera . Marksen.
RAAF   ASSOCIATION RTON.
Graham Heath.
Don Mackay.
ROCKHAMPTON & C.Q LEGACY.
Michael Noonan.
VVFA.
Jeoff. Clarke.
EMU PARK  RSL  SUB BRANCH.
Ron Robinson.
YEPPOON RSL SUB BRANCH.
Greg Evens.
42 BN ASSOCIATION ROCKHAMPTON.
Eric Watson.
Neville Grieve.   

[Keith]

This is what happens when trendy lefties, with hidden agendas and no concept or experience of what Australia is really about, try to capture the public mind. These people believe in a perfect world, controlled by them, which denies the truth, deflowers the accuracy of history, teaches there is no personal responsibility and that it is all the fault of somebody else. They in a bubble divorced from reality and honesty. Put to the test of actually doing something physical and mental to protect this country they wither on the vine and quote their little red books of silliness and stupidity. Most know only what they read in books and have no practical experience of life. True wisdom comes from experience. It cannot be learned from a book.
 
 

From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Sunday, May 23, 2010 8:20 AM
Subject: New History: Fails to teach about Gallipoli
 

SOURCE: SUNDAY HERALD SUN

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/historians-slam-course/story-e6frf7jo-1225870027072

 

Historians slam new history curriculum

 

Laurie Nowell From:
Sunday Herald Sun May 23, 2010

 

New history course slammed by historians

Fails to teach about Gallipoli, Aussie settlement

 

HISTORIANS say the new national modern history curriculum for schools reads like a Marxist manifesto that ignores popular aspects of our past and neglects Australia's role in world politics and war.

 

The course, designed for years 11 and 12, is heavily focused on revolutionary struggles, colonial oppression and women's struggle for equality.

 

It neglects Australia's British roots and institutions and its military history, with no mention of Gallipoli, Tobruk or Kokoda, the experts say.

 

The draft lists World War I as a potential case study in "investigating modern history". 

It lists "controversies surrounding ... memorial sites and commemorative events" as an area of study but does not mention Gallipoli or the battle of Fromelle.

 

In a topic headed "Australia 1880-1945", the draft lists "the formation of organised labour", "White Australia" and "wartime government controls, including conscription, control of the labour force, rationing, censorship and propaganda".

 

But it does not mention the settlement of Australia or the deeds of the first AIF in World War I.

 

The draft history course was released this week for public discussion, divided into five units: The nation state and national identity; Recognition and equality; International tensions and conflicts; Revolutions; and, Australia and Asia.

Historian Andrew Garvie said the course agenda should be altered to give a more balanced view of history.

 

"This appears to be a very trendy, right-on curriculum. It looks heavily influenced by a Marxist view of history - there's lots about about revolution and struggles against oppression," Mr Garvie said.

"But it lacks an appreciation of Australia's place in the world.

 

"There seems to be very little about our military history or our links with Britain. Gallipoli and Kokoda appear to be just footnotes to the whole thing."

He said the course also seemed to be organised as a "slice of life" approach to history.

"It seems to me students will be given bits of history to study. They may not gain an appreciation of the whole of an era or century," Mr Garvie said.

 

Education consultant Russell Boyle said the history curriculum was too selective.

 

"The ancient history curriculum spans the period from pre-history to 500BC, while the period of investigation in the draft modern history curriculum is from the late 18th century through to the end of the 20th century," Mr Boyle said.

 

"There is much in the period in between that would deepen students' understanding of the events and issues that have shaped humanity and our contemporary world."

 

 
 

www.theaussiedigger.com The Aussie Digger
 
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[Keith]

From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 9:45 AM
Subject: DVA Recipients by Federal Electorates 2010

PLEASE OPEN THE ATTACHMENT

[Keith]

Holiday Accommodation From the Royal Australian Naval Canteen Fund
 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Thursday, May 20, 2010 7:11 PM
Subject: RANCCF Forster Special

[Keith]

Changes to DVA Cards

All Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Cards (DVA Cards) are due to expire during 2010. From June 2010 DVA will begin reissuing all cards, as part of this reissue there will be some improvements made to DVA cards. All eligible veterans, war widows/widowers and dependants will be issued with a new card. Changes to DVA Cards will not reduce eligibility for current DVA card holders

The changes being made to the cards are to increase:

veteran access to services;
provider satisfaction; and
security of the cards.
Specialised descriptions on DVA Gold Cards will remain unchanged, these descriptions include but are not limited to:

Totally and Permanently Incapacitated;
War Widow/Widower; and
PoW.

Cards expiring between now and June 2010
Temporary DVA cards will be issued between now and June 2010 with a short expiry date. These cards will work the same as current DVA cards and offer DVA clients the same access to services. DVA clients who are issued a temporary card will be issued a new look card before their card expires.

Veteran Access to Services

The magnetic stripe on the cards will contain the following information:

full name;
file number;
card type; and
expiry date.

This change is expected to improve provider satisfaction, as this will enable providers to swipe DVA cards in the same way Medicare or Private Health Fund Cards are currently utilised. By improving the claiming experience for the providers it will increase the likelihood of providers accepting DVA cards.

All eligible clients living overseas will, for the first time, be issued with a DVA card. This will remove the need for veterans to contact DVA to receive a "letter of authority" when receiving medical treatment within Australia.

Entitlement to treatment overseas is limited to veterans that have an accepted disability/disabilities and DVA funds treatment of those accepted disabilities only. This process for receiving treatment while overseas will not change.

Security Upgrade

All DVA cards will have microprinting and a DVA registered hologram added as security features. The microprinting and hologram are added security features to ensure non entitled persons cannot reproduce a card.

Expected Arrival Date

The reissue of all cards is due to commence in June 2010. This process is expected to take 10 - 15 weeks to complete.

For any questions or feedback please email us

 
 

www.theaussiedigger.com The Aussie Digger
 
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http://www.austvetmatters.net/ Fraud and Wannabe Website
 
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[Keith]

 
 
VA028                                                                                                                Wednesday, 19 May 2010

 

$238,688 FOR PROJECTS HONOURING AUSTRALIAS VETERANS

Projects honouring Australias servicemen and women will benefit from $238,688 in funding announced today by the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Mr Griffin said the funding would support 96 projects which commemorate our wartime history and honour those who have served, and continue to serve, Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations.

Saluting Their Service grants provide funding to help communities build and maintain memorials, capture the wartime history of their towns and preserve memorabilia for future generations, Mr Griffin said.

 

Todays funding has supported a range of initiatives across the country including building new places of remembrance for communities, restoring and repairing existing memorials and improving security at memorials.

 

Commemorative projects, such as those funded today, play a major role in encouraging Australians, young and old, to learn about our wartime heritage.

 

Community and ex-service organisations can also apply for funding to support significant anniversaries of wartime events.

 

This year marks some significant anniversaries for Australia including the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, 65th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific as well as 50 years since the end of the Malayan Emergency and 60 years since the start of the Korean War.  Many communities will be holding special ceremonies throughout the year marking these anniversaries.

 

Australian service has been a part of the history of every city and town across the country and through projects like those funded today, we can help ensure the contribution of our servicemen and women is remembered, and their sacrifice not forgotten, Mr Griffin said.

 

Mr Griffin encouraged local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for funding to visit www.dva.gov.au/grants or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).

 

Editors note:  A list of grant recipients from each state and the ACT is attached.

 

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Ministers media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm

 

Saluting Their Service grants Queensland recipients



         The Beenleigh RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help install an honour roll at the War Memorial at Beenleigh RSL to commemorate those from the Beenleigh area who have lost their lives serving their nation.

 

         The Blackall-Tambal Regional Council will receive $4000 to help restore and upgrade the Tamboo War memorial and precinct. The upgrade will include the installation of an eternal flame, a granite cenotaph with engraved or bronze plaques featuring the names of local veterans and relocating the flagpole.

 

         The Caboolture-Morayfield & District RSL Sub-branch Inc will receive two grants: $110 to help restore the Memorial plaque at the Albert Street bus shelter in Caboolture; and $1670 to help restore the memorial in King Street, Caboolture.

 

         The Far East Strategic Reserve Qld will receive $378 to help install a plaque in the Chris Cunningham Memorial Park in Tweed Heads dedicated to those who served in HMAS ships attached to the Far East Strategic Reserve in South East Asia from 1955 to 1971.

 

         The Mt Archer State School P&C Association will receive $4000 to help install a commemorative plaque and erect a flagpole in a memorial garden at Mt Archer State School.

 

         The Submarine Association Australia (QLD Inc) will receive $1400 to help install a display case in the Coorparoo RSL Galaxy Room to house RAN and RN Submarine memorabilia from the First World War to the present.

 

         The 4th Field Regiment, RAA, will receive $3000 to help hold an event at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville on 1 May 2010 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the formation of 4 Field Regiment.

 

         The Elliott Heads & District Ratepayers & Residents Association Inc will receive $466 to help install a brass plaque at the Submarine Lookout Anzac Memorial to commemorate Vietnam veterans and all service people who lost their lives in Vietnam.

 

         The Eumundi RSL Sub-branch will receive $1500 to help restore 20 plaques on the Eumundi War Memorial Trees which are dedicated to local service personnel who lost their lives in both World Wars.

 

         The Far East Strategic Reserve Qld will receive $3000 to help hold a reunion at the Twin Towns Services Club in Coolangatta/Tweed Heads in May 2010 to commemorate the 55th anniversary of the formation of the Far East Strategic Reserve.

 

         The Mt Mee Community Cemetery Inc will receive $4000 to help install a one metre high polished black granite obelisk representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Women?s Services in a formal garden at Mt Mee Cemetery to be used on days of commemoration.

 

         The Queensland University Regiment Association will receive $2000 to help sculpt a Queensland University Regiment Regimental badge on one of the sandstone columns in the Great Court of St Lucia Campus of the University of Queensland.

 

         The Queensland University Squadron Branch RAAF Association will receive $2000 to help sculpt a Queensland University Squadron RAAF badge on one of the sandstone columns in the Great Court of St Lucia Campus of the University of Queensland.

 

         The RAAF Association Queensland Division Inc Pine Rivers Branch will receive $1250 to help hold a final reunion on 17 April 2010 in Kallangur for members of 548 and 549 Squadrons.

 

         The Royal Australian Artillery Association North Queensland will receive $2800 to help restore two 25 Pounder Field Guns and Ammunition Limber for display at Lavarack Barracks in Townsville and Kissing Point Regional Army Museum.

 

         The Samford RSL Sub-branch will receive $2177 to help purchase three display cabinets to house wartime memorabilia at the Samford Sub-branch.

 

         The Toowoomba RSL Sub-branch will receive $2959 to help create a Boer War Roll of Honour plaque to be placed on a cairn next to the Boer War Memorial gates at Mothers? Memorial Park in Toowoomba to honour the five local servicemen who died during the Boer War.

 

         The Mapoon Aboriginal Shire Council will receive $4000 to help erect six plaques on a new memorial at Mapoon to honour the war service of the community?s Indigenous ancestors.

 

Saluting Their Service grants South Australian recipients

 

         The Australian Special Air Services Association SA Branch will receive $1750 to help repair the vandalised Special Air Services Memorial on the Pathway of Honour at the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide.

 

         The City of Holdfast Bay will receive $3000 to help purchase a bench top with drawers to house wartime memorabilia and a bench top with ?memory files? on locals from the Holdfast Bay district who served in the armed and auxiliary forces, forming part of the Memory Cove exhibition in the Battery Room area of the Glenelg Air-Raid Shelter.

 

         The RAAF Association South Australian Division will receive $2005 to help restore, preserve and frame three silk pilot survival maps from South West Pacific areas for display at the RAAF Memorial Room at the Torrens Parade Ground in Adelaide.

 

         The 2/48th Battalion Social Club will receive $1750 to help hold a dinner at Daw Park on 8 August 2010 for members of the 2/48th Battalion Social Club to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the formation of the 2/48th Battalion.

 

         The City of Tea Tree Gully will receive $4000 to help create a memorial plaque at the Tea Tree Gully Memorial Garden to honour the men of the Australian Light Horse Brigade, the New Zealand Mounted Rifles, the Imperial Camel Corps and the Australian Flying Corps who lost their lives in Egypt, Palestine and Syria between 1916 and 1918.

 

         The Hampton RSL Sub-branch Inc will receive $1040 to help install an honour board at the Woomera Area School dedicated to former students who served Australia in post First World War conflicts.

 

         The Lyndhurst and District Progress Association will receive $4000 to help build a cairn in Farina incorporating two plaques and an honour board to commemorate local servicemen and servicewomen who served in the First and Second World War.

 

         The Magill RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help install two glass display cabinets at the Magill RSL Sub-branch to house wartime memorabilia.

 

         The Naval Association of Australia Whyalla Sub-section will receive $250 to help install a honour board at the Whyalla RSL Club dedicated to servicemen from the local area who have served our nation.

 

         The Peake Community Centre Inc will receive $3393 to help install an honour roll on the memorial in Peake to commemorate those locals who served in the First World War, Second World War and Vietnam War and install an information board explaining the Lone Pine tree plantings.

 

         The Peterborough RSL Sub-branch will receive $500 to help upgrade the replace concreting around the Terowie War Memorial to ensure the safety of veterans and other visitors.

 

         The Strathalbyn National Trust Museum will receive $879 to help purchase three mannequins to display military uniforms and to purchase a small flat-screen television/DVD player for the Strathalbyn Museum to continuously display names, photographs and the service details of the First and Second World Wars and local service personnel who paid the supreme sacrifice.

 

         The War Veterans? Home Myrtle Bank Inc will receive $2090 to help erect a flagpole in the Lower Kapyong Garden at the War Veterans' Home in Myrtle Bank where memorial services are held during inclement weather and refurbish the flagpole in Alexander Park at the front of the facility, which is a focal point during community commemorative services.

 

         The Unley High School will receive $3290 to help construct a roll of honour at Unley High school to commemorate former students who served in the First World War.

 

         The Pinaroo RSL Sub-branch will receive $3796 to help install a plaque in the foyer at the Pinnaroo Soldiers Memorial Hospital to commemorate First World War Military Medal recipients from the Pinnaroo district and for an event on Anzac Day to unveil the plaque.

 

Saluting Their Service grants Victorian recipients



         The 57/60th Battalion Association will receive $4000 to help install an honour roll in the Memorial Garden at Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital dedicated to the 57/60th Infantry Battalion 3rd Division.

 

         The Bendigo Health Joan Pinder Nursing Home will receive $915 to help erect a commemorative flagpole and establish a memorial garden at the Joan Pinder Nursing Home in Bendigo for residents to use for commemorative services.

 

         The Birregurra District Historical Centre will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Birregurra War Memorial by installing a new plaque, restoring the lettering and installing new seating in memory of local servicemen of all conflicts.

 

         The Carranballac College will receive $3000 to help create a memorial space and install a plaque at the Jamieson Way P-9 School Campus of Carranballac College at Point Cook to commemorate those who have served in war.

 

         Innovative Care Pty Ltd will receive two grants: $1265 to help install a flagpole at the entrance to the Kyneton Community Aged Care Centre which will be the centrepiece for the residents on days of commemoration; and $670 to help install an honour board in the foyer of the new Kyneton Community Aged Care Centre.

 

         The Northern Health (Bundoora Extended Care Centre) will receive $2794 to help install a display cabinet at Bundoora Extended Care Centre to exhibit wartime memorabilia.

 

         The Richfield Retirement Village will receive $1095 to help install a flagpole for use by residents at the Richfield Retirement Village on days of commemoration.

 

         The Scarsdale Town Hall Committee of Management will receive $729 to help replace the deteriorated flagpole at Scarsdale Town Hall.

 

         The Naval Heritage Foundation of Australia Inc will receive $4000 to help install a bronze statue of a Second World War sailor titled Answering The Call on the foreshore at Bay Street, Port Melbourne, to commemorate all ranks and rates, male and female, who have served the Royal Australian Navy in both war and peace.

 

         The 2/22nd Battalion Lark Force Association will receive $798 to help install a flagpole at the memorial commemorating the formation of the 2/22nd Battalion Lark Force in Trawool.

 

         The Derrinallum & Lismore Community Association Inc will receive $3,450 to help construct a memorial at Gnarpurt Estate to commemorate soldier settlement in the district post the Second World War, followed by an unveiling ceremony and refreshments.

 

         The Edenhope RSL Sub-branch will receive two grants: $914 to help restore the Gallipoli Lone Pine memorial at Edenhope; and $3000 to help restore a First World War field gun for display at the Edenhope RSL Sub-branch Memorial Hall.

 

         The Mitchell Shire Council will receive $4000 to help construct Stage 1 of the Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk involving interpretive displays located within a replica Luscombe Bowl, and landscaping.

 

         The Park Lane Croyden Residential Aged Care will receive $3000 to help install a medals board and a display cabinet to house wartime memorabilia at the Park Lane Residential Care in Croydon.

 

         The South Gippsland Shire Council will receive $2575 to help purchase two mannequins and a mannequin display case for use in the Anzac Room at the Coal Creek Community Park & Museum in Korumburra.

 

         The Bays Hospital Group Inc will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial garden at the Bays Hospital Aged Care Facility in Hastings and install a flagpole and plaque for residents to use during commemorative services.

 

         The Welshpool Memorial Hall Committee will receive $4000 to help restore the Welshpool War Memorial Cenotaph and flagpole.

 

         The Yarram RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help construct a display cabinet at the Yarram Country Club to display an extensive collection of wartime memorabilia.

 

         The Anglican Parish of Mount Dandenong will receive $510 additional funding to help restore the Peace Memorial located at Ellis Reserve in Kalorama.

 

         The Cobram Barooga RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help restore the Cobram and District War Memorial involving repairs to damaged tiles and cleaning the resealing tiles in the walkway.

 

Saluting Their Service grants West Australian recipients



         The Royal Australian Corvettes Association Western Australia will receive $2000 to help repair and restore steps and damaged decking tiles which are part of the Royal Australian Navy Corvettes memorial at Monument Hill.

 

         The East Hamersley Primary School will receive $3350 to help construct a memorial at the front of the school dedicated to local ex-service personnel.

 

         The Honouring Indigenous War Graves Inc will receive $4000 to help construct a Memorial Garden at Bruce Rock dedicated to the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and those who served in the Papuan Infantry Battalion and the New Guinea Infantry Battalion during the Second World War.

 

         The Shire of East Pilbara will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial at Marble Bar commemorating all wars.

 

         The Totally & Permanently Incapacitated/Extreme Disability Allowance Association Mildura will receive $1546 to help restore the Eighty Mile Beach Memorial that was damaged during a severe cyclone in 2009.

 

         The Upper Swan RSL Sub-branch will receive $1155 to help refurbish the Memorial Gates at the Baskerville Memorial Hall.

 

         The Korea & South East Asia Veterans Association Western Australia Branch Inc will receive $3000 to help hold a commemorative service on 25 June 2010 at the Flame of Remembrance in Kings Park to mark the 60th anniversary of the commencement of the war in Korea, followed by a luncheon at the Royal Australian Air Force Association Club at Bull Creek.


 

Saluting Their Service grants Tasmanian recipients

 

         The Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans? Association Tasmania will receive $4000 to help construct a sculpture at Anglesea Barracks, Hobart, as a memorial to those who served in international peacekeeping and peacemaking operations.

 

         The Military Heritage Foundation of Tasmania will receive $3000 to help publish a book based on the First World War diary of Albert Orchard who served with the artillery from Gallipoli through to the Western Front.

 

         The Oaklands RSL Sub-branch will receive $800 to help restore the Mt Pleasant Community War Memorial Cross and Honour Board dedicated to local veterans who served in the First World War.

 

         The Queenstown RSL Sub-branch will receive $1600 to help restore the Strahan Cenotaph and install a plaque commemorating Peter Penneyston, the only soldier from the west coast of Tasmania killed in action during the Vietnam War. A Rising Sun Badge will also be added to the Cenotaph.

 

         The South Channel Ratepayers Association Inc will receive $1444 to help construct a cabinet at the Middleton Community Hall to house the area?s First World War Honour Roll and photographs and memorabilia relating to servicemen from the Middleton and Flowerpot areas.





Saluting Their Service grants Canberra recipient



         The Royal Australian Army Service Corps Vietnam Supply Platoons Association will receive $2,750 to help install a plaque at the Australian War Memorial to commemorate the service of Vietnam veterans who served in the Royal Australian Army Service Corps during the period 1965 ? 1972 and for a dedication ceremony on 26 March 2010.

 

 

Saluting Their Service grants New South Wales recipients



         The 4th Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF) 1939-45 Association will receive $1387 to help install a plaque in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial dedicated to the 4th Australian Infantry Battalion (AIF) 1939-1945.

 

         The Australian Air League Inc Riverwood Squadron will receive $3000 to help install five bronze plaques on the commemorative memorial wall at the Australian Air League Hall in Riverwood.

 

         The Courtlands Retirement Village will receive $2300 to help install an indoor flag station in the Courtlands Retirement Village's Auditorium for use by residents on days of commemoration.

 

         The MacKillop College Bathurst will receive $2113 to help purchase commemorative wreaths and pay for the printing of the commemorative tour booklets for MacKillop College's History Tour in which 30 students will travel to France and Belgium in mid 2010. Each student will research an Australian veteran from the First World War who is buried or commemorated at one of the cemeteries or memorials there.

 

         The Maitland RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help restore the Angel of Peace on the First World War Memorial in Maitland Park.

 

         The Merewether High School will receive $3000 to help assist students from the school to research local military history, including background of Sister Ellen Savage, a local Army nurse who survived the sinking of the Centaur.

 

         The Merewether RSL Sub-branch will receive $946 to help restore the First World War honour board at St Augustine's Anglican Church in Merewether.

 

         The National Servicemen?s Association of Australia NSW Branch Inc will receive $498 to help restore the frame holding a print titled The Menin Gate at Midnight to be displayed at the Lakemba Services Club.

 

         The North Ryde RSL Sub-branch will receive $1257 to help restore and frame a silk HMAS Perth handkerchief for display at the North Ryde RSL Community Club.

 

         The Raymond Terrace RSL Sub-branch will receive $1716 to help replace the damaged concrete apron at the base of the Raymond Terrace War Memorial.  

 

         The Armadillo Museum, Mona Vale, will receive $3000 to help purchase display cabinets to house wartime memorabilia at the Armadillo Museum in Mona Vale.

 

         The Asquith Girls High School Parents? and Citizens? Association will receive $4000 to help install a War Memorial Garden within the Asquith Girls High School grounds to be used on days of commemoration.

 

         The Australian Army Artillery Museum, Manly, will receive $3000 to help install display cabinets to house wartime memorabilia at the Australian Army Artillery Museum.

 

         The Australian National Servicemen?s Association Inc Coffs Harbour will receive $350 to help install a plaque on the memorial wall at the Coffs Harbour Ex-Servicemens' Club dedicated to members of the Australian National Servicemen's Association.

 

         The Barham & District RSL Sub-branch will receive $2100 to help purchase two spotlights to illuminate the Barham Cenotaph to deter vandalism and enhance the memorial and install two power points for amplification purposes.

 

         The City Of Albury RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Albury War Memorial on Monument Hill by installing security cameras around the monument to deter vandalism.

 

         The Griffith RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help erect a new honour roll at the Cenotaph in the Memorial Gardens in Griffith dedicated to the servicemen and women from the Griffith area.

 

         The HMAS Warrego Association NSW will receive $770 to help install two memorial plaques at the Garden Naval Island Dockyard dedicated to RAN Sloops, HMAS Yarra, HMAS Swan, HMAS Parramatta and the HMAS Warrego.

 

         The Krambach Chapter of the Wingham RSL Sub-branch will receive $2805 to help install a flagpole at the First World War Memorial located at the Leo Carney Park in Krambach.

 

         The Mid-Western Regional Council will receive $4000 to help install a Cross of Sacrifice Memorial on Flirtation Hill to commemorate those from the Mudgee area who died during the First World War.  This monument will replace the Avenue of Trees which were planted post First World War.  These trees have since died and had to be removed.

 

         The National Servicemen?s Association of Australia Goulburn & District Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial in Belmore Park in Goulburn to commemorate National Servicemen who served from 1951 to 1972 and those who paid the supreme sacrifice.

 

         The Old Bar Soldiers Memorial Hall will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Old Bar Soldiers Hall War Memorial.

 

         The Rotary Club of Junee Inc will receive $4000 to help restore the Broadway Memorial Clock in Junee.

 

         The Royal Australian Artillery Historical Company will receive $3000 to help restore a Second World War Artillery Tractor No 6 (Aust) for display at the National Artillery Museum at North Head, Manly, as well as being used for other ceremonial occasions.

 

         The Saint Ignatius? College, Riverview will receive $3000 to help publish a book titled To Give and Not to Count the Cost that details the service rendered by 310 former Riverview students who served in the First World War.

 

         The Wollondilly RSL Sub-branch will receive $633 to help install a plaque on the memorial in Thirlmere Memorial Park to commemorate local veterans who served in Afghanistan.

 

         The Norfolk Island RSL Sub-Branch will receive $4000 to help repair and restore the RSL's roll of honour starting with the Boer War through to Vietnam.

[Keith]

 
From: vvfatimmccombe
To: Graham Walker
Sent: Tuesday, May 18, 2010 11:38 AM
Subject: Election promises; Minister's update




Dear All,

The Minister?s update on his election promises.

Regards,

Tim McCombe
National President

PLEASE OPEN THE ATTACHMENT

[Raymond Evans]

The Rudd Government has made a commitment to further consider the recommendations of the Clarke Review that were not acted upon by the Howard Government.   

TPIs and others, have been financially sacrificed on the DVA budgetary altar because Justice Clarke didnt paint a true picture of how government compensates those injured through Military service for the premature aging and loss of earning power which resulted from the intangible effects of war or war like service.

Justice Clarke only took a snapshot of one particular year (2002) and determined that no loss was incurred by the TPI payment.

Justice Clarke calculated that TPIs suffered no loss in their TPI pension by including the full welfare payment, namely the Service pension. This was mean and very deceptive in its presentation; unjust and clearly way beyond the bounds of decency. This calculation was grossly unfair and has left many TPIs on an endless poverty cycle against community prosperity.

Had Justice Clarke taken a snapshot of the preceding six years his story would certainly have been different.

The real problem for many TPIs, is their compensation payment represents no portion of the average ordinary wage and is only benechmarked by government whim.

Government whim is not giving many TPIs any real chance of living comfortably within community norms and enjoying community prosperity.

[Keith]

VA025                                                                                                                          Friday, 14 May 2010

 

GOVERNMENT DELIVERS RESPONSE TO CLARKE REVIEW OF VETERANS ENTITLEMENTS
 

The Australian Government has delivered on its election commitment to further consider the recommendations of the 2003 Clarke Review of Veterans Entitlements that were not acted upon by the previous Government.  
 

In the recent Federal Budget, the Government announced a $36 million response to the Clarke Review which resulted in thousands more Australians gaining access to benefits they otherwise would not have received.
 

Mr Griffin said 45 recommendations were revisited and carefully examined.  Three have been accepted and already acted upon, four have been accepted, four deferred for further consideration, 22 referred to the review of Military Compensation Arrangements and 12 recommendations rejected.

Major recommendations accepted or exceeded

The Government has accepted the Clarke recommendation that participation by Australian Defence Force personnel in the British atomic tests be declared non-warlike hazardous and the Veterans Entitlements Act (VEA) will be amended to give effect to the recommendation (Funding: $24.2m).

Certain submarine special operations service between 1978 and 1992 will be reclassified as operational service and qualifying service, meaning veterans have improved access to benefits. This exceeds Clarkes recommendation that this service be deemed non-warlike hazardous (Funding: $11.1m).

Other recommendations accepted and/or already acted on

Changes to the domicile rules for British Commonwealth and Allied (BCAL) veterans. This fixes as an administrative anomaly which prevented some BCAL veterans from being considered as Australian veterans under the Veterans Entitlement Act.

Changes to the eligibility to claim for War Widow/ers pension to ensure equal treatment of those who enter de facto relationships with those who marry/remarry.

Government response to the needs of carers.

Addressing affordable housing and access to tertiary scholarships.

Improved bereavement payments made to widows of veterans.


Issues for further review within Government

Classification of service by British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan.

Clearance of enemy wartime ordnance in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands.

Service related to improvised explosive device disposal.
 

Issues referred to the review of Military Compensation Arrangements

Twenty-two recommendations relate to a proposed restructure of the disability pension and rehabilitation system. This restructure was generally opposed by the ex-service community at the time the Clarke Review was originally considered. Very few submissions were received relating to these recommendations.

These recommendations have been referred for consideration as part of the current review of Military Compensation Arrangements. However, given the concerns held regarding the adoption of Clarkes overall approach, it is unlikely that such a wholesale change would be supported as part of that review.

Recommendations not accepted

Following extensive analysis the Government has not accepted 12 of the original Clarke recommendations. These are:

Proposed changes to the incurred danger test for certain veterans entitlements: the Government cannot accept changes to such a fundamental standard.

Extension of qualifying service benefits to certain British Commonwealth and Allied veterans.

Extension of the definition of operational service.

Means testing of access to the DVA Gold Card in certain circumstances: the Government considers the Gold Card should not be means tested as it is provided in recognition of a person being placed in danger from an enemy.
 
Allowing War Widows living overseas to claim income support supplement: this is not supported as the Government believes it would create an anomaly in the social security system between the Social Security Act and the VEA.
 

We looked extremely carefully at all the revisited recommendations and I stand behind our responses. What we have done is to provide access to benefits in a targeted and responsible manner, Mr Griffin said.

A full response to each of the 45 recommendations is at Attachment A.
 

Media inquiries: Minister Griffins Office 02 6277 7820.

The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Ministers media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm

ATTACHMENT A

Proposed Government Response to the Revisitation of the Clarke Review May 2010
 

The following table lists the recommendations of the 2003 Clarke Review of the Veterans Entitlements that were not accepted or acted upon by the previous Government (left hand side column) and the response of the current Government to the revisitation of those recommendations (right hand column).
 

Clarke Recommendations not accepted or acted upon by previous Government
  Government Response of May 2010 to Revisitation
  
1B. That the incurred danger element of the test has been interpreted too narrowly, in that it does not take sufficient account of a credible risk of harm.

  Rejected. The repatriation system is based on levels of risk, with the highest being an objective incurred danger test based on actual and real risk of danger faced from hostile forces. As such it is not appropriate to accept this recommendation.
  
2, 5 & 67B. The Veterans? Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) be amended to deem the following service during World War II as qualifying service during the period of hostilities:

         Northern Australia

North of latitude 14.5 degrees south and islands and waters contiguous to this area, including the Torres Strait Islands, for any period between 7 December 1941 and 7 September 1944 inclusive.

         Outside Australia

-any area other than the West Pacific area 3 September 1939 to 5 May 1945;

-West Pacific area (except Papua and New Guinea and New Britain before 7 December 1941)

3 September 1939 to 15 August 1945 bounded by:

-in the west, longitude 90 degrees east;

-in the east, longitude 165 degrees east;

-in the south, latitude 10 degrees south, including Papua and New Guinea; and

-in the north, by and including the eastern regions of the Asian continent;

-Papua and New Guinea, including New Britain 7 December 1941 to 15 August 1945; and

-in an aircraft engaged in operations against hostile forces or in patrols or reconnaissance over land occupied by hostile forces of the enemy in one of the areas above at the times prescribed above.

  Rejected. This service did not involve direct danger from the hostile forces of the enemy. As such, it is inappropriate to reclassify this service where the incurred danger test has not been met. Qualifying service continues to apply for service in the Northern Territory between 19 February 1942 and 12 November 1943 (the dates of the first and last air attacks), or on a single day during a bombing raid. For those areas outside Australia, the Repatriation Commission policy already deems service in these areas as qualifying service and this policy continues to apply.
  
7. Operational service should also include service immediately before or after that period of service, as currently applies under s.6A of the VEA for veterans with service outside Australia and s.6B of the VEA for Australian mariners with service outside Australia.

  Rejected. The Government does not agree that operational service should be extended in this way.
  
15. Operational and qualifying service be extended for service on or after 16 September 1963 to and including 16 August 1964 for all defence personnel on the posted strength of units located in the operational area of Malaysia.

  Rejected. The only hostilities faced by Australians from the Indonesia forces before 17 August 1964 were in Borneo, where service is already covered under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA).
  
31. Service on submarines during special operations be deemed non-warlike hazardous for the purposes of the VEA.

  Accepted. Based on advice from the Department of Defence, for certain submarine special operations between 1978 and 1992 where submariners and others are eligible for the award of the Australian Service Medal with the Submarine Special Operations Clasp, the Government will seek to amend the VEA to extend operational and qualifying service. This goes further than the Clarke Review, and grants Service Pension at age 60, Gold Card at age 70 and disability pension with the reasonable hypothesis standard of proof.
  
34. The Department of Defence reviews the activities of defence service personnel who located, cleared and disposed of enemy wartime ordnance in PNG and the Pacific Islands, with a view to making a determination on such activities as non-warlike hazardous service.

  Deferred. The Government notes that the Department of Defence is scheduled to review this service and will await the outcome of that review.
  
35. Service by ADF improvised explosive device disposal (IEDD) personnel in IEDD incidents be deemed non-warlike hazardous service under the VEA.

  Deferred. The Government notes that the Department of Defence is scheduled to review this service and will await the outcome of that review.
  
43. Service with BCOF be declared warlike from 21 February 1946 to 30 June 1947.

68B. Should the Government accept recommendation 43, BCOF veterans prior to 1 July 1947 should be entitled to the Gold Card.

  Deferred. The Government proposes to defer its response to these recommendations to allow further examination and discussion within the Government and with the Defence Nature of Service review team.
  
45. Participation by Australian Defence Force personnel in the British atomic tests be declared non-warlike hazardous and the legislation be amended to ensure that this declaration can have effect in extending VEA coverage.

  Accepted. The Government proposes to accept Clarke?s recommendation to provide former defence force personnel in the British nuclear tests (BNT) with access to the VEA for compensation benefits. This will provide access to disability pension and health care benefits for conditions accepted as caused by their BNT service under the more generous standard of proof.  Widow/ers of BNT defence force personnel will become eligible for war widow/ers pension and Gold Card for death accepted as related to BNT service.
  
54. The VEA be amended so that those war widows who enter into a marriage-like relationship after a veterans death will be treated, in regard to the right to claim war widows pension, in the same way as those who marry or remarry after the veterans death.

  Accepted. The Government will seek to amend the VEA to reflect this change.
  
60. The VEA be amended to enable a BCAL veteran to be able to establish a domicile of choice in Australia before the age of 21 years, with all other common law tests used in determining domicile continuing to apply.

  Accepted. The VEA is to be amended to allow those to establish a domicile of choice in Australia between the ages of 18 and 21, so long as all other common law tests used in determining domicile are met.
  
61. The VEA be amended to allow British and other Commonwealth veterans whose only service was within their country of enlistment to be considered as having qualifying service if they meet the same requirements that apply for service outside the country of enlistment.

  Rejected. The Government does not feel it is appropriate to accept this measure as it would extend benefits to BCAL veterans that are not available to some Australian veterans with similar service.
  
63. The VEA should be amended to allow British and other Commonwealth veterans who served in the operational area of Malaya and or Singapore between 1 September 1957 and 31 July 1960 to be regarded as having rendered qualifying service if their service was the same as that of veterans of the Australian armed services in that operational area during that period.
  Rejected. The Government continues its position that it is appropriate for BCAL veterans to meet the ?incurred danger test. As such, this recommendation is not accepted.
  
64. The VEA be amended to remove the campaign medal requirement for BCAL mariners, with qualifying service being only subject to whether the mariner was detained by the enemy or incurred danger from hostile forces of the enemy during the period of hostilities in World War II.

  Rejected. The Government does not feel it is appropriate to accept this measure as it would extend benefits to BCAL veterans that are not available to some Australian veterans with similar service.
  
65. If the government accepts the Committees recommendation to accord warlike and qualifying service to veterans of the Australian armed services serving in Japan with BCOF between 21 February 1946 and 30 June 1947, British and other Commonwealth veterans serving with BCOF in Japan during that period and United States veterans performing a similar peace enforcement role, also be regarded as having rendered qualifying service.

  Rejected. Although the Government is continuing to consider its response to recommendations 43 and 68B, it does not support the extension of qualifying service to British Commonwealth and Allied veterans who served in Japan at the same time as the BCOF.
  
70. The VEA be amended so that there will be no further grants of the Gold Card to post-World War II veterans of the Australian armed services at age 70 on the basis of their having rendered qualifying service, unless the veteran satisfies some measure of financial need.

  Rejected. The Gold Card should not be means tested, as it is provided in recognition of a person being placed in danger from an enemy.
  
72. The VEA should be amended to enable assistance with private health insurance to be provided for the dependent children of veterans entitled to the special rate disability pension who transfer to the proposed new disability pension structure outlined in Chapter 30, or entitled to the extreme disablement adjustment, through the provision of a tax-free health care allowance, indexed to the Consumer Price Index, if the family takes out private health insurance.

  Referred to Review of Military Compensation Arrangements.  As this recommendation relates to the Clarkes proposed Disability Pension structure, this has been referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements to consider in the context of the development of MRCA. along with other recommendations relating to the Disability Pension rate structure and rehabilitation.  
  
73. The Government should examine the needs of war widows and others caring for severely disabled adult orphans of veterans and the adequacy of existing support systems to meet those needs.

  Accepted and acted upon. A Parliamentary Inquiry examined the needs of carers across Australia as part of a broader review, resulting in the Who Cares Report, which the Government responded to on 29 October 2009, and most of the recommendations were agreed in full or part. In implementing one of those recommendations, the war widow/ers pensions and income support payments were increased as part of the Harmer Review in September 2009.  Pensions and benefits for war widow/ers and for severely disabled adult children have increased significantly since the Clarke review. The Governments proposed National Disability Strategy will also address the issue of support for the disabled and their carers in the community more broadly.
  
76. The Government accept that the principles of disability compensation on which the Committees proposed disability compensation structure is based are sound and appropriate for Australias disabled veterans.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. The Government is committed to reviewing the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA). This recommendation falls within the scope of that review to consider in the context of the development of MRCA, and has been referred for further consideration.
  
77. Following this acceptance, the Government adopt and implement the proposed structure as soon as practicable, given its beneficial nature for veterans and their families.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. The Government is committed to reviewing the MRCA. This recommendation falls within the scope of that review to consider in the context of the development of MRCA, and has been referred for further consideration.
  
78. The Government adopt the proposed transitional arrangements.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. The Government is committed to reviewing the MRCA. This recommendation falls within the scope of that review to consider in the context of the development of MRCA, and has been referred for further consideration.
  
79. As enhancements to the new structure, the Government consider how additional assistance can be provided to veterans who experience difficulties in maintaining housing equity and to children of veterans who wish to undertake tertiary education.

  Accepted and acted upon. This recommendation was based on younger Special Rate veterans and formed part of Clarkes proposed Disability Pension restructure which this Government rejects. This recommendation has been largely superseded by recent events. In relation to housing assistance, individual circumstances that come to the notice of the Department are addressed through existing housing support services in the community. Increased access to Defence Housing initiatives have lessened the burden on serving and ex-serving members. The MRCA also allows for a choice of lump sum of permanent impairment payments and income replacement in the form of incapacity payments, which can provide suitable assistance. More broadly, this Government has been addressing housing affordability and efficiency of the housing market.  It has committed over $19 billion since being elected to Government through a wide range of measures, many of which will assist veterans with their housing needs.  

In relation to assistance for veterans with children undertaking tertiary education, the Governments recent introduction of scholarships to aid eligible children under both the Veterans Childrens Education Scheme and MRCA Education and Training Scheme in the form of Start-Up Scholarships and Relocation Scholarships will go some way towards addressing the concerns raised with the Clarke Review .
  
82. An extended bereavement payment be made available to the widow of a veteran in receipt of special rate disability pension at the time of the veterans death payable, subject to the veteran and partner having satisfied the means test for payment of income support payments immediately before the veterans death had income support pensions been payable.

  Accepted and acted upon. Changes in 2005, subsequent to the Clarke review, whereby widows now receive the bereavement payment equivalent to the veterans actual rate of pension rather than capped at 100% of General Rate, has effectively superseded this recommendation. The bereavement payments made available now are equivalent to or exceed what would have been payable under the Clarkes proposal, and do not have the additional qualification of Clarkes recommendation that a veteran and partner had to receive income support payments before the veterans death.
  
84. War widows living overseas be able to claim the income support supplement.

  Rejected. This would create an anomaly in the social security system in that no Australian living overseas is eligible to lodge a claim for income support payments. This Government policy is consistent across the Social Security Act and the VEA. To enable one group to claim an income support pension while resident overseas would create a precedent across both Acts for larger groups under both Acts.
  
88. All veterans in receipt of EDA now and in the future have access to a Goods and Services Tax (GST) rebate on motor vehicles and parts.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. As this recommendation was part of Clarke?s proposed Disability Pension rate structure, this has been referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements to consider in the context of the development of the MRCA..
  
89. EDA veterans receive a private health insurance subsidy if they have dependent children and choose to take out private health insurance.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. As this recommendation was part of Clarkes proposed Disability Pension rate structure, this has been referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements to consider in the context of the development of the MRCA..
  
90. A veteran who is aged under 65 years at the date of introduction of the new structure and who, after reaching that age, is assessed under the Guide to the Assessment of Rates of Veterans Pensions as having 70 disability points and a lifestyle rating of six, not be granted EDA but instead receive a benefit package including:

         disability pension at 100 per cent of the general rate;

         access to a GST rebate on motor vehicles and parts (See also recommendation 88);

         a fortnightly means tested home care allowance of $150 while living in his own home;

         a private health insurance subsidy if he has dependent children and chooses to take out private health insurance (See also recommendation 89); and

         the Gold Card (for all conditions).

   Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. As this recommendation was part of Clarkes proposed Disability Pension rate structure, this has been referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements to consider in the context of the development of the MRCA..
  
92. The Government require of the veteran with a dual entitlement under the VEA and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA) a one-time election, which would restrict the veteran to receiving benefits under either the VEA or the SRCA, at that time or in the future if he has not already made a claim under either Act.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. The Government is committed to reviewing the MRCA. This recommendation falls within the scope of that review to consider in the context of the development of MRCA, and has been referred for further consideration.
  
93. The major principles of repatriation rehabilitation should be:

         Veterans participation in rehabilitation assessments and, where appropriate, rehabilitation programs, is an integral, obligatory part of the disability compensation provided under the repatriation system.

DVA has a responsibility to provide suitable and comprehensive rehabilitation to veterans for their service-caused disabilities.

The aim of rehabilitation is to restore veterans to their optimal level of function commensurate with their service-related disabilities to provide them with better quality of life, maximised vocational outcomes and reduced dependency on financial disability compensation.
 
  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. The Government is committed to reviewing the MRCA. This recommendation falls within the scope of that review to consider in the context of the development of the MRCA, and has been referred for further consideration.
  
94  106. These recommendations provided for the introduction of a rehabilitation program under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986.

  Referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements. The Government is committed to reviewing the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. These recommendations have been superseded by the introduction of the Military, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 which has broad and comprehensive rehabilitation provisions.  However, as these recommendations fall within the scope of that review they have been referred for further consideration in the context of the development of MRCA.


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THIS IS EASIER TO READ IF YOU OPEN THE ATTACHMENT

[Keith]

 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Wednesday, May 12, 2010 5:20 PM
Subject:DVA e-News Issue 2, 2010
  

Issue - 2 - 2010

Welcome to the latest issue of e-News, keeping you up-to-date with news from the Department of Veterans? Affairs.

BUDGET SPECIAL
In this issue:
Record funding for Veterans Affairs
Response to the revisitation of Clarke
Health Care and Compensation expanded for F-111 workers
New program to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions
New technology efficiencies for DVA
Consultation on Pharmaceuticals for War Caused Disabilities
Anzac Day at Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux well attended
More Fromelles fallen identified
New Sea wall for Anzac Cove
Publications
Media releases
Record funding for Veterans Affairs
The Australian Governments 2010-11 Budget delivers a $246.4 million package of new initiatives for Veterans Affairs.

The Budget also provides record Veterans Affairs funding of $12.1 billion, including $6.9 billion for compensation and income support, and $5.2 billion for health services. Visit the DVA website http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/publications/corporate/budget/2010-2011/Pages/index.aspx for more information.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Response to the revisitation of Clarke
The re-examination of unimplemented recommendations of the 2003 Clarke review of veterans entitlements has resulted in an investment in this years Budget of $36 million over four years. Visit the Minister's website http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/may/VA022.pdf for more information.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Health Care and Compensation expanded for F-111 workers
In this years Budget the Government has introduced a $55 million package in response to the recent F-111 Parliamentary inquiry. Benefits will be extended to an additional 2,400 workers who carried out fuel maintenance work involving fuel tank entry on F-111 aircraft. A new website has been set up to provide complete information for F-111 fuel tank maintenance workers and their families. http://f111.dva.gov.au


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New program to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and readmissions
The Australian Government?s 2010-11 Budget provides a $152.7 million package to improve community based health care for veterans and war widows and in doing so, reduce unnecessary hospital stays. Called the Preventable Admissions and Improved Community Care Program, it will specifically target people with chronic conditions and complex care needs who are most vulnerable and at risk of hospitalisations. Visit the Minister's website for more information.


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New technology efficiencies for DVA
To help DVA meet its whole of government ICT savings obligations without impacting our services and obligations to veterans and their families, the Department is currently finalising negotiations with another organisation to share back office corporate and ICT services. Visit the DVA website for more information.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Consultation on Pharmaceuticals for War Caused Disabilities
The Government is seeking submissions http://www.dva.gov.au/benefitsAndServices/pharmreview/Pages/index.aspx on the Consultation Paper for the Review of War Caused Disabilities and Pharmaceutical Costs.


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Anzac Day at Gallipoli and Villers-Bretonneux well attended
Around 7000 people attended the Dawn Service at Gallipoli marking the 95th anniversary of the landings in 1915. In France, around 3500 Australians attended the annual Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, honouring the 46,000 Australians who died on the Western Front in the First World War.


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More Fromelles fallen identified
Nineteen more Australians who fell in the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916 have been positively identified http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/Griffintpl.cfm?CurrentId=10256 and named, bringing the total number of named Australian soldiers to 94.


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New Sea wall for Anzac Cove
The Turkish Government is planning to invest in new works to protect Anzac Cove http://www.dva.gov.au/NEWS_ARCHIVE/Pages/AnzacCoveworksmediabriefing.aspx countering years of constant pounding by the sea which has dramatically effected the coastline. The works are due to be completed before April 2011.


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Publications
DVA Education resources for 2010 http://www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg/commemorations/education/Pages/education%20resources.aspx
Men?s Health Peer Education Program Newsletter ? March 2010 http://www.dva.gov.au/health_and_wellbeing/physical_health/mhpe/Documents/march2010.pdf

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Media Releases
2010-11 Budget media releases (VA021  VA024)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/Budget/budget_2010.htm

Government calls for submissions on pharmaceuticals review (VA020 PDF 45Kb)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/may/VA020.pdf

Anzac spirit commemorated across the world (VA018 PDF 61Kb)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/apr/VA018.pdf
 
Veterans' children receive tertiary education support (VA017 PDF 45Kb)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/apr/VA017.pdf
 
$200000 for projects honouring Australia's veterans (VA016 PDF 79Kb)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/apr/VA016.pdf
 
New sea wall to save Anzac Cove (VA015 PDF 57Kb)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/apr/VA015.pdf
 
New veteran pension rates announced (VA013 PDF 50Kb)
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2010/mar/va013.pdf
 

[Peter Turner]

What a nice change after years of Howard's bullshit.

[Keith]

To read the DVA budget papers in full go here

http://www.dva.gov.au/aboutDVA/publications/corporate/budget/2010-2011/Pages/index.aspx
 


VA022                                                                                                                      Tuesday, 11 May 2010

 

$36 MILLION TO IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE CLARKE REVIEW OF VETERANS ENTITLEMENTS

The government will provide compensation and entitlements for former defence force personnel who participated in British Nuclear Testing, and recognise others whose service has long gone unrecognised.

The Rudd Governments 2010-11 Budget provides funding of $36 million to implement key recommendations of the Clarke Review of veterans entitlements, ignored by the previous government.

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said the government had considered the Clarke Review findings and had come up with a fair and balanced response.

This commitment by the government will address significant issues identified by Justice Clarke in his review, funded with a new $36 million investment.

This includes our decision to provide benefits to the people involved in British Nuclear Testing, which will provide comfort and certainty for a group which has for years been seeking recognition for their service.

Today the government secures long overdue recognition and closure for military personnel who participated in nuclear tests at Maralinga, Emu Field and the Monte Bello Islands.

By accepting Justice Clarkes recommendation, we are looking after veterans who have been campaigning for many years.

As part of the package, $24.2 million over five years will go to providing disability pensions, war widows/ers pensions and health care benefits to people who suffer from conditions related to their nuclear test service. Potentially, 2,700 surviving defence force personnel will benefit.

Subject to legislative changes, benefits will be available from July 2010.

In responding to the Clarke Review, there will be a reclassification of the service of certain submarine special operations personnel between 1978 and 1992 to acknowledge their contribution, recognising it as qualifying service, opening up eligibility for benefits such as the Gold Card.

Up to 890 former submariners will benefit from this change, costing an estimated $11.1 million over four years. This investment goes beyond Clarkes recommendation that such service be treated as non-warlike hazardous.

In other measures:

A discrepancy will be removed, affecting a small amount of British Commonwealth and Allied veterans aged between 18 and 21 at the time of enlistment, and therefore too young to have their domicile of choice as Australia. Benefits will now be given to that group.

Widow/ers in a de facto relationship will no longer be able to claim the war widow/er pension. They will be treated in the same way as widows/ers who re-marry. This will only apply to new claims lodged from 1 October 2010.

Bereavement payments to war widows are now equivalent to or exceed what would have been payable under the Clarke proposals.

Assistance with tertiary education for veterans children is available through the governments recent introduction of scholarships to aid eligible children under both the Veterans Children Education Scheme and the Military and Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 Education and Training Scheme.

The needs of carers have been addressed as part of the governments broader response to the Who Cares report and the National Disability Strategy.
 
Several matters that relate to the nature of service undertaken are still under consideration by government. These are recommendations relating to clearance of ordnance in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific Islands; service related to improvised explosive device disposal; and British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan. All these are currently subject to examination by the Defence Nature of Service review or are subject to discussion within government.

Although not part of the Clarke Review response, the government has also decided to invest an additional $2.7 million to reclassify service at RAAF Base Ubon in Thailand between 31 May 1962 and 27 July 1962 from operational service to qualifying service, also improving eligibility for benefits for those affected.

 
VA021                                                                                                                    Tuesday, 11 May 2010

 

2010-11 BUDGET PROVIDES MORE SUPPORT FOR AUSTRALIAN VETERANS

 

The government is delivering on key election promises for veterans in this Budget by providing a $246.4 million package of new initiatives.

Among the initiatives are commitments for:

                greater access to compensation and income support

                preventing unnecessary hospital admissions for members of the veteran community

                action on further recommendations of the Clarke Review

                better access to health care and compensation for F-111 workers.

The Rudd Government in the 2010-11 Budget is providing $12.1 billion in income support, compensation and better health services for veterans.

This increased support continues while our veteran community declines with the passing of the World War Two generation. Sadly, over the last year Department of Veterans Affairs client numbers have fallen from 415,000 to approximately 380,000, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said.

The government will invest $152.7 million in expanding community-based health services aimed at Australian veterans and war widows with chronic conditions and complex care needs and at risk of hospitalisation.  

The package of new measures will also include greater access to benefits for thousands of Australians whose military service may have exposed them to health problems or illness.

$55 million will be invested to give an additional 2,400 F-111 aircraft fuel tank maintenance workers access to better health care and compensation. These workers include those known as pick and patch personnel who were not deemed eligible under the previous scheme. This means that more than 3,000 F-111 workers will now have access to benefits should they need them.

Under the former flawed scheme, ex gratia payments were provided based on arbitrary classifications without any reference to their health needs.

This new and vastly improved package addresses peoples actual health problems in a fair and equitable way, Mr Griffin said.  

In other changes, the 2010-11 Veterans Affairs Budget provides compensation and benefits for defence force personnel who participated in British Nuclear Testing in the 1950s and 1960s.

We have accepted the Clarke Review recommendation that the service of military personnel who participated in nuclear tests should be declared non-warlike hazardous under the Veterans Entitlements Act 1986.

This is what representatives of nuclear participants have sought since 2004.

Defence force members who participated in British Nuclear Testing will now be eligible for the disability pension and health care. Their partners may also be eligible for the war widows/ers pension. This change will potentially benefit an estimated 2,700 ex-defence force members at an estimated impact of $24.2 million over five years.

This is the result of a commitment by this government to revisit recommendations made as part of the 2003 Clarke Review into veterans entitlements which had not been implemented.  

There will also be a reclassification of the service of certain submarine special operations personnel between 1978 and 1992 to acknowledge their contribution, recognising it as qualifying service. Up to 890 former submariners will benefit from this change, costing an estimated $11.1 million over four years.

The Minister said the governments close inspection of the 45 Clarke Review recommendations had resulted in three being accepted and already acted upon, four being accepted, 12 rejected, four deferred and a further 22 referred for consideration under the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements.

The government will also invest an additional $2.7 million to reclassify service at RAAF Base Ubon in Thailand between 31 May 1962 and 27 July 1962 from operational service to qualifying service, also improving eligibility for benefits for those affected.


 
VA023                                                                                                                      Tuesday, 11 May 2010

 

$55 MILLION PACKAGE FOR FORMER F-111 AIRCRAFT FUEL TANK MAINTENANCE WORKERS

 

Thousands more former F-111 fuel tank maintenance personnel will now have access to health care and compensation arrangements under a new $55 million package.

This program will expand access to health care and compensation to those who had been excluded previously.

This investment comes in response to a parliamentary inquiry report into F-111 workers and their families.  

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said that these investments would deliver the Rudd Governments commitment to better health care arrangements across the country.

From tonight, more people will be eligible for care and compensation, now including those who carried out F-111 fuel tank maintenance involving fuel tank entry.

This change will help 2,400 extra personnel, including the pick and patch workers, at a cost of $39.6 million, Mr Griffin said.

Over 3,000 more personnel will be covered for any of the 31 conditions identified by the Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel (SHOAMP) as linked to maintenance work inside an F-111 fuel tank.  

The government is also reopening the SHOAMP health care scheme, which closed on 20 September 2005, at a cost of $12.5 million.

This scheme will support the health care needs of affected personnel while their claims are being determined.  

The government will provide a flexible, extended program of counselling for groups or individuals to meet the clinical needs of personnel and their families at a cost of $1 million.

Other announcements include:

 

        Ex gratia payments will be available to the estates of those who died prior to 8 September 2001.

        Statutory declarations can now be used as evidence where no contrary information exists.

        The Department will review all previous claims where a statutory declaration was rejected.

        A specialised implementation team in the Department of Veterans Affairs will implement the changes, overseen by a senior person responsible for reporting to government.

        A new F-111 fuel tank maintenance website, operational from tonight, will provide complete access to all F-111 fuel tank maintenance related information. The website can be accessed at: http://f111.dva.gov.au.

Under the former flawed scheme, ex gratia payments were provided based on arbitrary classifications without any reference to their health needs.

This new and vastly improved package addresses peoples actual health problems in a fair and equitable way.

Our response returns to the fundamental principle that defence personnel should receive compensation and health care for any ill-effects which can be linked to their military service,
Mr Griffin said.  

F-111 inquiry line for affected personnel and their families: 1800 555 323

For DVA  inquiries please call 133 254


VA024                                                                                                                      Tuesday, 11 May 2010

 

 

NEW PROGRAM INCREASES COMMUNITY CARE, REDUCING HOSPITAL STAYS

 

The government will deliver improved health care for veterans and war widows and reduce unnecessary hospital stays through a new $152.7 million investment announced in the Budget.
 
The Preventable Admissions and Improved Community Care Program will increase community-based support for veterans and war widows who have chronic conditions and complex care needs and are at risk of hospitalisation.

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said that new payments would be available to Local Medical Officers (LMOs) to better coordinate and oversee health care for veterans and war widows targeted by this new initiative. The government expects up to 17,000 veterans will benefit from the initiative.

This initiative will provide real support to members of our Second World War generation in their twilight years.

In many cases, there is no need for someone to end up sick enough to go to hospital. There is evidence that many of these stays would not be needed if there was better coordination of care and support for them in the community.

Being admitted to hospital can be very stressful, especially for older patients. This program aims to reduce unnecessary hospital stays by focusing on better community-based care and helping with the self-management of chronic conditions, Mr Griffin said.  

This announcement builds on the firm relationship that already exists between veterans and their LMOs. LMOs will receive new payments for preparing and implementing care plans, including coordinating care for veterans participating in the initiative.

A practice or community nurse will support the veteran including:

        coordinating appointments with other health professionals involved in their care

        providing an appointment reminder

        undertaking home visits

        assisting with medication management and treatments

        assisting the patient to self-monitor his or her condition.

The new program will target those with one or more of up to five chronic conditions. These are congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and diabetes.  

As part of the package, $28 million will be spent on an expansion of the Veterans Home Care Program to introduce a new service to target older, more frail veterans most at risk of unnecessary hospitalisation.
 

This will increase home-based services for our frailest veterans to try and keep them healthier so they can spend more quality time at home and less time in hospital, Mr Griffin said.

[Keith]

 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 4:34 PM
Subject: PBS SCHEME FOR DVA CLIENTS
 

Hi Everyone,

Attached is the paper outlining some themes on the PBS scheme for DVA clients.

My apologies if you received this twice (or for some of you even more).

I have been asked to forward it on to as many of the veteran community as I can.

Appreciate any feedback as well either to myself, your state or national committee or a submission to the department.

Regards

Gail

Gail MacDonell

PVA National Health & Education Development

PO Box 244

Charlestown NSW 2290


Website: www.pva.org.au

[Keith]

 
 
VA020                                                                                                                            Friday, 7 May 2010

GOVERNMENT CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS ON PHARMACEUTICALS REVIEW

Delivering on an Australian Government election commitment, Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin today released the Consultation Paper for the Review of War Caused Disabilities and Pharmaceutical Costs and encouraged veterans to have their say on its findings.

The Government has a long standing commitment to these veterans to review the costs associated with treatment from their war-caused or related conditions, Mr Griffin said.

The widening gap between the pharmaceutical safety net and the allowances available to veterans for medicines for war caused conditions has been recognised by this Review.

The Review determined that it was not possible to meet the Governments commitment to directly link veterans pharmaceutical use to their war caused disabilities.  However, two options have been identified which are still in keeping with the Governments commitment.  Both options go beyond the Government?s commitment for many of the veterans affected.

Importantly, the Review also identified the value of the pharmaceutical copayment in promoting the quality use of medicines in the community, and sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

I encourage the veteran community to read the Consultation Paper and carefully consider its findings.  It is important that veterans have their say on a preferred way forward and I encourage them to do so by making a submission, Mr Griffin said.

Submissions for individuals and ex-service organisations are currently open and will close on Friday, 18 June 2010.

The Consultation Paper for the Review of War Caused Disabilities and Pharmaceutical Costs is available at www.dva.gov.au.

[Keith]

COURIER MAIL
 
Power to cost 10 per cent more
 
Robert MacDonald HOMEOWNERS should brace for a double digit percentage increase on their power bills following approval of spending programs for Energex and Ergon.

 
Disabled War Veterans living on fixed incomes, who receive a pittance from the Queensland Government by way of a quarterly electricity allowance, have two choices.
 
Pay up of live in the dark ages with no fridge and candles. This is no exaggeration. If the bill goes unpaid the power gets cut off.
 
The BIG question to ask is this. What happened to Peter Beattie's promise that electricity costs would FALL after the industry was privatised.
 
This doesn't augur well for costs after the current Government just about privatises everything it can lay it's hands on.
 
Privatisation is simply the big corporations, the big money and the powerful bribing Governments to hand over their assets to big business so that they have more money and more power.
 
In the end ordinary people always lose through privatisation. To the rich the electricity bill is but a blip on the radar.
 
The privatisation of the electricity industry in Queensland has been a disaster and I'll bet anything little is being  consistently  spent on infrastructure, parts and backup systems so that it wouldn't take much to send the power grid down.


What happened to Peter Beattie's promise that electricity costs would FALL after the industry was privatised.
 
ABC NEWS
 
Regulator approves 9pc electricity bill rise
By Chris Logan

 
The AER says the increase will take effect from July. (ABC News)

The Australian Energy Regulator (AER) has allowed a 9 per cent rise in average electricity bills this financial year and 2 per cent over the following four years.

The AER says Energex and Ergon can spend more than $15 billion on its distribution system over the period.

AER chairman Steve Edwell says the increase will take effect from July.

"That's about a $129 increase in the average bill for next year, followed by about a $35 increase in ensuing years," he said.

The Queensland Competition Authority determines the other part of the price increase, which is the cost of supplying power.

Queensland Council of Social Service spokeswoman Karyn Walsh says a review is needed into how electricity concessions work.

"We'd like to see them increase the rebate for concession holders and also to extend concessions beyond people who have just got health concession cards but to everyone who's unemployed, and also to look at some of the equity issues," she said.

 
 

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[Keith]

From: bob vagi
To: AUSSIE DIGGER FORUM
Sent: Thursday, May 06, 2010 5:31 PM
Subject: Re: VETERANS AFFAIRS MINISTER SLAMS FALSE ALLEGATIONS OVER HENRY TAX CHANGES


Be great to have Ms Markus email address so that we could ALL correct her. I
have a son overseas and this type of political misinformation game is not
only worrisome to those who believe it, not knowing or being able to access
correct information, but angers me and no doubt others who have dependants
overseas.
BB

[Keith]

 
 
VA019                                                                                                                      Thursday, 6 May 2010  
 

VETERANS AFFAIRS MINISTER SLAMS FALSE ALLEGATIONS OVER HENRY TAX CHANGES

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today strongly rejected claims that Australian veterans would be worse off under the Rudd Government tax reforms.

Mr Griffin said these claims were not only false, but irresponsible given the potential distress this could cause to veterans and their families.

Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs Louise Markus should read the Government's press release, issued on 2 May 2010, before making false allegations that any reductions in pension indexation are being even considered as part of responding to the Henry Tax Review, and to recommendation 84 in particular, Mr Griffin said.

Veterans pensions will not by affected by the Henry Tax Review.

The Government's press release of 2 May 2010 categorically states that it has rejected any reduction in the indexation of pensions in response to recommendation 84 of the report into Australias Future Tax System.
 

Veterans know, even if Louise Markus does not, that the rate of service pensions is the same as the age pension paid by Centrelink.  The link is firmly established in the Veterans Entitlements Act and the Social Security Act. 

The Government will not reduce the current indexation arrangements for veterans? pensions, including disability pensions and war widows/ers pensions, Mr Griffin said.

The Government strengthened indexation arrangements in September last year as part of the Australian Governments Secure and Sustainable Pension Reforms and pensioners are already benefitting from a higher level of indexation.
 

All veterans pensions will continue to be indexed by the higher of the Consumer Price Index or the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index and then brought up to the Male Total Average Weekly Earnings benchmark if necessary.

 

 

* See the Governments 2 May release here: http://www.treasurer.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=pressreleases/2010/028.htm&pageID=003&min=wms&Year=&DocType=0

 

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863109

 

The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Minister?s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm

[Keith]

Band Of Brothers author accused of fabrication for Eisenhower biography
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/apr/25/stephen-ambrose-eisenhower-biography-scandal

His book Band of Brothers ? which chronicled the exploits of one company of US airborne troops in second world war Europe ? was turned into a highly praised TV series.

But now American historian Professor Stephen Ambrose, who was President Dwight D Eisenhower's official biographer and wrote or edited more than a dozen books about him, is embroiled in a posthumous controversy. It is alleged that he invented many meetings he claimed to have had with Eisenhower, and even fabricated entire interviews with him. The revelations have sent shock waves through the scholarly community in the United States.

 
 

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[Keith]

This refers to the Centrelink pension and not the DVA disability compensation payment/pension.
 
ABC NEWS
 
Disability pension criteria set for overhaul
 

The Federal Government says moves to tighten the eligibility rules for the disability support pension are not a cost-saving measure.

The Government says it will overhaul the system used to assess a person's impairment and says it will result in about 6,500 new claimants missing out on the pension.

But it expects the pension will be paid to 1,500 people who were previously ineligible.

Families Minister Jenny Macklin says the existing system is outdated and a new one would better identify people who are able to work.

Ms Macklin says the new system will reduce the processing time for claims from people who are clearly eligible for the pension.

Government spokesman Bill Shorten says the savings for the budget will be negligible.

"We have 770,000 people on the disability support pension. It's a fast-growing pension. People with disabilities find it hard to get work," he said.

"I don't think this is an issue about costs. It's a small part of a larger effort to do more for people with disabilities and make sure that the disability dollars are going to those who need it."

A committee of health authorities will advise the Government on the changes, which are due to be implemented in January 2012.

 
 

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[Keith]

Photos reveal Gallipoli sailors' untold story
By Penny McLintock

ABC NEWS

 
The 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train two into place an old hulk to form a breakwater for the boat dock at West Beach, Gallipoli in 1915. (AWM: P01326.008)

Map: Canberra 2600
A collection of photographs likely never seen by the public is telling the untold story of Australian sailors at Gallipoli during World War I.

On the eve of the 95th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings, the Australian War Memorial in Canberra is showcasing pictures on its website taken by Rear Admiral Leighton Seymour Bracegirdle of a little known Royal Australian Navy operation.

The images capture the 300 men of the 1st Royal Australian Naval Bridging Train at Suvla Bay in 1915 who - under relentless shell fire - constructed piers and helped to land British troops, stores and ammunition on the peninsula.

Curator Ian Affleck says the images have been in the memorial's collection for decades but it is probably the first time they have been on public display.

"These guys and their contribution is frequently overlooked," he said.

"History hasn't treated them kindly actually and we're hoping that we could just show a little bit of light on the service of these guys."

Mr Affleck says the images help broaden understanding of the Anzac story.

"They were in the thick of it and only a couple hours walk from where the Australian and New Zealanders were in Anzac, is this small group of about 300 sailors working their guts out doing this vital job for the British army," he said.

"Now the guys at Anzac wouldn't have known they were there.

"Their role was to go off and set up the infrastructure between the ships at sea and the beach heads where the soldiers were landing, so they were building piers and jetties and getting barges in and pontoons."

[Keith]

THE AGE

Lest we forget: war tales as therapy and legacy

DEWI COOKE

April 23, 2010

Play video http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/victorian-veterans-jack-gerdsen-1372558.html

Victorian veterans: Jack Gerdsen http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/victorian-veterans-jack-gerdsen-1372558.html
 

Play video http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/victorian-veterans-ricky-morris-1372566.htmlVictorian veterans: Ricky Morris

Play video http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/victorian-veterans-keith-johnston-1372511.html

Victorian veterans: Keith Johnston
http://media.theage.com.au/national/national-news/victorian-veterans-keith-johnston-1372511.html

Victorian veterans: Jack Gerdsen

Jack Gerdsen returns to Korea with a mound of Australian dirt to sprinkle on his friend's grave. (Courtesy: ACMI)

IT HAD been the monkey on Jack Gerdsen's back ever since his return from the war in Korea. Somehow he had survived, but four of his friends had not.

And when, on a visit home to see the mother of one of his fallen friends she hugged and cried, ''You're one of my boys; you're one of my boys'', it was more than the then 21-year-old could bear.

''I didn't visit any more mothers after that: it cut me up far too much'' he said.

Now 80, Mr Gerdsen has told his story to the Australian Centre for the Moving Image for a catalogue of oral histories by Victorian veterans.

His piece, ''Monkey off my Back'', details his return to the Kapyong battlefield in 1997 where he was finally able to cry for the loss of his friends and spread the soil he had brought from his Bendigo backyard over their graves.

''At that grave I buried my demons,'' he recalls in his video. ''That monkey, that monkey was off my back.''

The video was devised and edited with Mr Gerdsen's input during a three-day ''digital storytelling'' workshop run by ACMI.

ACMI's manager for screen events, Helen Simondson, said the four-year project aimed to record the personal accounts of service of up to 200 veterans. School children have also been incorporated in the production process and so far around 70 stories been completed, the organisation conscious that for some older veterans time may be running out.

The stories span conflict and race. Keith Johnston, 86, tells of a battle he fought in Milak, Papua New Guinea, in World War II where his best friend was shot by his side.

''It's a thing that has stayed in my mind for many years and it's still with me,'' he said. Indigenous man Ricky Morris offers his experience of the conflict in Afghanistan where he was on tour in 2008 and 2009.

Although he had been a member of the InterFET force in East Timor, he was not prepared for the after-effects of his Afghanistan tour, where soldiers were under constant threat of rocket attacks and roadside bombs. ''One day I was just hanging the clothes out on the line, just going about my business and ? there was a clap of thunder and a bit of lightning and I was diving for the ground,'' he said.

''I dusted myself off and made sure no one was looking at me and I was glad to be in the backyard on my own.''

The project is a joint initiative with ACMI, the state government and the Shrine of Remembrance.

A panel discussing the project is on at ACMI today at 11am. ACMI will screen the videos on Saturday and Sunday.

 

Ex-soldier, 96, fights on

JARED LYNCH

April 23, 2010

 

Tobruk veteran, 96, tackles robbers

Police are looking for two people who knocked a 96-year-old man off his mobility scooter and robbed him.

NOTHING can keep World War II veteran Reg Dickinson down. Even when he was being bashed by two thugs a quarter his age, the 96-year-old fought back.

The Werribee man - whose only joy since his wife died 18 months ago has been playing poker machines - was attacked on his way home from the pub after a "big win" on Wednesday evening.

He had almost returned to his nursing home when he was knocked off his mobility scooter, robbed and left bleeding. A man, 29, and a woman, 17, both from Corio, were arrested last night.

''I had him by the feet and he fell over but he got up,'' he said. ''I was handicapped, this [mobility scooter] was on me, you see. And in a position like that you don't really have that bit of oomph that you need.''

The former British soldier (pictured), who emigrated to Australia in 1980, said the couple saw his win at the Werribee Tavern. ''You can't hide that sort of thing, everybody is cheering.''

His advice for his attackers? ''Grow up.''

''They should try and act like adults instead of idiots. I hope to be able to have a chat with them.''

On Sunday Mr Dickinson will take part in his first Anzac Day parade.

 

[Keith]

A lucky escape
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/a-lucky-escape/story-e6frg6z6-1225856129876

Mark Dodd KOREAN War veteran Gilbert Jones, 81, of Adelaide, admits he has told few people about his experience in battle.

Battle for recognition
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/battle-for-recognition/story-e6frg6z6-1225856129827
 
Mark Dodd A BRAVE stand by outnumbered Diggers in Korea is finally acknowledged.

 
 

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[Keith]

From: Terry DAVIES
Sent: Monday, April 19, 2010 8:13 AM
Subject: Hero's WW2 tales to raise hospital money

[Keith]

From: Terry DAVIES

Sent: Sunday, April 18, 2010 9:35 AM

Subject: Adelaide vets shun parades

SOURCE:  http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/swamped-by-kin-adelaide-vets-shun-parades/story-e6frea83-1225854979974

Adelaide vets shun parades
 

?       Fiona McWhirter 

?       From:Sunday Mail (SA) 

?       April 17, 2010 10:09pm

 

SOME Diggers will not march in next week's Anzac Day parades, because they feel like "strangers" in their own unit, one veteran has claimed.

World War II commando Rex Lipman, of Balhannah, who turns 88 on Anzac Day, said some former servicemen and women had felt so "swamped" by next-of-kin marchers in previous years that they had decided not take part in next Sunday's event.

"There are so many next-of-kin wanting to march that the soldiers feel like strangers in their own unit," Dr Lipman said.

"One very senior person here, he and five others in his unit had 25 next of kin (last year), none of whom they knew; they were completely swamped and so two of them are not marching this year.

"It was almost like a march of next-of-kin, interrupted by old returned veterans - they just felt very alienated in their own place."

Dr Lipman, who also served in Timor and Borneo, said it was important that relatives and friends of soldiers remained in the dedicated next-of-kin group at the rear of the parade, to spare elderly veterans from an unnecessarily long walk.

 

The issue was highlighted last month, after organisers of Brisbane's Anzac Day march officially banned all veterans' relatives from walking alongside soldiers.

All next-of-kin will now be made to walk in a special group at the tail-end of the march. Next-of-kin in South Australia are encouraged to walk in a similar group at the back of the march, but the request is not enforced.

SA Anzac Day committee chairman Bill Denny said despite the recommendation, up to 800 civilians marched within units last year, extending the length of the procession and hampering veterans from finishing the parade.

Dr Lipman said the parade should be as short as possible for elderly servicemen who can no longer walk very far.

"We don't want to stress them too much," he said.

Next-of-kin who join military units in the Adelaide march on Sunday will be handed a notice asking them to move to their designated group at the back.

The request will not apply to veterans' carers.

Royal Australian Air Force Association state president David Helman, 68, supports the ban on next-of-kin's marching alongside veterans.

The 68-year-old, of Walkley Heights, who was a squadron leader for the RAAF police and was based in Thailand during the Vietnam War, even rejected his son Kerry's joining him in the parade a few years ago.

"My son - he's about 44 - he wanted to march with me but I explained that it wasn't for him to march with me at that time," Mr Helman said.

"I just said, `I'm sorry mate, but it's not for you to march with me and, while I'm still marching, it's not for you to march with the descendants; because the descendants are there primarily to represent members who have died'."

 

[Keith]

 
 
 
  
VA015                                                                                                                      
Thursday 15 April 2010

 

NEW SEA WALL TO SAVE ANZAC COVE

                                                          

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, has today welcomed plans by the Turkish government to invest in new works to preserve and protect Anzac Cove.

 

Mr Griffin said a tender would be issued in the coming months to kick off a program of works designed to counter the effects of significant sea erosion that is threatening the structural integrity of this most sacred site.

 

Years of constant pounding by the sea is having a dramatic effect on the beach at Anzac Cove,? Mr Griffin said.

 

Without this investment by Turkey, it is very likely that a location which is pivotal to the history of our nation would be lost to future generations.

 

The proposed works have been well thought out and planned and show great vision in preparing for the inevitable impact of climatic conditions.

 

They are also highly sensitive to the preservation of the battlefields and war graves.

 

We are grateful to Turkey for continuing to honour our Anzacs in this way.

 

A concrete gravity sea wall will be constructed along the back of the beach through Anzac Cove.

 

The wall will protect the Cove and nearby headland cemeteries from the impact of the sea.

 

Mr Griffin said Australian engineers had been closely involved in the design of the works.

 

The site will be treated with respect throughout the construction phase and the result will be unobtrusive and in keeping with the existing landscape.

 

He said the wall itself while fulfilling such a significant function had been designed to blend in with local conditions.

 

We are expecting visitor numbers to Gallipoli to continue to grow particularly as we head toward the centenary of the landing.  Im sure I speak for all Australians in expressing our gratitude that steps are being taken to protect this special place.

 

The works are due to be completed before April 2011.

[Keith]

 
Korean War veterans commemorate 60th anniversary
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/korean-war-veterans-commemorate-60th-anniversary/story-e6frg8yo-1225853338914

6:56PM Mark Dodd AUSTRALIAN veterans of the Korean War have led an international contingent in an emotional homage to fallen comrades at South Korea's National Cemetery today.

 

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[Keith]

 
From: Davies Terry
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 10:59 AM
Subject: War Veteran calls 000 from hospital bed



SOURCE: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw-act/war-veteran-calls-triple-0-from-own-hospital-bed/story-e6freuzi-1225849615442


War veteran calls triple-0 from own hospital bed
EXCLUSIVE by Neil Keene  From:The Daily Telegraph  April 05, 2010 12:00AM


AN 87-year-old war veteran had to use his own mobile phone to call triple-0 from his hospital bed because he couldn't get help from nursing staff.

Asbestosis sufferer Kevin Park was left languishing in Lismore Base Hospital earlier this month after waking in, in the middle of the night, soaked in sweat.

Patients on the ward were forced to use archaic brass bells to get attention after the paging system failed. A nurse initially tended to Mr Park but no one bothered to help him change out of his soaked hospital gown, so he tried ringing his bell again to get someone back.

Scared, confused and alone, Mr Park was at his wit's end after 45 minutes of ringing when he finally decided to call triple-0 on his mobile.

"I didn't know what was going on. It hadn't happened to me before and I wasn't even sure whether it was blood or sweat," he said from his hospital bed yesterday.

"Desperate people do desperate things. In the end I rang the emergency telephone number to ask them to get me out of here and somewhere where I would get some attention."

Only after his telephone call of desperation went through to an operator did a nurse finally appear, but Mr Park's ordeal did not end there.

The nurse took his phone, returning it later that night with its SIM card and battery removed.

"Taking my phone was, to me, the biggest offence," Mr Park said.

"To me it's thieving. You can't ring out on the phones they have here so that mobile phone was my only access to the outside world."

A North Coast Area Health Service spokeswoman said staff took Mr Park's phone to prevent other patients being disturbed in the middle of the night. "NCAHS has apologised for any distress that may have been caused to Mr Park and his family," she said.

"The nurse call system on Ward C8 was identified as faulty (but) the emergency part of the system is still operative."

The spokeswoman said a replacement system would be installed later this month.

Mr Park, who served with the RAAF in World War II, was admitted to hospital last month suffering a lung condition.

[Keith]

The Defence Personnel portfolio has now been given to the Veteran Affairs Minister
SMH
 
Combet to concentrate on insulation
TOM ARUP ENVIRONMENT CORRESPONDENT
April 2, 2010


MAJOR Australian companies will be contracted to help shore-up the government's botched home insulation program, under new safety measures.

The focus on major companies comes as the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced junior minister Greg Combet would drop part of his defence duties to concentrate on the $2.45 billion insulation program.

The Defence Personnel portfolio has now been given to the Veteran Affairs Minister, Alan Griffin. Mr Combet will keep the Defence Material and Science portfolios, along with his Assistant Climate Change ministry.

Mr Combet was handed responsibility for the insulation program when the Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, was demoted in February over his handling of the scheme.

The Opposition environment spokesman, Greg Hunt, said the need for a mini-reshuffle to lighten Mr Combet's load was an indication of how big the insulation debacle has become.

Under the new insulation safety plan announced yesterday, major companies will be contracted by the government to perform safety checks and fix insulation in at least 150,000 households installed under the scheme.

Big name companies who previously installed insulation under the now suspended program will be required to ensure the quality of their own work and that of their sub-contractors - at their own expense.

Last week the Herald revealed the involvement of a number of major Australian companies in the program who performed tens of thousands of installations through complex sub-contractor networks.

Those companies - Spotless, Bunnings, Harvey Norman, Thor Building Products and Tech-2Home - are now being targeted by the government under the new safety plan, along with major insulation manufacturers CSR and Fletchers.

In a statement yesterday, Mr Combet said the success of the safety program will require the support of ''important Australian firms that participated in the home insulation program.''

''This includes a requirement that the participating firms were compliant under the home insulation program [HIP], and a commitment that they stand behind the quality of the insulation product used, and the quality and safety of the installations that they and their subcontractors carried out under the HIP,'' Mr Combet said.

In other elements of the safety plan, home owners who chose to remove foil insulation due to fears of ceilings live with electricity will be offered $1000 rebates under the government's replacement insulation program, due to start in June.

The government also expects the foil insulation safety program - which will remove insulation or install safety switches in another 50,000 homes - will take six months.

Mr Combet said the safety plan aimed to restore confidence in the insulation scheme after it was suspended after the deaths of four workers, 120 house fires and numerous instances of rorting and fraud.

The government's focus will now shift onto designing the revamped insulation rebate program, to start on June 1.

Mr Combet's loss of the Defence Personnel ministry came as the massive workload required to safely roll out the new scheme and the announced safety plan became clear.

With Dan Oakes

 

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[Keith]

Whatever the reason there is no doubt the cost of electricity in Queensland has skyrocketed. Those on fixed incomes such as disabled War Veterans on disability pensions are seeing their pensions buying less and less electricity for more and more money.
 
ABC NEWS
 
Power station generators used to push up prices: ETU
By Kim Lyell and Francis Tapim


A mass meeting of workers is to be held today at the power station. (AAP Image File Photo: Dave Hunt)


The Electrical Trades Union (ETU) says it has learned of allegations a Queensland power station generators are being wound back in peak periods to push up electricity prices.

The ETU has launched a campaign to stop the closure of the Swanbank B power station, west of Brisbane.

Government-owned corporation CS Energy announced last week it will shut the 480-megawatt plant progressively by 2012 and the 40-year-old plant is past its operation life.

ETU assistant secretary Allen Hicks says the allegations need to be examined by an independent inquiry into the electricity market.

He says there have been reports that Swanbank generators are being wound back during peak times.

"We've got some information at this stage that we want to do some more investigation before we start to come out and make some serious allegations about it," he said.

"But in the interim what we want to do is put it on the table to say that we're aware of some of the wind-backs that have been occurring during peak times and we think it's inappropriate and we want some answers."

But CS Energy chief executive Officer David Brown rejects any suggestion generators are being wound back during peak times to drive up electricity prices.

He says the power industry is heavily regulated and it is impossible to do that.

"We bid the competitive market with some fairly stringent rules and oversight by the regulator - we operate entirely in that sort of rules," he said.

"Swanbank is the most expensive coal station, which is why it doesn't run at full capacity."


Job fears

Workers met at the power station this morning to discuss job security.

Mr Brown says there will be no forced redundancies as a result but that workers might need to relocate.

However, he says there will be a job for every worker who wants to stay with the company.

"We're committed to the Ipswich area to Swanbank - it's been an important site for the last 40-plus years and we anticipate being there for a long time to come," he said.

But Mr Hicks says workers are worried.

"People have built their lives around working near this power station and for them to have it cut short is pretty ordinary," he said.

"They can say there will be no forced redundancies.

"In reality people will be given choices to move to other power stations but are they going to pack up their families to do that - that's a question that needs to be asked."

 
 

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[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
Kokoda road gets $250k upgrade
By PNG correspondent Liam Fox

Posted Thu Mar 25, 2010

The Australian Government is spending $250,000 to improve the road that leads to the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea.

The money is being used to fix parts of the dirt road that leads to Owers Corner, the southern entrance to the Kokoda Track.

Australia's special envoy on Kokoda, Sandy Hollway, travelled to PNG to inspect the work.

The 96-kilometre mountain track is the country's biggest tourist destination and Mr Hollway says the improvements will make it easier for visitors to get there.

"I [also] hope this road improvement is for the local people in getting back and forth to [Port] Moresby at all times of year in a safe and efficient way," he said.

The road work is part of an agreement between Australia and PNG to protect and improve the area.

 
 

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[Keith]

 
VA013                                                                                                                   Saturday 20 March 2010

 

VETERAN PENSION RATES TO INCREASE

Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin said more than 356,000 veterans, war widows and widowers and their dependents will be receiving increases in their pensions and other income support payments from today, through indexation.

Mr Griffin said the Governments pension increases in September and fairer indexation system is delivering a well-deserved boost to those in the veteran community who are reliant on income support pensions.

Todays increase sees single service pensioners receive an extra $29.20 a fortnight. This, combined with the Government's pension increases in September, has increased their pensions by around $100 per fortnight, bringing their pension to $701.10.

Couples on the service pension now receive an extra $44 a fortnight, bringing their combined pension to $1057. 

Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) pensioners receive an extra $47.20 and will now receive $1069.30 a fortnight.

Single TPI pensioners who also receive maximum rate income support pensions will receive $1770.40 a fortnight or $2126.30 for a couple a fortnight. This is an increase of $76.40 for singles and $91.20 for a couple.

The new pension rates are effective from today, paid from pension payday on 25 March 2010.

Pensions are indexed on 20 March and 20 September each year.

Pensions are indexed twice a year to the highest of three measures: the consumer price index (CPI), the pensioner living cost index, and growth in male total average weekly earnings (MTAWE).  The Government's Pension Reforms increased the effective benchmark for singles from 25 per cent to 27.7 per cent of MTAWE. 

The pension increases have been driven by an effective 4.6 per cent increase in the male total average weekly earnings while the cost of living has only risen by 1.5 per cent.

Deeming rate changes

As the economy recovers from the global economic crisis, rates of return on investments are also beginning to increase.

As a result, the deeming rates, which are used to assess income from a range of financial investments held by pensioners and other income support recipients, will also increase on 20 March from the record low levels during the global economic crisis.

The lower deeming rate will increase from two per cent to three per cent for financial investments up to $42,000 for single pensioners or $70,000 for a couple.

The deeming rate will increase from three per cent to four and a half per cent for balances over these amounts.


New rates

Service pension Old rate  Rate as of 20 March Increase

Single person $671.90 $701.10 $29.20

Couples (each) $506.50 $528.50 $22.00

Couples (combined) $1013.00 $1057.00 $44.00

War widows pension $679.00 $709.60 $30.60

Income support supplement $202.50 $211.90 $9.40

Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (Special Rate Pensioners)
 $1022.10 $1069.30 $47.20

Intermediate rate disability pension $693.50
 $725.50 $32.00

Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) $564.10 $590.20 $26.10
100 per cent disability pension $363.10 $379.90 $16.80
10 per cent disability pension $36.31 $37.99 $1.68

Wholly dependent partners death benefit (weekly) $307.90 $322.10 $14.20


For inquiries on pensions please contact DVA on 133 254.
 

Media inquiries only: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

NEW COIN HONOURS LOST SOLDIERS OF FROMELLES

The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, and the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, have today announced the Royal Australian Mint will next month issue a collectible 20 cent coin commemorating Australias Lost Soldiers of Fromelles.

This coin is a continuation of the Mint?s Australia Remembers series, exploring our nations war experiences and military history behind and beyond the battlefields, the Assistant Treasurer said.

The coin design is based on the Cobbers statue which stands in the Australian Memorial Park at Fromelles.

The design features a circle enclosing an artists impression of the Cobbers statue and, to the right, the inscription 20

Outside of the circle are the inscriptions Australia Remembers and ?Lost Soldiers of Fromelles, the Assistant Treasurer said.

The Cobbers statue by Melbourne sculptor Peter Corlett was unveiled at the former battlefield in France in 1998 and a replica is installed at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne.

The battle of Fromelles on 19 July 1916 was the bloodiest day in Australian military history, with more than 1300 Australians soldiers killed and over 4000 wounded, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said.

The fallen of Fromelles have no known grave and a joint Australian/British Identification Board has now begun examining evidence to identify the remains of 250 soldiers recovered from the mass grave.

The Board is trying to match the remains of the World War One diggers with DNA samples collected from descendants, Mr Griffin said.

The Royal Australian Mints 2010 Australia Remembers project was completed with the association of the Australian Fromelles Project Group and the Office of Australian War Graves.

The first coin in the Australia Remembers series honoured Australian Service Nurses.

The Fromelles collectible coin will be available from 1 April 2010.

[Keith]

I wonder what the percentage is in Australia?
 
Young war veterans returning home to unemployment

Government finds 21.1 percent unemployment rate for young veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan wars

KIMBERLY HEFLING
AP News

Mar 12, 2010 

The unemployment rate last year for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hit 21.1 percent, the Labor Department said Friday, reflecting a tough obstacle combat veterans face as they make the transition home from war.

The number was well above the 16.6 percent jobless rate for non-veterans of the same ages, 18 to 24.

As of last year, 1.9 million veterans had deployed for the wars since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Some have struggled with mental health problems, addictions, and homelessness as they return home. Difficulty finding work can make the adjustment that much harder.

The just-released rate for young veterans was significantly higher than the unemployment rate of young veterans in that age group of 14.1 percent in 2008.

Many of the unemployed are members of the Guard and Reserves who have deployed multiple times, said Joseph Sharpe, director of the economic division at the American Legion. Sharpe said some come home to find their jobs have been eliminated because the company has downsized. Other companies may not want to hire someone who could deploy again or will have medical appointments because of war-related health problems, he said.

"It's a horrible environment because if you're a reservist and you're being deployed two or three times in a five-year period, you know you're less competitive," Sharpe said. "Many companies that are already hurting are reluctant to hire you and time kind of moves on once you're deployed."

One veteran looking for work is Dario DiBattista, 26, of Abingdon, Md., a graduate student who did two tours in Iraq in the Marine Reserves with a civil affairs unit. He said he's found that a lot of military skills don't readily transfer into the workplace, and in many cases, there aren't jobs to apply for even if companies want to hire veterans.

"If you don't have a strong family support system ... it's hard to get over the hump to make the decision of where you're going to live, what you do for work, where you're going to go to school, if you can even qualify to get into school," DiBattista said.

Justin Wilcox, a 30-year-old Iraq veteran who is participating in a work-study program at a vet center operated by the Veterans Affairs Department in Charleston, W.Va., said he hasn't just had problems finding jobs, but keeping them. He's done work as a coal miner, as a salesman selling drill bits and in other positions, but he said mental health problems stemming from the war with side effects such as anger and difficulty concentrating have made it difficult.

There's a lack of understanding about the needs some veterans have, said Wilcox, who is studying to become a teacher.

"Basically, it's been a real hard time for me. Because when I do get a job, it's not a real high paying job," Wilcox said. "I have a difficult time relating to people and ... one job that I had that paid really good, I couldn't comprehend what I was supposed to do and how I was supposed to do it."

For veterans of all ages from the recent wars, the unemployment rate in 2009 was 10.2 percent. Historically, younger veterans have had more difficulty than their older counterparts finding a job because they often have less training and job experience. Some joined the military right out of high school.

Lisa Rosser, an Army veteran and company owner who sits on the advisory board of the Call of Duty Endowment that funds projects focused on veterans employment issues, said she encourages veterans to emphasize to prospective employers what they learned about managing people in a stressful combat environment.

"If they talk about their general leadership skills and their ability to supervise and to manage people, especially at a very young age, that is a good sell ... because the average 24-year-old and 27-year-old in the military has similar supervisory and managerial experience as someone in their 30s on the civilian side," Rosser said.

One possible solution is to make it easier for veterans to transfer certifications they have for jobs they did in the military into the civilian workforce, Sharpe said.

The Labor and Veterans Affairs departments have a variety of programs addressing the problem, including one that educates employers about how to work with veterans with special needs. The hope is that another program, the Post-9/11 GI Bill rolled out last year, will be particularly effective. Under it, $78 billion is expected to be paid out in education benefits over the next decade for veterans of the recent wars to attend school.

The national unemployment rate last year was 9.3 percent, the highest since 1983.
 
 

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[Keith]

THE AGE
 
Shrine's dying poplars to be replaced by native gums
CAROLYN WEBB
March 11, 2010

IN A radical departure from previous policy, the Shrine of Remembrance will for the first time plant native trees en masse. In May, the Lombardy poplars that line Birdwood Avenue will be replaced by 130 lemon-scented gums.

Shrine chief executive Denis Baguley said prolonged drought and water restrictions had forced the change to the one-kilometre long avenue, the leafy road up to the Shrine.

Four years ago, the line of about 100, 40-year-old poplars started dying and shedding branches. Two new rows of about 50 juvenile poplars were planted, but most of them are also now dead.

Mr Baguley said Heritage Victoria, the Victorian RSL, Legacy, the Royal Botanic Gardens and veterans' associations had agreed to the changes.

Lemon-scented gums have been chosen for Birdwood Avenue because they are sustainable on a dry ridge without irrigation. ''They'll get tender loving care in the first year or two, until they are strong and established and then, essentially, they stand alone,'' he said.

Lemon-scented gums line the road to Perth's war memorial in King's Park.

The 3AW and ABC TV gardening guru Jane Edmanson said poplars throughout Melbourne had ''really had a hard time'' in the drought and commended their replacement with lemon-scented gums.

''I think if they're [poplars] deemed to be not good, if you have to replace them, I think it's a good replacement. Nice trees, lovely trees, those lemon-scented gums. They're gorgeous, they're a bit more Australian, they've got a lovely look about them; they'll form a nice avenue. I like them.''

Mr Baguley said it wasn't going against tradition to have natives. ''The Shrine reserve is made of exotic and native species now. There are native trees dotted throughout the reserve; eucalypts. But it is certainly the first time that native trees will be used along Birdwood Avenue as boulevard trees.''

Over the next five years, a total of 375 drought-tolerant species will be planted around the shrine, and 106 dead or dying drought-affected trees removed.

There will be 675 new trees in the Shrine's 13-hectare reserve by 2015, a net gain of 205 trees. Melbourne City Council will pay the $142,000 cost.

This number includes failed poplars along St Kilda Road, near the Shrine, being replaced by a mix of exotics and native trees, including pines, conifers, maples, oaks, elms and eucalypts.

The 106 commemorative trees dedicated to individual battalions and associations on the Shrine lawns are all being replaced by either natives or exotics.

The first is the Fourth Light Horse regiment's ailing lilly pilly, which has been replaced by a Gallipoli oak.

Bhutan cypresses that flank the Shrine's Melbourne-end and South Yarra end forecourts will remain. Four years ago this species replaced about 12 Lombardy poplars on the path that circles the Shrine.

 
 

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[Keith]

Government boosts pension payments 
 
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/06/2838319.htm?section=justin

Pensioners will receive an increase in their payments later this month to reflect the higher rate of wages in Australia.

[Keith]

 
VA011                                                                                                                               Friday 5 March 2010

WALKING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF OUR ANZACS

Australian visitors to Gallipoli will benefit from two initiatives launched today by the Minister for Veterans? Affairs, Alan Griffin, at the Australian War Memorial.

A new walking guide to the peninsula, The Anzac Walk ? Gallipoli in a day, has been produced in time for Anzac Day and a new visitor registration service is being trialled this year to help travellers attending Anzac Day services at Gallipoli.

Gallipoli marks a defining moment in our nations history, Mr Griffin said.

To be at Gallipoli, on Anzac Day or at any time, is opportunity to get a glimpse into that moment, especially as we near the 95th anniversary of the landing.

Many Australians visit Gallipoli each year to pay tribute to the soldiers who forged the Anzac legend and the Australian Government is pleased to offer resources to ensure they get the most of out of their visit.  We would like them to come prepared, he said.

In the past we have seen some Australian travellers arrive at Gallipoli wearing just thongs on their feet and a light jumper to keep warm. The weather at Gallipoli can be extreme  below zero and often windy overnight, hot during the day and there is always a chance of rain.

I encourage travellers planning to attend Anzac Day services at Gallipoli to register and receive important updates in the lead-up to Anzac Day, helpful information on what to bring with them and what to expect at Gallipoli.  

Registration is via the Department of Veterans Affairs website, www.dva.gov.au/anzac  

Mr Griffin said Australians travelling to Gallipoli at any time of the year should pack or download a copy of The Anzac Walk  Gallipoli in a day.

Starting at North Beach the guide takes you on foot to key sites including Anzac Cove, Lone Pine, the Nek, Johnstons Jolly and Shrapnel Valley, said Mr Griffin.

The guide gives first-hand accounts of what it was like for an Australian soldier at that particular stop on the Gallipoli battlefield. To understand our history, particularly those dark parts where pain and loss prevailed, is to understand the incredible resilience of our Anzacs.

Mr Griffin also launched the 2010 Anzac Day poster today, featuring images of the Anzacs arriving at Gallipoli in 1915 and of Anzac Cove today.

This year marks 95 years since the Anzac legend was forged on the shores of the Gallipoli peninsula.  To help commemorate this anniversary my Department has produced an Anzac Day commemorative poster focused on Gallipoli and the legacy of the Anzacs. These will be mailed nationally to schools,    ex-service and community organisations in the coming weeks, he said.

* Copies of The Anzac Walk are available from the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, and Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne. Audio and text excerpts of the guide, in English and Turkish, can be downloaded from www.anzacsite.gov.au

Editors note:  fact sheets and images (including the poster) are at www.dva.gov.au/media

[Keith]

 
THE HON. GREG COMBET MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science

THE HON. ALAN GRIFFIN MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs

Tuesday, 2 March 2010
027/2010

Identification of Fromelles fallen begins

A joint Australian/British Identification Board is now considering evidence in an attempt to identify the 250 soldiers recovered from the World War One mass grave at Fromelles, France. 

Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, and Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, welcomed the commencement of this important process.

"The identification of the remains is an extremely complex process involving the review of anthropological, archaeological, historical and DNA information," Mr Combet said.

"The Joint Identification Board will seek to determine as many of the soldiers identities as possible. The Army will then notify registered relatives of identified soldiers."

"More than 1300 Australians soldiers died at Fromelles and have no known grave," Mr Griffin said.

"Almost all of the 250 sets of remains have yielded viable DNA samples.

"Nearly 600 DNA samples collected from descendants will be considered by the Joint Identification Board.

"A commemorative event to open the cemetery is scheduled for the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2010.  The battle was the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian history with 5,533 Australian soldiers killed, wounded or missing," Mr Griffin said.

The Board will be co-chaired by Major General Mike O'Brien (Australian Army) and Air Commodore Chris Bray (RAF). The Board will convene on 1 March 2010 at Australia House, London and will conclude on 12 March 2010. Planning is also underway for an additional board in late April or early May to consider samples that were not available for the March board.

People who believe their relative may be buried at Fromelles and have not already registered should do so at www.army.gov.au/fromelles or by calling 1800 019 090.

[Keith]

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List  
 
VA010                                                                                                                      Monday, 1 March 2010

 

ANZAC DAY IS A TIME FOR REMEMBRANCE, NOT SHOPPING

 

Anzac Day is time to remember the more than 102,000 Australians who have made the ultimate sacrifice and died in the service of our country and not for shopping, Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin said, expressing his disappointment in Kmarts application to trade on Anzac Day.

 

Anzac Day draws together our community in paying tribute to the men and women who have served. It is the one day of the year we stop, as a nation, to remember their sacrifice and courage, Mr Griffin said.

 

It is unnecessary and disrespectful to open shops while our veterans march in Anzac Day parades.

 

Shops can open on almost every other day of the year. I feel strongly that the solemnity of Anzac Day should be preserved and that commercial enterprises can be put on hold for a few hours.

 

Anzac Day is a public holiday so that people are free to attend services and pay their respects.

 

Im pleased to say that each year we see more people attending services, including young people, paying tribute to all our servicemen and women.

 

Anzac Day is an important day to honour the men and women who have served in wars, conflicts and peace operations, and those who continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force, and I encourage Australians to attend a service and remember them, not to go shopping.

[Keith]

The money God rules supreme in the world.
 
 
From: Terry Davies
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 8:16 AM
Subject: Kmart wants us shopping on Anzac Day


Source: The Daily Telegraph

Kmart wants us shopping on Anzac Day



By Gemma Jones, Political Reporter From:
The Daily Telegraph March 01, 2010 12:00am



ON Anzac Day, Australia remembers its fallen - but retailer Kmart believes we want to go shopping.

The department store has applied to the State Government for permission to trade before the traditional opening of 1pm.

"Kmart submits that there is a desire within the community to see our stores open before 1pm on Anzac Day," the application said.

"Customers who are used to being able to shop at any time would potentially be severely inconvenienced by our closure. In short, they would not be able to obtain necessity items when they want."

The department store also wants to open on Easter Sunday and Boxing Day for the next three years because it says shopping is an important "leisure activity".

RSL President Don Rowe was outraged Kmart would want to trade on the morning of Anzac Day.

"We're totally opposed. Surely to God they can take a morning off to commemorate Anzac Day. That is what it is about, it is not about business," he said.

"I totally disagree [with their reason]. We see huge crowds at Anzac Day services. For them to think people want to go shopping ... they are not in touch with reality."

Rivals Woolworths said they would not make application to open any of their supermarkets or department stores on Anzac Day.

"It is one of those times in the year you just wouldn't dream of opening," spokeswoman Clare Buchanan said.

"It would never occur to us to put in an application to open on that day, for any of our brands."

In its application, Kmart said it believed people wanted to shop on Anzac Day and that customers appreciated 24-hour trading and that it had driven rising sales.

A Kmart spokeswoman denied the store was seeking to open on Anzac Day morning, claiming the move was "not for anything other than if there have been changes to legislation going forward".

The application was for "retail trading on restricted days" and there was no mention in Kmart's application of any changes in the law but it did state it wanted to be "exempt" from the two-year-old Shop Trading Act so it could open on the three public holidays.

In its application to open on Boxing Day, Kmart said that when stores were allowed to open on public holidays previously, "our business has seen great success".

It wants to open on Easter Sunday because Australia is multicultural and it says: "Shopping is an important social activity for our customers nationally."

The application went on to say shopping "provides for the opportunity for families to come together ... and gives them reason to spend special time with one another."



"A" Field Battery, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery, is the oldest Unit in the Australian Military and the longest continuously extant. "A" Bty RAA wears the White Lanyard of the left shoulder, unlike all other Corps who wear the lanyard on the right shoulder, and is the only Australian Artillery Unit to bear the Kings and Queens Colours in Banner form. The Colours for all other Australian Artillery Units are the Guns with the Sovereign's Crest emblazoned on the barrels.
 
MSPA 050/10 Monday, 1 March 2010

DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE

Australian Army turns 109

One of the oldest institutions in Australian turned 109 years old today, as the Australian Army celebrated its birthday at the Australian War Memorial.

To mark the occasion, a commemorative service was held at the Australian War Memorial around the Pool of Reflection.

Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Ken Gillespie spoke to the officers and soldiers about the importance of the occasion.

?As Army marks its 109th year, we have a great deal to be proud of in the service our people continue to give their country,? said Lieutenant General Gillespie

?Today, we pause to remember the great work of this fine institution and to reflect on the manner in which the Australian Army has served this nation.

?We will continue to grow as an organisation and ensure that the traditions of Army are maintained and carried into the future.?

The Australian Army has a proud history and now has soldiers deployed on major operations in the Middle East, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

The history of the Australian Army goes back over a hundred years to the year of Federation. 

Each of the six colonial governments was responsible for the defence of their own colony until Federation on 1 January 1901.  It was then that the Australian Constitution stated that all defence responsibility was vested in the Commonwealth Government.

The newly formed Commonwealth Government created the Department of Defence on 1 March 1901.  It was from this time that the Australian Army came into being.


Media Note:
Vision of the ceremony will be distributed to all networks at Parliament House this afternoon.

Still images are available at:
http://www.defence.gov.au/media/download/2010/Mar/20100301b/index.htm

[Keith]

APPOINTMENT OF NEW REPATRIATION COMMISSIONER

 

Major General Mark Kelly AO, former Commander of Australian Forces in the Middle East, has been appointed as the new Repatriation Commissioner, Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin announced today.

The Minister said the appointment of such a highly experienced and respected officer was a coup for the veteran community.

At a time when significant numbers of Defence Force members are returning from deployment, having a Commissioner who understands their situation, has shared their experiences and in many cases commanded them, will help their transition from military to civilian life, Mr Griffin said.

I am keen to improve the connection between the ADF and the Department of Veterans? Affairs and to better understand and support current and recently ex-serving members of the ADF, and I am confident Major General Kelly will help achieve this.

I am certain that Australias veteran community will welcome his appointment.

The Repatriation Commissioner is the services representative on the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and is appointed from nominations received from the ex-service community.

With the support of the Department of Veterans? Affairs, the Repatriation Commission delivers compensation, health care and other support to our current and former servicemen and women.

Major General Kelly graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1978 with the Sword of Honour and has since commanded at every level in the Australian Army. His operational experience includes service with the Commonwealth Monitoring Force in Zimbabwe/Rhodesia, Chief of Staff of INTERFET during Operation Stabilise in East Timor, and Commander Joint Task Force 633 in the Middle East Area of Operations and Afghanistan, concluding on 15 January this year. His five-year appointment as Repatriation Commissioner begins on 1 July 2010, when the current Commissioner retires.

My thanks go to outgoing Repatriation Commissioner Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO (Retd) who has provided outstanding service during his period as Commissioner. It has been a privilege to work with such a highly regarded and genuine leader who has demonstrated dedication and compassion in helping the men and women of the defence and veteran community, Mr Griffin said.

NEW VETERANS? REVIEW BOARD HEAD

 

Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin today announced that Doug Humphreys has been appointed as the Principal Member of the Veterans Review Board for five years, beginning on 22 March. 

The Veterans Review Board is the first avenue of appeal for decisions about veteran?s benefits and entitlements, after internal review options have been exhausted. Veterans Review Board decisions can be appealed to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
 

Mr Humphreys is an experienced senior public servant with an extensive background in government tribunals. He is currently the Principal Registrar of the Commonwealth Administrative Appeals Tribunal, a position he has held for the past six years. He is also an alternate member of the NSW Legal Aid Commission Board, and has served as an infantry officer in the Army Reserve since 1976.

 

Mr Humphreys service background combined with his legal expertise gives him a strong understanding of the unique nature of military service and his role in making decisions related to service, Mr Griffin said.

 

Mr Humphreys has a strong network within the legal fraternity and across the Australian Public Service.  The partnerships he formed with the Registrars and Heads of other Commonwealth Tribunals resulted in greater co-operation across each organisation.

 

No doubt the benefits of such partnerships will flow to the Veterans Review Board.
 

The Veterans Review Board is an independent tribunal that reviews decisions or determinations of the Repatriation and Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Commissions. The Veterans Review Board also reviews determinations of the Service Chiefs of the Navy, Army and Air Force in relation to rehabilitation for serving members of the Defence Force.

[Keith]

  Friday 19 February 2010  

DARWIN BOMBINGS REMEMBERED 68 YEARS ON

Australians are encouraged to remember the day war came to our shores on the 68th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Darwin, the Minister for Veterans? Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today.
 

Delivering the commemorative address at a service at Melbournes Shrine of Remembrance Mr Griffin said the attacks on Darwin devastated Australia during the Second World War and marked the beginning of the Battle for Australia.

 

When the Japanese entered the Second World War in December 1941, they advanced quickly across most of South East Asia and large areas of the Pacific.  For Australia this meant the threat of war was suddenly on our doorstep,? Mr Griffin said.

 

A few months later at 9.58 am, February 19, 1942, the residents of Darwin were going about their day when aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy flew overhead launching an attack.

 

Enemy aircraft swept over the town wreaking havoc killing and injuring service personnel and civilians; destroying the harbour, hospital, post office, airfields and the RAAF base at Parap.

 

Coming just days after the Fall of Singapore the attacks on Darwin and Northern Australia demonstrated the magnitude of the task of defending Australia against the threat of Japanese invasion.

 

More than 240 Australians were killed and hundreds more injured in the initial attacks on Darwin.  Twenty military aircraft were destroyed, eight ships beached and many more buildings reduced to rubble, leaving Darwin in ruins.

 

Over the next 21 months, until 12 November 1943, Darwin and other areas of the Northern Territory endured more than 80 air raids.  Other northern Australian towns suffered enemy attacks but none experienced the repeated air raids that Darwin endured.

 

I encourage Australians to take the time today to remember the men and women who have served to protect our shores, those continuing to serve our nation and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defence of Australia, he said.

 

The bombing of Darwin is one of the many wartime events which are commemorated on Battle for Australia Day on the first Wednesday of September each year.

[Keith]

 
Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List
 
VA005                                                                                                             Thursday, 18 February 2010 

RED TAPE CUT FOR VETERANS AND ADF PERSONNEL
 

The red tape facing Australias most disabled ex-serving personnel accessing income support has been cut in new changes announced today by the Minister for Veterans? Affairs, Alan Griffin.

 

Minister Griffin said that from March 2010, veteran pensioners assessed as Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) would be exempt from Centrelink medical reviews to access a Disability Support Pension.

 

Since coming to Government we have sought to reduce the barriers facing veterans and injured ex-serving personnel seeking compensation and income support, the Minister said.

 

We established an Interdepartmental Working Group to simplify the bureaucratic maze facing veterans and ex-serving personnel, making it easier for them to access their entitlements and streamlining arrangements across agencies.

 

Todays announcement immediately assists around 1100 veterans on a Centrelink Disability Support Pension and has the potential to benefit many more into the future.

 

Currently TPI pensioners undergo repeated Job Capacity Assessments to access and retain their Disability Support Pension. Our TPI pensioners have already been through a rigorous assessment process to access their DVA benefits so making them go through a similar process to access Centrelink benefits is unreasonable.

 

Todays announcement builds on a range of initiatives introduced since the election, including expanding acceptance the ADF Identification Card as Proof of Identity by more government agencies and compiling the ADF Transition Handbook, which lists all interdepartmental benefits and support services available to separating ADF members.

 

DVA and Centrelink are also sharing data to help reduce the risk of overpayments for the more than 17,500 pensioners on both DVA and Centrelink payments.

 

Mr Griffin said the inter-agency co-operation under this Government was creating smarter ways to deliver ?whole-of-government? services.  

 

I am pleased with our progress to date but more will be done in our efforts to support our veterans and defence personnel, Mr Griffin said.

[Keith]

VA003a                                                                                                              Monday 15 February 2010

$1.3M FOR VETERAN HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECTS

Encouraging veterans, war widows, widowers and their families to become involved in local health and wellbeing activities, the Minister for Veterans? Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced more than $1.3 million in funding to support 98 initiatives across Australia.

 

I am pleased to announce that more than $1.3 million has been allocated in this round of the Veteran & Community Grants program, Mr Griffin said.

 

The funding will benefit some 41,000 veterans, war widows and widowers and their families by supporting a range of initiatives including health, nutrition and exercise sessions.

 

Mr Griffin said the grants demonstrate the Australian Governments commitment to organisations that care for the veteran community, and encourage veterans, war widows and widowers and their families to become involved in local health and wellbeing activities.

 

Veteran & Community Grants help fund local initiatives that improve access to community care services and encourage social interaction through Day Clubs, Men?s Sheds and social excursions, Mr Griffin said.

 

It is important that the veteran community has access to a range of programs where they can learn skills to help them remain independent and active, particularly for the elderly living by themselves.

 

Veteran & Community Grants are available to ex-service and community organisations, veteran representative groups and private organisations that contribute to the health and welfare of the veteran community.  

 

Local and community organisations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to visit www.dva.gov.au/grants or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).
 

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo  0437 863 109

 

Editors note: A list of grant recipients is attached.

 

The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Minister?s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm
 

Veteran and Community Grants West Australian recipients $75,346  benefiting more than 1500 veterans

        North Beach RSL Sub-branch will receive $9391 to help purchase equipment including kayaks to enhance physical activity programs at the club.

 

        The Legacy Club of Fremantle will receive $19,646 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Mandurah RSL Sub-branch will receive $41,949 to help install heating and air-conditioning at the club.

 

        The Partners of Veterans Association of Western Australia will receive $4360 to help purchase audio-visual equipment to deliver health information sessions to members.

 

Veteran and Community Grants Victorian recipients $437,519  benefiting more than 12,500 veterans

        Melbourne Legacy will receive $7000 to establish a 1800 Legacy Welfare Helpline to provide information on issues relating to housing, medical services and welfare to its clients.

 

        The Gippsland Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Motorcycle Club Australia will receive $10,465 to help purchase insulation and air-conditioning for the club.

 

        Hume Veterans Information Centre will receive $31,738 to help upgrade bathroom facilities at the centre.

 

        Morwell RSL Sub-branch will receive three grants: $11,700 to help purchase a photocopier to assist with the production of a newsletter; $3091 to fund a series of bus trips for its members to help reduce social isolation; and $4313 to fund a series of bus trips on behalf of the Powerhouse Day Club.

 

        The Cohuna-Leitchville RSL Sub-branch Building Account will receive $9280 to repair flooring, install air-conditioning and upgrade kitchen facilities at the club.

 

        Crib Point RSL Sub-branch will receive $72,067 to help upgrade kitchen facilities, replace floor coverings and install skylights and a sunshade.

 

        Broadford RSL Sub-branch will receive $100,836 to help rebuild the club after it was destroyed in a fire in January 2008. The funding will help install air-conditioning, insulation, kitchen facilities, disabled bathroom facilities, floor coverings and purchase tables and kitchenware.

 

        Koo Wee Rup Men?s Shed will receive $2915 to help install disabled access to the shed.

 

        Mornington Peninsula Legacy Club will receive $7190 to help purchase and install an air-conditioner at the club.

 

        Hopetoun RSL Sub-branch will receive $9080 to help upgrade bathroom facilities at the club.

 

        The Time Ball Day Club will receive $1512 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Moe RSL Sub-branch will receive two grants: $2285 to help purchase a public address system for use at club activities; and $19,504 to help purchase musical instruments for the Moe RSL Brass Band.

 

        Phillip Island RSL Sub-branch will receive two grants: $24,250 to help purchase tools and machinery to establish a Mens Shed at Phillip Island; and $3300 to help fund first aid training for club volunteers.

 

        Trafalgar Thorpdale RSL Sub-branch will receive $8578 to help upgrade kitchen facilities and install air-conditioning at the club.

 

        The Outer Eastern Melbourne Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $9064 to help purchase a BBQ trailer for use by members at club activities.

 

        The Swan Hill District Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $9500 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Creswick/Smearton RSL Sub-branch will receive $1497 to help upgrade club facilities including the hot water service.

 

        Inverleigh RSL Sub-branch will receive $7480 to restump the foundations underneath the floor to ensure safety for club members.

 

        Sorrento Portsea RSL Sub-branch will receive $4338 to help purchase a public address system for use at club activities.

 

        Foster Bowls Club will receive $10,000 to help purchase shade structures and seating for use by members at club activities.

 

        The Bentleigh RSL Sub-branch, Welfare Patriotic Fund, will receive three grants: $3300 to fund a series of bus trips for war widows to help reduce social isolation; $2284 to help purchase a television and DVD player for use by members at club activities; and $3300 to help run a series of social excursions for the Women?s Auxiliary members.

 

        The South Gippsland Group of Melbourne Legacy will receive $4136 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Coburg RSL Sub-branch will receive $4177 to help purchase a television and DVD player for use by members at club activities.

 

        Wodonga Men?s Shed will receive $3312 to help purchase tools and equipment for the shed.

 

        The Geelong Section of the Extremely Disabled War Veterans Association of Victoria will receive $2387 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Queenscliff Point Lonsdale RSL Sub-branch will receive $2725 to help purchase a refrigerator and freezer, and replace worn seating at the club.

 

        Warragul RSL Sub-branch will receive $5800 to help purchase a digital projector and screen for use by members at club activities.

 

        The Leongatha RSL Sub-branch Patriotic Fund will receive $24,000 to help upgrade the club including furniture, computers and equipment to set up an Internet Caf? at the Sub-branch.

 

        Brighton Bowling and Sporting Club will receive $7206 to help purchase and install a sun shade at the club.

 

        Seagull Day Club will receive $2083 to help purchase a public address system, microphone, games and a food trolley for use by members at club activities.

 

        The Oakleigh-Carnegie War Widows and Widowed Mothers Association will receive $1826 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

Veteran and Community Grants Tasmanian recipients $104,947  benefiting more than 1600 veterans

        Lenah Valley RSL Sub-branch will receive $55,457 to help install air-conditioning and fix the club?s roof.

 

        Claremont RSL Sub-branch will receive $12,528 to help purchase and install a reverse cycle air-conditioner at the club.

 

        Devonport RSL Sub-branch will receive $9548 to help replace worn carpet at the club.

 

        The Rosebery District RSL and Ex-service Club will receive $27,414 to help upgrade kitchen and bathroom facilities at the club.

 

Veteran and Community Grants South Australian recipients $362,533  benefiting more than 3700 veterans

        Gawler RSL Sub-branch will receive $95,107 to help upgrade bathroom and kitchen facilities and install disabled access to the club.

 

        Magill RSL Sub-branch will receive $84,260 to help upgrade bathroom facilities at the club and install disabled access to both the bathrooms and club.

 

        The Ex Military Rehabilitation Centre in Edinburgh Parks will receive $48,254 to help purchase a bus suitable for disabled passengers, for use by members on club activities and excursions.

 

        Echunga RSL Sub-branch will receive $3054 to help purchase security grills and air-conditioning for the club.

 

        Seaton RSL Sub-branch will receive $16,345 to help purchase dining chairs and tables for use at club activities.

 

        The Corporation of the City of Port Augusta will receive $8928 to help purchase tools and equipment to support activities at the Port Augusta Mens Shed.

 

        Cummins Yeelanna RSL Sub-branch will receive $52,398 to help upgrade club facilities including the kitchen, carpeting and heating.

 

        The Active Eight Social Club will receive $7896 to help purchase a computer, photocopier and software to produce the club newsletter.

 

        Loxton RSL Sub-branch will receive $8309 to help purchase a public address system, BBQ, table tennis table and other sporting equipment to support club activities. The Sub-branch will also receive help to purchase a computer, general software and digital camera to produce a newsletter.

 

        The Barossa and Light Legacy Widows Club will receive $12,690 to help purchase audio-visual equipment to support club activities.

 

        The South Australian Division of the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps Association will receive $1199 to help purchase a computer to produce the associations newsletter.

 

        Laura RSL Sub-branch will receive $10,000 to help upgrade club kitchen facilities.

 

        Strathalbyn and District Legacy Widows Club will receive $3855 to help purchase a public address system for use by members at club activities.

 

        The Northern Districts Gem and Mineral Club will receive $10,238 to help purchase gem faceting machines and provide training to local veteran  members and the wider community.

 

Veteran and Community Grants Queensland recipients?$153,585 ? benefiting more than 9500 veterans

        Toowoomba RSL Sub-branch will receive $36,640 to purchase a bus to help assist elderly members of the RSL.

 

        Palm Beach Currumbin Legacy Laurel Club will receive $3320 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        The Bell RSL Sub-branch will receive $8183 to help install disabled access to the club.

 

        Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL Sub-branch will receive $13,906 to help purchase tables and chairs for the club?s dining room, and fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Oakey RSL Sub-branch will receive $3718 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Currumbin Happy Group will receive $8170 to fund a series of eleven bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        The Naval Association of Australia will receive $7700 to help purchase audio-visual equipment for use by members at club activities.

 

        The Queensland Branch of the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-servicemen and Women will receive $2034 to help purchase a computer, printer and shredder to produce the association newsletter.

 

        Kedron-Wavell RSL Sub-branch will receive $8467 to help purchase craft tools, materials and general equipment for the Voyager Centre to enable Sub-branch members to enjoy organised activities.

 

        The Legacy Club of Fraser Coast and Country Burnett will receive $13,075 to help purchase a colour laser printer and office furniture to produce the club newsletter.

 

        The Legacy Club of Brisbane will receive $3999 to help purchase a sewing machine for use by members at craft activities.

 

        Bowen Laurel Club will receive $817 to fund a series of bus trips for war widows to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Ordnance Field Park Vietnam Association will receive $2852 to help purchase a laptop, software, a surge protector and a printer to produce the association newsletter.

 

        The Maroochy Waters Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $2293 to help purchase a trailer, a gazebo and an icebox to enhance outdoor activities at the association.

 

        Glass House Country RSL Sub-branch will receive $18,040 to help purchase new tables and chairs for the club dining room.

 

        The Stanthorpe Branch of the National Servicemens Association of Australia will receive $3475 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Centenary Suburbs RSL Sub-branch will receive $1077 to help purchase a lawnmower, whipper snipper and blower to assist in maintaining the gardens of veterans.

 

        Shed West will receive $8139 to help purchase tools and equipment for the Shed West Mens Shed.

 

        The Bribie Island and District Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $7680 to help conduct water aerobics classes to encourage veteran health and wellbeing.

 

Veteran and Community Grants New South Wales recipients $246,702  benefiting more than 13,000 veterans

        Grafton RSL Sub-branch will receive $4730 to help purchase a portable public address system, projector, notebook computer, camera and six stackable chairs for the Big River RSL Day Club.

 

        Alzheimers Australia will receive $24,343 to help develop and conduct a series of veteran education sessions about dementia.

 

        Newcastle Legacy Fund will receive $65,916 to replace an ageing community bus to support members.

 

        Tweed Valley Murwillumbah National Servicemens Sub-branch will receive $14,000 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        The New South Wales Branch of the National Servicemens Association of Australia will receive two grants: $9751 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members; and $3985 to help produce and distribute the association newsletter.

 

        Widows and Veterans Entitlements Services will receive $12,840 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        St Georges Basin Veterans Golf Club will receive $5605 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        The Gosford City Sub-branch of the National Servicemens Association of Australia will receive $6000 to help fund a bus trip to the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

 

        Gosford RSL Sub-branch will receive $1146 to help purchase equipment including a cupboard, camera and shredder for the Broadwater RSL Day Club.

 

        The Milton Ulladulla RSL Sub-branch will receive $3789 to help purchase a public address system for use during club activities.

 

        Glen Innes Men?s Shed will receive $9806 to help purchase tools and equipment for the Shed.

 

        The Shoalhaven Sub-branch of the National Servicemens Association of Australia will receive two grants: $7722 to help produce the Associations newsletter; and $8250 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Seven Hills Toongabbie RSL Sub-branch will receive $3520 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        Branxton RSL Sub-branch will receive $27,145 to help upgrade disabled access to the RSL Hall.

 

        The National Service and Combined Forces Association of Australia will receive $16,675 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation among members.

 

        The NSW Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Association of Australia will receive $18,039 to help purchase air-conditioning for the club.

 

        The NSW Branch of the Partners of Veterans Association of Australia will receive $3440 to help fund a 12-week exercise program for members.

[Keith]

 
From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Friday, February 12, 2010 7:14 PM
Subject: Fw: Australian General Service Medal for Korea receives royal approval


Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence Media Mail List
------------------------------------------------------------------------

THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support

Friday, 12 February 2010

005/2010

Australian General Service Medal for Korea receives royal approval

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM
MP, today announced that Her Majesty the Queen has approved the official
regulations and design for the award of the Australian General Service Medal
for Korea.

"The establishment of this award is consistent with the Rudd Labor
Government's election commitment to fully implement the recommendations of
the Post-Armistice Korean Service Review," Dr Kelly said.

"The Australian General Service Medal for Korea is being struck to recognise
former Defence Force personnel who completed 30 days participating in
operations in South Korea.  This includes any location within 161 kilometres
seaward from the coast of South Korea during the post-armistice period from
28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956."

It is expected that the medal will be available for dispatch to some
eligible recipients before ANZAC Day 2010.

Former Defence Force personnel who served in South Korea during the
post-armistice period are encouraged to submit their application to the
following address:

Directorate of Honours and Awards
Department of Defence
PO Box 7952
CANBERRA BC ACT 2610

People who have previously applied for the award do not need to reapply but
should contact the Directorate of Honours and Awards if their address
details have changed since applying.

Further Information:
Please call the Directorate of Honours and Awards on 1800 111 321 (toll free
within Australia) or +612 6266 1050 (from outside Australia), or visit
http://www.defence.gov.au/medals/

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
Talks end Kokoda Track impasse
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/11/2817257.htm?section=justin
 

The popular Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea has re-opened after landowners at Mount Kodu ended a stand-off on the track's southern section.

 
 

www.theaussiedigger.com The Aussie Digger
 
http://theaussiedigger.com/TheAussieDiggerForum/  Forum
 
http://www.austvetmatters.net/ Fraud and Wannabe Website
 
http://www.anzmi.net/  Fraud and Wannabe Website

[Keith]

UK to view 'Breaker' conviction
http://www.smh.com.au/national/britain-to-examine-the-conviction-of-breaker-morant-20100209-npt0.html

Petition for the pardon of Australian soldiers executed during Boer War forwarded to the Queen

From: Terry Davies
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 8:24 AM
Subject: Treatment of Veterans Daughter
 


Source: Vietnam Veterans & Veterans Federation ACT
http://www.vvfact.org.au/?cat=3
Disgraceful treatment of Veterans Daughter.

Posted by Admin on February 9th, 2010

Jim Crocker is a Member of VV&VFACT, his Daughter was born with a kidney disease, and required a transplant.

For some time VV&VFACT has been suporting the Crockers, mainly administrative support and financial support when available.

Several recognised scientific and medical Papers support the theory that Cancer in children of Vietnam Veterans is related the the Fathers service in Vietnam.

This has been recognised by the New Zealand Government. However, our Federal Governments of all persuasions have adopted the Ostrich approach, hence no action.

Therefore, even though Jim receives a DVA pension, the Crocker family recieves no support from DVA, great, the Federal Government causes the problem and then denies the problem exists.

This event highlights the deficiencies in the Australin Health Service, yet, Kevin 07 vacillates, or says lots but achieves nothing.

Attached below is a link to the Daily Telegraph article.

Check out the bottom of the page, 31 comments have been attached to this article.

I would suggest you forward this email to your local Member, to make them aware of the plight of a Veterans Daughter.

Additionally, I would point out the Rudd Governments quick adoption of the Matthews Report, which denied us true indexation of our Pensions.

Click here to view Daily Telegraph article. (see below)


Source: The Daily Telegraph


Patient turned away from pre-booked surgery at RPA and told to book room in hotel

By Gemma Jones, Political Reporter
From:The Daily Telegraph  February 09, 2010 12:00AM


ERIN Crocker has been bleeding internally for 10 weeks. The 29-year-old has one-fifth of the normal amount of blood in her body.

Yesterday, she was turned away from pre-booked surgery at a Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and told to book a room at a nearby hotel.

She and her mother Maureen said they were told to wait at a Camperdown hotel for 48 hours and if a bed wasn't available they should drive five hours home to Jindabyne.

Since she first fell ill, Ms Crocker, a triple transplant patient, has had more than 18 blood transfusions to stay alive. She needs a vein in her donated liver to be widened to stop blood loss.

Ms Crocker said she was worried about the effect the delay would have on her donated liver - her second transplanted liver - and kidney.

"It wouldn't be doing them any good ... it's got to have an effect in the long term if it keeps going," an emotional Ms Crocker said.

"I'm good when I have got blood, when I don't I just feel tired more than anything, you have got no energy to do anything."


Ms Crocker, who was born with polycystic kidney disease, became so sick two weeks ago she was flown from Cooma Hospital to Sydney for emergency transfusions but was told she would have to wait another two weeks until yesterday.

Opposition health spokeswoman Jillian Skinner said Ms Crocker's treatment was being repeated across the state because of bed shortages and operating theatre closures.

"Labor's incompetent management of our public hospitals has resulted in families going through additional trauma and anxiety in what are already very difficult circumstances," she said.

"Not having enough beds to perform this, and other operations, is an indictment on Labor's bed slashing."

The hospital was shamed into action last night and the general manager rang Ms Crocker to apologise. She was booked in last night, following a call from The Daily Telegraph, and is due to have the surgery today.

A spokesman said there had been a booking error.

From: Terry Davies
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 8:33 AM
Subject: Diggers graves neglected
 

Source: The Daily Telegraph

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/diggers-resting-places-lie-neglected-in-rookwood-cemetery/story-e6freuy9-1225828503633
 

Diggers' resting places lie neglected in Rookwood Cemetery
 

By Nathan Klein, The Daily Telegraph February 10, 2010 12:00AM
 

HIDDEN behind chest-high weeds and rubble from smashed headstones, the graves of hundreds of Australian war heroes are being left to rot at the back of Rookwood Cemetery.

Soldiers killed in service are meant to be buried in the designated Australian War Graves area at Rookwood, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.


Sadly neglected ... war graves at Rookwood Cemetery are overgrown / Pic: Stephen Cooper Source: The Daily Telegraph

Instead, many of them have been shunted behind the old Anglican cemetery, a state-owned division of the burial site that has been neglected for more than a decade.

Returned Services League state president Don Lowe said he wasn't even aware the isolated graves existed.

He said it was unacceptable for those soldiers killed in battle to be forgotten and lost along with thousands of other civilians whose families had died and were no longer able to maintain the graves.

"It's a terrible shame to see these people who made that important sacrifice treated this way," Mr Lowe said.

"We're supposed to look after those who died during war."

Baulkham Hills resident Ray Latona, 72, has lobbied the State and Federal Governments for the past 15 years to clean up the cemetery. He has never received a reply. "I love my country and love its history but it's not being looked after," Mr Latona said.

"Many of the heroes fought at Gallipoli and in the Boer War. There were even Australian soldiers who fought in the Imperial Camel Corps . . . all of them are now being forgotten."

Mr Latona even campaigned for giant galvanised fencing around the perimeter of the cemetery to protect the site from vandalism and other anti-social behaviour.

While these war heroes are fading away at Rookwood, Defence Minister John Faulkner honoured the fallen at Gallipoli at the weekend during his trip to Europe.

He said that attending the Turkish ceremony was a "fundamental part of our cultural identity".

A NSW Lands Department spokesman said the department was regularly working with the cemetery managers and trusts to improve long-term maintenance of Rookwood.

"Generally, war graves before the Second World War were located within civilian areas of Rookwood and it would be insensitive and inappropriate to relocate them because they are lying where their families placed them," he said.

Civilian sections of the Anglican area of Rookwood are subject to routine maintenance, the spokesman said.

[Keith]

THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support

Monday, 8 February 2010
004/2010

Sixth anniversary of the opening of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in Ballarat

The Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support yesterday attended

the sixth anniversary of the opening of the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial in

Ballarat.

The memorial was opened on 6 February 2004 and annual ceremonies have been conducted to mark

the dedication of the memorial.

"This unique memorial marks the suffering and deprivation of liberty of some 35,000

Australians who were held as prisoners of war during the Boer War, the two World Wars and

the Korean War," Dr Kelly said.

It is the first memorial outside the Australian Capital Territory to be officially

recognised for its national significance.

"I'm enormously proud that the Rudd Government declared the Australian Ex-Prisoners of War

Memorial a National Memorial in 2008," Dr Kelly said.

"I would like to recognise the efforts of Catherine King MP, Member for Ballarat, and the

Minister for Veterans Affairs, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, for their ongoing support of the

memorial.  I would also like to pay tribute to the community of Ballarat, which invested so

much effort to make the memorial a reality, including the exhaustive research that went into

listing all the names of the prisoners."

"The occasion was particularly meaningful for me as my grandfather is among those listed on

the memorial as he was a prisoner on the Burma-Thai railway and endured enormous suffering

and the needless loss of mates."

"This memorial will serve as a reminder to future generations of the sacrifice of those

Australians who were held as prisoners of war, and I thank the Ballarat community for its

ongoing support of this unique memorial," Dr Kelly said.

Media note: Still imagery is available at

http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/kelly/gallery/20100208/index.htm

[Keith]

The best way to support our Afghanistan Troops is to bring them home. Let those who support the Afghan War send their kids down to the enlistment centres....now.
 
From: Terry Davies
Sent: Saturday, February 06, 2010 8:27 AM
Subject: Diggers home from battle but war not over


Source: THE DAILY TELEGRAPH


Diggers home from battle but war not over
By Paul Toohey
From:The Daily Telegraph  February 06, 2010 12:23AM


ANGUS Sim draws deep breaths. He warns, as he tells his story, that he is becoming worked up. He looks like most modern young warriors, built strong and emblazoned with heavy ink. He shifts between tears and rage.

For Sim, the quiet streets of Sunbury in outer-Melbourne may as well be filled with concealed improvised explosive devices, creeping snipers and trucks being prepared for suicide bomb missions.

Sim, 24, returned from Iraq in June 2005 after serving with the Brisbane-based 6RAR infantry battalion.

He was involved in four incidents that would separately and together damage him profoundly.

His energy has nowhere to evaporate. Time bomb or loose cannon, take your pick. Sim doesn't like people much. "I got back to Sunbury after Iraq," he said. "I had a girlfriend and I broke up with her. It turned nasty. I got called a 'psycho from Iraq' and this sort of stuff. People don't understand. But the Australian people need to understand."

Sim likes his memories even less. They corner him, crowd him. The need for hyper-vigilance after being assigned to the security detachment, or SECDET, guarding Australian Embassy staff within Baghdad's red zone - the uncontrolled, dangerous part of that city - stays with him.

Sim has post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition which the military once regarded with hostile scepticism. PTSD sufferers were bludgers looking for a pension and compo.

The military now accepts the reality of PTSD, but the condition remains stigmatised long after the sorry lessons of Vietnam. Those vets took it hard. Not only did they witness gruesome events, they came home to a country that did not support their service.

The country learned it was better to judge the government's policy than take it out on soldiers. But Sim feels the current public disquiet on Australia's Middle East engagement shifting wider, slowly winding the clock back to Vietnam.

But who could blame the public for not understanding Sim's pain? This Government, like the previous, has kept a choking leash on all information from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Defence drip-feeds abbreviated information on Australians wounded or killed in conflict and has less to say on the mentally damaged. Meanwhile, just like Vietnam, a new battalion of lost souls is bunkered down in suburban homes, haunted by images of carnage that will not quit.

The Federal Government claims it is trying harder with mental health issues and has promised $83 million over the next four years to implement the recommendations of Professor David Dunt, who last year produced two ADF reports on improving mental health.

But they have done nothing to help the Australian public cushion the landing for returning soldiers. Public knowledge of Iraq and Afghanistan has been mostly limited to wives and babies kissing camouflaged homecoming soldiers at airports.

Sim's got an inbuilt bulldust-detection meter. It's set to maximum.

"I'm safe, but I got a short fuse and a bad temper," he says. "People just annoy me. On Anzac Day a few years ago there was this guy at the pub telling me he was SAS. I questioned him and his story didn't add up. I finished my beer and slammed the glass into his face. He was lying. He was showing no respect."

These days, Sim has almost totally withdrawn. He feels safer indoors - and knows he is less of a threat.

It's hard to believe these are the comments of a man who, at 24, should be just starting out on his working life. He feels Australia did the right thing in going to Iraq but says his country used him then threw him out without preparing him for normal life.

"My debrief from Iraq was with one psychiatrist, for half an hour, in Iraq. It's just stupid. I had some real dramas. I hit the drugs pretty hard. I'd never touched them in my life. I was 19. The last year I was in the army I was on drugs every weekend. You name it - speed, ice, ecstasy, acid.

"I went off the rails. It just took me away from everything. It was just a way of dealing with it.

"It's just disappointing. I hate this country now. Well, I don't hate it, but f . . . ing hell, we're soldiers going over to do a bit of good for the world. We didn't just look for terrorists. We were trying to bring some peace to Iraq. And I think we achieved that."

Sim is discharged, classified TPI. He likes cooking for his fiancee Jess and he likes his widescreen TV. Not much else. "I'm always on guard, high strung and on edge. If I'm in bed and Jess comes home, I'll wake up ready to kill her. We hooked up a year ago. We fight - but she's good, she's caring. She understands, as much as she can."

The sense around Australia's veteran community is that the PTSD numbers from Iraq and Afghanistan are creeping above 10 per cent, although delayed onset means that number will grow.

We know, now, why those who served in WWI and WWII rarely talked about their wars. They couldn't. Many were undiagnosed PTSD sufferers. They get angry about the petty concerns of those back home. Spilt milk doesn't compare to spilt brains.

They know they're being unfair on their loved ones when comparing everything against their war. But they can't help it.

But mates help, don't they? "Some of my mates have bad problems," Sim said. "They don't answer their phones these days."

On January 19, 2005, a truck laden with explosives attempted to ram the Australian Embassy compound. Sim was blown out of his bed but - like the other Australian soldiers guarding the vicinity - was unhurt.

Several Iraqi civilians were killed. The bomb was followed by a secondary IED and sniper fire. "That woke us up and told us we were in Baghdad," Sim said.

Sim's detachment became renowned for the number of events it faced in the first half of 2005. A week after the embassy attack, Sim and others stopped a vehicle.

"This bloke, a civilian, was drunk and staggering around. We looked in his van and he had drums in the back. We didn't take any risks, we shot him. Turned out it was only some barrels of petrol, no detonators. It was silly of him the way he was acting."

The following day, Australia Day, an Australian light-armoured vehicle was hit by a suicide car bomber on Route Irish, the road to the airport.

Sim's detachment arrived at the scene minutes later. "I don't know how no one died. One guy had serious facial wounds, he lost his nose. We dragged the vehicles back to the nearest base, which was American, and I had to clean the vehicles of (the bomber's) body pieces. There was skin all over our vehicles."

By then, everyone in SECDET was on edge. The next incident affected Sim more than the others.

"These civilians were driving up the road," he said. "We had night-vision goggles. They didn't stop. One of the boys opened fire with a burst of machinegun fire. One bullet hit a female passenger in the head - she was sitting in the front seat. A little kid in the back got hit with glass in his eye, lost his eye. It was just a family.

"It wasn't me who shot him. We donated a heap of money to try and fix his sight but he ended up losing his eye. The mum didn't die. I think she had brain damage. We went to hospital, tried to do the right thing."

Sim's mental health care upon return was to be given two weeks stress leave and told he'd be right.

"The help was crap," he said. "I just said to myself, 'I'll deal with this.'

"I dealt with it until I couldn't deal with it any more. I have bad days, bad months, still. It's not as bad as when I tried to keep it all in. I thought I was going crazy. And in a way I was."

The Department of Veterans Affairs now pays for Sim's medication and psychiatric help, but it only came after he was hospitalised for suicide attempts. He wants it known he only appeared here so that other soldiers might benefit from it.

Professor Dunt believes that it's not better to warn service personnel about PTSD.

"Learning about the facts of PTSD won't help," he said. "Defence briefs on what to expect, but not particularly focusing on the disease and its symptoms. A lot of people have the symptoms when they come home, it's almost normal, but not all will go on to form the full disease."

An estimated 36,000 Australians have served in Iraq and Afghanistan but the figure is higher if multiple deployments are factored in. Those cracks need to be closed.

From: Greg Mitchell
Sent: Friday, February 05, 2010 10:50 PM
 
 
Iraq war means a new batallion of lost souls bunkered down in suburban homes
Paul Toohey
From: Herald Sun
February 06, 2010 12:00AM
 
 
Former soldier Angus Sim, 24, at his Sunbury home in Melbourne, now suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder after returning from Iraq in 2005. Picture: Phil Hillyard Source: Herald Sun

ANGUS Sim draws deep breaths. He warns, as he tells his story, that he is becoming worked up.

He looks like most modern young warriors, built strongly and emblazoned with heavy ink. He shifts between tears and rage.

For Sim, the quiet streets of Sunbury, in Melbourne's northern outskirts, may as well be filled with hidden home-made bombs, snipers and trucks being prepared for suicide bomb missions.

Sim, 24, returned from Iraq in June 2005 after serving with the Brisbane-based infantry battalion, 6RAR.

He was involved in four incidents that would separately, and cumulatively, damage him profoundly.

His energy has nowhere to evaporate. Time bomb or loose cannon, take your pick.

Sim doesn't like people much. "I got back to Sunbury after Iraq," he said. "I had a girlfriend and I broke up with her. It turned nasty. I got called a 'psycho from Iraq' and this sort of stuff. People don't understand. But the Australian people need to understand."

Sim likes his memories even less. The need for hyper-vigilance after being assigned to the security detachment, or SecDet, guarding Australian embassy staff within Baghdad's red zone - the uncontrolled, dangerous part of that city - stays with him.

Sim has post-traumatic stress disorder, a condition the military once regarded with scepticism.

PTSD sufferers were seen as bludgers looking for compo.

The military now accepts the reality of PTSD.

But who could blame the public for not understanding Sim's pain? This Government, like the previous one, has kept a tight leash on all information from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Defence drip-feeds abbreviated information about Australians wounded or killed in conflict, and has even less to say on the mentally damaged.

Just like Vietnam, a new battalion of lost souls is bunkered down in suburban homes, haunted by intrusive images of carnage.

The Federal Government claims it is trying harder with mental health issues and has promised $83 million over the next four years to implement the recommendations of Prof David Dunt, who last year produced two Australian Defence Force reports on improving mental health.

BUT they have done nothing to help the Australian public cushion the landing for returning soldiers.

Public knowledge of Iraq and Afghanistan has been mostly limited to wives and babies kissing camouflaged homecoming soldiers.

Sim doesn't like it. Most soldiers don't.

They feel their service is undervalued.

Sim has an inbuilt bull detection meter. It's set to maximum. "I'm safe, but I got a short fuse and a bad temper," he said. "People just annoy me. On Anzac Day a few years ago, there was this guy at the pub telling me he was SAS. I questioned him and his story didn't add up.

"I finished my beer and slammed the glass into his face. He was lying. He was showing no respect. And I'd do it again."

These days, Sim has almost totally withdrawn.

He feels safer indoors and knows he is less of a threat to others there. "I don't really go out much any more," he said.

"I stay around here. I might as well be in jail. I avoid situations, I suppose."

It's hard to believe these are the comments of a man who, at 24, should be just starting out on his working life. He feels Australia did the right thing in going to Iraq, but says his country used him, then threw him out without preparing him for normal life.

"My debrief from Iraq was with one psychiatrist, for half an hour, in Iraq," he said. "I had some real dramas. I hit the drugs pretty hard. I'd never touched them in my life. I was 19. The last year I was in the army I was doing drugs every weekend. You name it - speed, ice, ecstasy, acid.

"I went off the rails. It just took me away from everything. It was just a way of dealing with it. Not the right way, I know. And I was drinking a fair bit, too.

"It's just disappointing. I hate this country now. Well, I don't hate it, but f------ hell, we're soldiers going over to do a bit of good for the world. We didn't just look for terrorists. We were trying to bring some peace to Iraq.

"And I think we achieved that. We helped them get their first election up."

Sim is discharged, classified TPI - totally and permanently incapacitated.

He likes cooking for his fiancee, Jess, and he likes his widescreen TV.

NOT much else. "I'm always on guard, high strung and on edge. If I'm in bed and Jess comes home, I'll wake up ready to kill her," he said.

"We hooked up a year ago. We fight - had a doozy the other night. But she's good, she's caring. She understands, as much as she can."

The sense around Australia's veteran community is that PTSD numbers from Iraq and Afghanistan are creeping above 10 per cent, though delayed onset means that number will only grow.

We know now why those who served in World Wars I and II rarely talked about their wars. They couldn't talk about them. Many were undiagnosed PTSD sufferers.

On January 19, 2005, a truck laden with explosives attempted to ram the Australian embassy compound. Sim was blown out of his bed, but, like the other Australian soldiers guarding the vicinity, he was unhurt.

Several Iraqi civilians were killed. The bomb was followed by a secondary device and sniper fire.

"That woke us up and told us we were in Baghdad," said Sim. His detachment became renowned for the number of events it faced in the first half of 2005.

A WEEK after the embassy attack, Sim and others stopped a vehicle. "This bloke, a civilian, was pissed and staggering around," he said. "We looked in his van and he had drums in the back. We didn't take any risks, we shot him.

"One of my mates did, shot him four times.

"Turned out it was only some barrels of petrol, no detonators. It was silly of him the way he was acting. His missus was all upset."

Now it's Sim, recounting this story, who's upset.

The next day, Australia Day, an Australian light-armoured vehicle was hit by a suicide car bomber on the road to the airport.

Sim's detachment arrived at the scene minutes later.

"I don't now how no one died. One guy had serious facial wounds, he lost his nose. We skull-dragged the vehicles back to the nearest base, which was American, and I had to clean the vehicles of (the suicide bomber's) body pieces.

"There was skin all over our vehicles. I found a bit of his spine and had to pull his foot out of the exhaust system. I got all the flesh, put it in the bin. A few of our boys were sent to (hospital in) Germany."

By then, everyone in SecDet was on edge. The next incident affected Sim more than the others.

"These civilians were driving up the road," he said. "We had night-vision goggles. They didn't stop. One of the boys opened fire with a burst of machinegun. One bullet hit a female passenger in the head. She was sitting in the front seat.

"A little kid in the back got hit with glass in his eye, lost his eye. It was just a family. That just plays on me. It wasn't me who shot him. We donated a heap of money to try and fix his eyesight, but he ended up losing his eye. The mum didn't die. I think she had brain damage. We went to hospital to see them, tried to do the right thing."

SIM'S mental health care on return was two weeks' stress leave.

"The help was crap," he says. "I just said to myself, 'I'll deal with this.' I dealt with it until I couldn't deal with it any more. I have bad days, bad months, still.

"It's not as bad as when I tried to keep it all in. I thought I was going crazy. And in a way I was.

 

"The biggest kick in the a--- was when we got back, the way we were handled.

"We should have gone straight into a debriefing program. If you want help, you should be able to get it."

The Department of Veterans' Affairs pays for Sim's medication and psychiatric help, but only after he was admitted to hospital for suicide attempts.

He wants it known he is only speaking out so other soldiers might benefit.

An estimated 36,000 Australians have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

John Vincent, of the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Veterans Association says 30 per cent of those who serve in conflicts will develop some form of PTSD.

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
Villagers ban tourists from Kokoda Track
By PNG correspondent Liam Fox

 

Landowners in Papua New Guinea say they have closed the Kokoda Track to tourists because they have been left out of efforts to develop the area.

Landowners at Mount Kodu on the southern section of the Kokoda Track say they closed the track to tourists on Monday.

Spokesman Barney Jack says while other villages have benefited from an Australia-PNG agreement to promote development along the track, they have missed out.

"No passing until this is addressed," he said.

Mount Kodu was the site of a failed attempt to establish a copper mine a few years ago.

The Kokoda Track Authority says there are no tourists on the track and the trekking season does not start until April.

A spokesman says the authority has not been notified of the closure and it is seeking more information.

 
 

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[Keith]

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List
 
VA001                                                                                                                         Friday, 29 January 2010  

MINISTER ANNOUNCES PLANS TO MARK FINEST FEAT OF ARMS? OF WWI
 

Commemoration of Australian service on the Western Front will be enhanced with plans for several new interpretive facilities at major battles sites as part of the Australian Governments $10 million Western Front Remembrance Trail.

Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin today announced he was working with French authorities for a new museum and commemorative facility at Mont St Quentin.

Marshal Ferdinand Foch, supreme commander of all Allied forces in France, spoke of the seizure of Mont St Quentin and P?ronne as one of the finest feats of arms in a time rich in innumerable deeds of heroism.  The battle involved vicious close quarter fighting that cost some 3,000 Australian casualties.

Eight Victoria Crosses were awarded for the four day action, more than in any other battle in which the Australians fought and only one less than the number they had won during the entire eight months of the Gallipoli campaign.

Plans are underway at Mont St Quentin to transform an old church into an interpretive facility which will also include walking trails to remnants of a trench network and the nearby 2nd Australian Division memorial. This project is being developing in partnership with the LHistorial de la Grande Guerre museum in Peronne and with the assistance of Pronne authorities.
 

The new facility will honour the Australian capture of Mont St Quentin, recognised as one of Australias finest military achievements, Mr Griffin said.

 

Remnants of an original communication trench captured by the Australians during the attack on Mont St Quentin will be restored and become part of an educational battlefield experience. Agreement has just been reached allowing access to the land on which these trenches lie, and with this foundation in place development of the new facility can proceed with some certainty.

 

I am pleased to be working with local French communities to make the Western Front Remembrance Trail a reality and demonstrate our commitment to preserving our shared wartime history for future generations, Mr Griffin said.

The Australian Government has committed $10 million over four years to work in partnership with local communities on the Western Front to develop and upgrade facilities at seven sites in France and Belgium where Australians fought together.  In addition to Mont St Quentin, planning for a new facility at Fromelles is underway and existing facilities at Villers-Bretonneux, Bullecourt, Pozieres, Ypres and Zonnebeke will also be enhanced.


For more information on Australian service on the Western Front visit www.ww1westernfront.gov.au. For historical images of the Western Front including Mont St Quentin visit the Australian War Memorial media centre at www.awm.gov.au/media/ Username: media Password: images@AWM2010.

 
 
 
Saturday, 30 January 2010
 
BURIAL OF FROMELLES SOLDIERS BEGINS
 

Ninety-three years after they fell in the Battle of Fromelles, the first of 250 Australian and British soldiers has finally been buried with full military honours at a ceremony in France.

On the first day of burials for the Australian and British soldiers recovered last year from Fromelles, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, and Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, Greg Combet, encouraged the Australian public to pause and reflect on the sacrifices of those who serve in the Armed Forces.

These men have not been forgotten and today marks the start of the solemn duty of finally laying them to rest, Mr Griffin said.

The discovery of these men, so long after World War One, provides new generations of Australians with an opportunity to honour their service.

The soldiers are being buried in individual graves in the purpose-built Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery.  Mr Griffin said the new cemetery is the first full cemetery the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has constructed in more than 50 years.

The burials will occur throughout February and be conducted by members of both the British and Australian Armies.

A commemorative event to open the cemetery is scheduled for the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles on 19 July 2010.

Mr Combet said the Government was hopeful that anthropological, archaeological, historical and DNA information will lead to the identification of some of the men.

While identification of the remains is an extremely complex process I remain hopeful that we will be able to identify a number of those that we have found,? Mr Combet said.

The battle on 19 July 1916 was the bloodiest 24 hours in Australian history with 5,533 Australian soldiers killed, wounded or missing.

[Keith]

From: Terry Davies
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 8:18 AM
Subject: Barcode plan to restrict welfare recipients' purchases


All government recipients should be aware of this technology.

Source:  Australian IT
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/australian-it/barcode-plan-to-restrict-welfare-recipients-purchases/story-e6frgakx-1225825671879


Barcode plan to restrict welfare recipients' purchases
Karen Dearne  From:The Australian  February 02, 2010 12:00AM


THE Rudd government is investigating barcode technology to enforce spending bans under controversial income management arrangements for people on welfare payments.

At present, retailers are obliged to ensure income management recipients do not use government funds to purchase prohibited items such as alcohol and tobacco. Human Services Minister Chris Bowen has called for industry assistance to identify systems that would allow "product-level compliance" at the point of sale, reducing the burden on retailers.

The system is among a range of technologies solicited in the Better Dealings with Government paper.

Late last year, Mr Bowen signed an $11 million contract with payments provider Indue to operate the BasicsCard program in the Northern Territory and parts of Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, until November 2013.

Before Christmas, Mr Bowen announced the consolidation of Medicare and Centrelink operations, initially bringing together back office IT, human resources and property functions, and establishing co-located agency offices.


Anticipating a backlash, Mr Bowen said the reform would not involve a central database. "We will not house an individual's personal, sensitive information in one place, vesting all control with one body or card. This is not an Australia Card," he said.

Mr Bowen said the government anticipated "extensive work on privacy and authentication, as well as opportunities for public-private partnerships".

More than 50 responses to the payments discussion paper have been published, with some companies proving coy on many issues, citing commercial sensitivity and offering private briefings.

The suggestion that an electronic barcode compliance system could be used to control welfare spending is provocative.

CSC Australia bluntly warned of the risks of proposing a method that could be used to "detect and prevent" buying patterns inconsistent with government policies.

"The introduction of such a scheme would cause a great deal of public discussion and perhaps controversy," it said. "This begs the question of whether this course of action should be pursued, regardless of its technical feasibility."

The National Welfare Rights Network said the proposal to use product barcode data to "create a computerised record of individual spending and purchasing evoked visions of Big Brother".

"In practical terms, what is being suggested is close supervision and surveillance of the poor," it said. This represented "a massive expansion of a more sophisticated BasicsCard scheme".

The Australian Council of Social Services said the government's move towards "targeted or conditional" payments was an "untested and dramatic change". It said: "The inadequacy of payments is the major financial challenge facing income support recipients, not an inability to budget."

However, BasicsCard provider Indue said government cards could ensure payments were spent for their intended purpose using managed programs, including limiting use to approved merchants, prohibiting cash-out and autoteller access, weekly spending limits and allowing only online transactions.

"We expect systems could cater for changes as and when policy changed, and with enhanced reporting government would be able to identify any misuse either by a merchant or cardholder," Indue said.

"As part of the transaction approval process, data on the specific items could be transmitted" and purchases that fell outside the guidelines "could be declined".

Meanwhile, financial institutions supported government moves away from cheques to electronic payments, and chip-enabled cards or mobile services.

The Commonwealth Bank said the volume of cheques had dropped to such a low level that the cost would rise for government users.

On the other hand, the latest bank-issued cards could store customer and government data on the internal chip, as well as software that would allow healthcare providers, for instance, to check eligibility for claims.

Internet payments heavyweight Bpay and its member banks believe the time for its long-anticipated Me at My Bank Online (Mambo) is finally at hand, and it would ensure better government payment delivery.

It was originally conceived as enabling customers to pay for online purchases directly from their accounts, rather than by credit card, and there has since been a huge shift in consumer transactions to the internet.

 
Sydney fare shake-up
http://www.smh.com.au/national/innercity-commuters-hit-by-hefty-fare-shakeup-20100201-n8v1.html

 Bus and ferry commuters in Sydney's inner and middle suburbs face hefty price hikes of up to $300 a year as fares are streamlined.

 

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[Keith]

THE AGE
 
'Best and bravest who gave their all' laid to rest
BELINDA TASKER, FROMELLES
January 31, 2010

CHILLY conditions and a sprinkling of snow has marked the start of the reburial of 250 Australian and British soldiers in France, more than 90 years after they disappeared during a ferocious World War I battle.

About 400 people braved the wintry conditions yesterday to witness the first reinterment of the soldiers who were unearthed from a mass grave near the rural village of Fromelles, near Lille.

After a dusting of snow the skies cleared for the burial of the first soldier with full military honours at a new cemetery built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Fromelles.

Prayers were said and official speeches made by Australian, British and French officials as the coffin was laid into the frozen, snow-covered ground.

Australian Veterans Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said the story of the 250 soldiers would play a central part in the history of the Battle of Fromelles.

''The courage and sacrifice of those who fought and died here is sadly typical of what took place across the Western Front for far too long,'' he said.

''They represent a generation lost in time, the best and bravest who gave their all.''

Most of the remaining soldiers will be reburied gradually in February, during similar ceremonies.

The soldiers' bodies were unearthed from an unmarked mass grave on the outskirts of a wood near the northern French village of Fromelles in 2009 after a painstaking search.

For the Melbourne school teacher, Lambis Englezos, who led army officials to the mass grave, the reburial process is particularly poignant, despite the fact he will be unable to attend.

Mr Englezos launched a search for the mass grave in 2002 and six years later persuaded Australian and British army officials to carry out a limited excavation of where he believed the soldiers were buried by German troops.

His research was spot on and the process of excavating the soldiers' remains ended in September last year.

''It's been a long journey,'' Mr Englezos said.

''It's a wonderful result and each of the soldiers will get their dignity and, hopefully, their identity.

''That's always been the thrust,'' he said.

After the first soldier is reburied, all except one will be reinterred with full military honours during ceremonies to be held throughout February.

The final body will be reinterred on July 19, when a major commemorative event will be held at the cemetery's official opening to mark the 94th anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles.

AAP

ABC NEWS
 
Honouring the fallen: the soldiers are being reburied near where their remains were discovered

Fallen Fromelles soldiers laid to rest 

The first of 250 unknown British and Australian soldiers who died in World War I have been reburied in France.

The soldiers, who were killed in the 1916 Battle of Fromelles, are being buried at new a cemetery near where their remains were discovered in 2008.
 

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[Keith]

Lee do with this as you wish mate. Anything I send out is not mine once I have sent it.
 
Regards.
 
From: Lee O'Neill
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2010 8:23 AM
Subject: Re: War avenue plan 'insult'


Keith I think this is an insult and absolutely pathetic and disrespectful. What makes it even worse is the RSL sub branch is endorsing it. How much are they being paid to do so. May I have your permission to pass this around mate? It is sickening they way the RSL is performing these days with the selling of the Last Post as a ring tone in QLD, now this and various other things.

War avenue plan 'insult'
CAROLYN WEBB
THE AGE
 
January 28, 2010
 
Helen Shannon is against the proposed changes to the Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh. Photo: Rebecca Hallas

A WOMAN whose father and uncle are commemorated in Bacchus Marsh's famous Avenue of Honour says it would be vandalism to build a road and roundabout in the middle of it.

''It's like putting a road through a church,'' said an angry Helen Shannon, of Sandringham, whose uncle, Rupert Moon, was awarded the Victoria Cross. ''That place is sacrosanct; and to put an arterial road through it destroys the whole intention of it as a permanent memorial to the men who went away from Bacchus Marsh to fight.''

Mrs Shannon is backing a National Trust campaign to halt works it says will spoil the historic and aesthetic value of the avenue of 312 elms.

 
Helen Shannon's father, Arthur Moon.

''What would we say about radical alterations to memorials honouring diggers in France?'' asked National Trust conservation manager conservation manager Paul Roser. ''Road improvements at Gallipoli were heavily criticised by the Australian community.''

VicRoads says Bacchus Marsh needs a new four-lane road - a northern extension of Woolpack Road - from the centre of the avenue to the Western Highway, skipping the Melbourne approach to town.

The roundabout would have lighting and be wide enough for B-double trucks.

The elms commemorating Mrs Shannon's father and uncle are among 11 elms flagged for removal. Replacements would be planted around the roundabout, but Mrs Shannon says the effect would be ruined.

Her father, Arthur Moon, fought in the Battle of Beersheba with the 4th Light Horse in Palestine, and uncle Rupert won his VC with the 58th Battalion at Bullecourt in World War I.

The Bacchus Marsh RSL sub-branch has endorsed the traffic works.

 
 

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[Keith]

War avenue plan 'insult'
CAROLYN WEBB
THE AGE
 
January 28, 2010
 
Helen Shannon is against the proposed changes to the Avenue of Honour in Bacchus Marsh. Photo: Rebecca Hallas

A WOMAN whose father and uncle are commemorated in Bacchus Marsh's famous Avenue of Honour says it would be vandalism to build a road and roundabout in the middle of it.

''It's like putting a road through a church,'' said an angry Helen Shannon, of Sandringham, whose uncle, Rupert Moon, was awarded the Victoria Cross. ''That place is sacrosanct; and to put an arterial road through it destroys the whole intention of it as a permanent memorial to the men who went away from Bacchus Marsh to fight.''

Mrs Shannon is backing a National Trust campaign to halt works it says will spoil the historic and aesthetic value of the avenue of 312 elms.

 
Helen Shannon's father, Arthur Moon.

''What would we say about radical alterations to memorials honouring diggers in France?'' asked National Trust conservation manager conservation manager Paul Roser. ''Road improvements at Gallipoli were heavily criticised by the Australian community.''

VicRoads says Bacchus Marsh needs a new four-lane road - a northern extension of Woolpack Road - from the centre of the avenue to the Western Highway, skipping the Melbourne approach to town.

The roundabout would have lighting and be wide enough for B-double trucks.

The elms commemorating Mrs Shannon's father and uncle are among 11 elms flagged for removal. Replacements would be planted around the roundabout, but Mrs Shannon says the effect would be ruined.

Her father, Arthur Moon, fought in the Battle of Beersheba with the 4th Light Horse in Palestine, and uncle Rupert won his VC with the 58th Battalion at Bullecourt in World War I.

The Bacchus Marsh RSL sub-branch has endorsed the traffic works.

 
 

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[Keith]

Gerald Celente interviewed by an Australian host.Anybody who thinks the financial and economic crises are over is totally ill informed. How does this crisis and fallout affect the Veterans of Australia? In every way. Only as long as we have a sound economy, only as long as the world economic situation remains stable, can Australia afford Veterans entitlements and health care at their present levels. And the thing to remember is economies are made up of people, not dollars, not banks, not figures on a ledger.
 
Gerald Celente The Greates Depression of 2012

http://eclipptv.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=9638

Ron Paul - USA is Bankrupt,Quit Buying Bombs or We are Done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq_U-bjH4uY&feature=youtube_gdata

[Keith]

Young Australians are not up for sale to play political games or to appease the United States or any other country. The best way to support our Afghan Troops is to bring them home.
 
4000 Diggers on war sick list

TO SEE THE STATS CLICK HERE http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/diggers-on-war-sick-list/story-e6frg8yo-1225821403509

EXCLUSIVE: Sean Parnell, FOI editor
From: The Australian
January 20, 2010
 

Source: The Australian

A DECADE of armed conflict has left Australian troops battle-scarred and traumatised, with almost 4000 personnel - the equivalent of the country's current overseas deployment - recording injuries and illnesses attributable to their time in East Timor, Afghanistan and Iraq.

Previously unreleased data from the Department of Veterans Affairs lists 9134 separate diagnoses for which the commonwealth has accepted liability - a figure made even more extraordinary by the fact thousands more are expected over the coming years.

Analysis of the data, obtained by The Australian using Freedom of Information laws, will fuel the debate over Australia's ability to sustain such a high level of involvement in overseas operations.

The Australian Defence Force has sought to make medical discharge a last resort, taking greater responsibility for the rehabilitation of its 55,000 permanent members and 25,000 reservists.

Over the past decade, the ADF separation rate has actually been reduced, as more personnel were needed to stay in service for future operations.

According to the data, the bulk of successful claims, for DVA compensation or other support, have come from troops who served in East Timor, the scene of 6694 separate injuries and illnesses. Of the three conflicts examined, East Timor still had the most claims processed by the DVA last year.

The dual wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have so far been responsible for 1293 and 1503 claims respectively, but the numbers are growing. The lag time for new claims can average between seven and 12 years, so Defence and the DVA have begun encouraging troops to lodge their reports sooner so authorities can better predict future care and compensation needs.

While Australia has mourned the 15 troops killed in action in the three conflicts, little is said publicly about other casualties. Their ailments can be debilitating and incapacitating and yet, from the figures at least, it appears some take their problems into the next operation.

The ADF has been so active that 26 members have, between them, been awarded 52 compensation claims attributable to all three conflicts. Three of those had post-traumatic stress disorder, although it is not clear from the data whether the conditions were diagnosed early and carried through, or the result of a cumulative effect.

According to the data, roughly one in four successful claimants had experienced a mental illness attributable to their deployment, most commonly PTSD. Defence recently heightened its efforts to prevent and detect mental illness.

The data have been "de-identified" to protect the privacy of those concerned, making it almost impossible to imagine the circumstances in which these men and women have found themselves.

The stories behind the 83 gunshot and shrapnel wounds and blast injuries, for example, may never be known, but Afghanistan was the scene for more than half of these.

Afghanistan has been Australia's bloodiest conflict during the period, resulting in the deaths of 11 troops, compared with two fatalities in Iraq and East Timor respectively.

The number of returned servicemen and women who have died at least partly as a result of their illnesses or injuries is not known. The head of Defence's Joint Health Command, Major-General Paul Alexander, said yesterday the DVA figures were in line with those collected by the ADF, noting that musculo-skeletal injuries continued to be the most common.

General Alexander also singled out the mental health claims, saying only 1.3 per cent of returned personnel were found to have a mental illness, an "extremely low figure if compared to the general community".

"This data shows that we as a nation, and as a defence force, compare very favourably in relation to our allies on the number of injuries and the percentages of injuries that are occurring," he said.

General Alexander said the ADF prided itself on its world-class health programs and, as a result, had not seen any significant increases in the number of medical discharges or unfit personnel during the period.

The DVA alone funded $1.68 billion worth of public and private hospital treatment last year, not including other health and community care services or compensation.

 
 

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[Charlie]

We all know the pollies have their snouts in the trough  whilst serving and after serving. Which is abhorrent.

The article you show clearly shows what a perk it is.

Why is it though, that the article only names Liberal/Coalition members.

No mention of any of the Labour peoples spending.

Selective reporting by the media ?

[Keith]

De Anne Kelly is a former Veterans Affairs Minister. What a lurk and perk this is.Of course this matter has been known for years and every now and then the media has a pang of conscience and reports it. Get sacked or retire from your job and still get paid. Where do we sign up? This is obscene.Naturally the politicians have no interest in how obscene we plebeians find their behaviour. They will continue to thumb their noses at public opinion, just like the corporate thieves who raid the accounts of shareholders for their retirement luxury.

 
Ex-MPs still flying for free
Article from: COURIER MAIL
Emma Chalmers and Rosemary Odgers

January 17, 2010

 



FORMER federal and state MPs are still flying high for free and racked up nearly $2 million in taxpayer-funded airfares while the country battled the global recession.

MPs who retire or are dumped by voters continue to enjoy political perks after they leave office under generous entitlements to help them ease back into civilian life.

Former federal politicians spent $1.74 million on domestic airfares in 2008-09 ? 25 per cent up on the previous year. Former state MPs took $232,000 in free flights in the same period, bringing the total to $1.97 million ? an average of nearly $38,000 a week.

Queensland's most frequent flyers were former Liberal MPs De Anne Kelly and Warren Entsch, who each spent more than $20,000 in just 12 months.

While the Federal Government releases details of former MPs' expenditure every six months, the State Government has again refused to reveal details of which former MPs took up the free travel.

Former federal MPs can qualify for up to 25 free flights a year depending on how long they served in Parliament, with long-serving ministers and all former prime ministers entitled to free travel for life.

Former state MPs who were elected three times and served at least seven years in office can get one free flight a year for them and their spouse to anywhere in Australia, New Zealand or Papua New Guinea.

They travel first class if the flight is longer than three hours.

Some former state MPs are also eligible for free train travel with the cost of these rail fares rising 24 per cent to $22,686 last financial year.

A spokesman for Parliamentary Speaker John Mickel defended the decision not to release the names of the former state MPs who accessed the free travel, saying it was in line with the rulings of previous speakers.

"The (Members' Entitlements) handbook does not provide for details of expenditure by former members to be made publicly available," the spokesman said.

Special Minister of State Joe Ludwig said the free travel for former federal MPs was under review as part of a major shake-up of political perks.

"As part of the Rudd Government's efforts to clean up the parliamentary entitlements system, I have asked an independent committee to consider a wide range of entitlements for possible reform," he said.

"The Rudd Government already has a strong track record of reform in this area, cutting the printing allowance for MPs by half since coming to office and agreeing to publish all expenditure by Federal MPs administered by the Department of Finance."

In the 18 months after retiring or losing their seats at the 2007 federal election, six former Coalition MPs have taken a total of $126,900 worth of free flights around the country.

They include former Howard Government minister Mal Brough ($24,396) and Teresa Gambaro ($22,313) . Mr Entsch spent $23,903 and Ms Kelly spent $28,488.

 
 

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[Keith]

Increasing petrol prices, increasing electricity costs, increasing rental costs, increasing insurance costs, increasing vehicle registration costs....all these and more unavoidable increases are pushing disabled War Veterans on fixed incomes into the ground.The obscene thing is in Queensland that while ordinary Queenslanders find it more and more costly just to live our politicians have recently announced there will effectively be a huge increase in politicians pay disguised as doing away with electoral allowances. No wonder the voters of Australia are cynical and have little faith in the sincerity of politicians across the board.
 
 
Petrol price to hit $1.50

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26593014-952,00.html
 
By Ursula Heger: PETROL is tipped to reach $1.50 a litre later this year as Queensland's motorists battle some of the highest prices in the country.

 
 

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[Keith]

 
VA101                                                                                                          Thursday, 17 December 2009

 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CONTINUE AS SEPARATE AGENCY
 

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today reassured the veteran and ex-service community that the Government has no plans to merge the Department of Veterans Affairs with other agencies.

Consistent with our election platform, the Government remains committed to maintaining a separate and properly funded Department of Veterans? Affairs, Mr Griffin said. 

The Government understands that the needs of veterans and the ex-service community are unique.  We recognise that delivering an appropriate level of service for this group requires a Department with a discrete budget and awareness of the special circumstances that exist within this community.

Veterans should not be concerned by a recent announcement relating to the merger of agencies within the Human Services portfolio my Department is not affected.
 

The Department of Veterans Affairs will continue to work closely with both Centrelink and Medicare.

[Keith]

RSL furious after graffiti vandals deface statue of World War II legend Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop
Antonia Magee
From: Herald Sun
December 07, 2009
 
 
Council contractor Paul Hunt cleans offensive graffiti from the statue of Sir Edward 'Weary' Dunlop near the Shrine of Remembrance. Picture: David Caird Source: Herald Sun

UPDATE 11.35am: THE RSL has slammed graffiti vandals who defaced a statue of World War II legend Sir Edward "Weary" Dunlop.

Vulgar words were written on the statue erected near the Shrine of Remembrance to commemorate the life and work of the Australian Army surgeon hailed for his medical work on the front line in Japan.

The words "U f---in (illegible)" were written on the monument.

Victorian RSL chief executive Michael Annett condemned the defacing of the statue as deplorable.

"Weary Dunlop is an example to all Australians - particularly to the veteran community and those who served in the second World War," Mr Annett said.

"To think that someone would deface his statue, and I'm not aware of the particular words that were used, I just think for someone to deface the statue of a man that was loved and revered by so many thousands is shocking.?

When Sir Dunlop died in 1993 his funeral brought Melbourne to a standstill as thousands lined the city streets to honour his life.

Mr Annett said the people who did the graffiti must have been ignorant to his great work.

"It's just appalling that these people, who presumably know nothing about what Weary did or what he stood for, have done this and I hope they catch them," Mr Annett said.

"It's awful when any memorial is defaced, but particularly one that is so focused on one particular man."

Shrine of Remembrance chief executive Dennis Baguley said he was only made aware of the damage to the statue this morning.

Mr Baguley said the statue was not on the Shrine's land so it was not protected by guards who patrol the gardens.

"Obviously this is something that we are concerned about but my view would be it is a very isolated incident," Mr Baguley said.

The Shrine was also checked for damage when the graffiti was reported and there was no other vandalism.

It is not known when the memorial was defaced. It was cleaned this morning.

 
 

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[Keith]

From: Rick Ryan
To: 'Keith Tennent'
Sent: Monday, December 07, 2009 10:31 AM
Subject: Changes to DVA Cards [TOBECLASSIFIED] [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Keith

There were some comments about whether or not the current embossing on the new cards would be as is on our current cards.  Please refer below to reply to my question from DVA.

Take care and Persevere,

Rick

From: DVA General Enquiries 
Sent: Monday, 7 December 2009 7:36 AM
To: Rick Ryan
Subject: RE: Changes to DVA Cards

 
Hello Mr Ryan,

Yes, the Gold Card will continue to have TPI, WAR WIDOW etc displayed as it is currently.

Helen Manning

Client Service Officer


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: Rick Ryan 
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 2:43 PM
To: DVA General Enquiries
Cc: 'Griffin, Alan (MP)'
Subject: Changes to DVA Cards [TO BE CLASSIFIED]

G?day,

In relation to the following gleaned from the DVA Web Site, can you please confirm whether or not the DVA Gold Card for TPIs will have the endorsements displayed as is currently shown on our Gold Card i.e. TPI For all conditions and Totally & Permanently Incapacitated
 

We fought to have these endorsements shown on our current Gold Card and trust that they will continue to be shown on the replacement card.
 

Please reply as I wish to disseminate the information throughout the  veteran community.

Take care and Persevere,

Rick Ryan

TPI



Changes to DVA Cards

All Department of Veterans? Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Cards (DVA Cards) are due to expire during 2010. From March 2010 DVA will begin reissuing all cards. As part of this reissue there will be some improvements made to DVA cards. All eligible veterans, war widows/widowers and dependants will be issued with a new card.

Changes to DVA Cards will not reduce or change current eligibility to hold a DVA Card.

The changes being made to the cards are to increase:

    veteran access to services;

    provider satisfaction; and

    security of the cards.

Veteran Access to Services

The magnetic stripe on the cards will contain the following information:

    full name;

    file number;

    card Type; and

    expiry date.

This change is expected to improve provider satisfaction, as this will enable providers to swipe DVA cards in the same way Medicare or Private Health Fund Cards are currently utilised. By improving the claiming experience for the providers it increases the likely hood of providers accepting DVA cards.

All eligible clients living overseas will, for the first time, be issued with a DVA card.  This will remove the need for veterans to contact DVA to receive a ?letter of authority? when receiving medical treatment within Australia.

Entitlement to treatment overseas is limited to veterans that have an accepted disability/disabilities and DVA funds treatment of those accepted disabilities only. This process for receiving treatment while overseas will not change.

Security Upgrade

All DVA cards will have microprinting and a DVA registered hologram added as security features. The microprinting and hologram are added security features to ensure non entitled persons cannot reproduce a card.

Expected Arrival Date

The reissue of all cards is due to commence in March 2010, this process is expected to take 6 weeks to complete

[Keith]

From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Saturday, December 05, 2009 6:38 AM
Subject: Fw: Veterans' Affairs - Changes to DVA cards


Check out - Changes to DVA cards from the Department of Veterans' Affairs web site

 http://www.dva.gov.au/benefitsAndServices/health/health_cards/Pages/changes_march_2010.aspx

Changes to DVA Cards


All Department of Veterans? Affairs (DVA) Repatriation Health Cards (DVA Cards) are due to expire during 2010. From March 2010 DVA will begin reissuing all cards. As part of this reissue there will be some improvements made to DVA cards. All eligible veterans, war widows/widowers and dependants will be issued with a new card.


Changes to DVA Cards will not reduce or change current eligibility to hold a DVA Card.


The changes being made to the cards are to increase:

veteran access to services;
provider satisfaction; and
security of the cards.

Veteran Access to Services

The magnetic stripe on the cards will contain the following information:

full name;
file number;
card Type; and
expiry date.

This change is expected to improve provider satisfaction, as this will enable providers to swipe DVA cards in the same way Medicare or Private Health Fund Cards are currently utilised. By improving the claiming experience for the providers it increases the likely hood of providers accepting DVA cards.


All eligible clients living overseas will, for the first time, be issued with a DVA card.  This will remove the need for veterans to contact DVA to receive a ?letter of authority? when receiving medical treatment within Australia.


Entitlement to treatment overseas is limited to veterans that have an accepted disability/disabilities and DVA funds treatment of those accepted disabilities only. This process for receiving treatment while overseas will not change.


Security Upgrade

All DVA cards will have microprinting and a DVA registered hologram added as security features. The microprinting and hologram are added security features to ensure non entitled persons cannot reproduce a card.


Expected Arrival Date
The reissue of all cards is due to commence in March 2010, this process is expected to take 6 weeks to complete.

[Keith]

 
Tuesday 1 December 2009? 
 

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ARRANGEMENTS DURING CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

 

Veterans will be able to access key services throughout the Christmas and New Year period, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs offices will close between 5pm on Christmas Eve and 9am Monday 4 January 2010, however key services will continue to be available to the veteran community during this period, including:

 

crisis counselling  VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service offers 24-hour crisis counselling through Veterans Line. This service is available toll free on 1800 011 046 to veterans and peacekeepers of all conflicts, their families and eligible members of the Defence Force;
 

transport  if transport is not booked prior to the Christmas period, it will need to be paid for up-front and reimbursement can be sought from DVA at a later date;
 

hospital admissions  doctors can admit DVA patients into hospital and request admissions approval, where required, when DVA re-opens on Monday 4 January 2010;
 

Defence Service Homes Insurance  help with policy and claim enquiries is available 24 hours a day on 1300 552 662, while payments can be made on 1300 304 989, for the cost of a local call or via the website www.dsh.gov.au
 

Pension pay days will not be affected by the Christmas shutdown arrangements.

 

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all veteran, defence force and ex-service communities and their families, a safe and happy Christmas and New Year, Mr Griffin said.

[Keith]

VA099                                                                                                           Thursday, 26 November 2009

$303,000 FOR PROJECTS TO HONOUR AUSTRALIAS VETERANS 

Projects honouring Australias wartime heritage received a financial boost today with the announcement of $303,708 in funding approved by the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Mr Griffin said the funding for 110 projects is part of the Australian Governments Saluting Their Service Commemorative grants program to help communities across the nation honour and commemorate our wartime history.
 

?The grants will fund local activities and initiatives that recognise the service and sacrifice of Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peace operations? Mr Griffin said.

 

?Today, the Government is announcing funding for a range of projects including restoring and displaying wartime memorabilia, upgrading community war memorials, purchasing association banners and holding commemorative events.

 

?In particular, helping regional and rural communities across Australia maintain their places of remembrance is an important function of this grants program as these memorials play a central role in honouring local sons and daughters who have served the nation.

 

?Commemorative activities in local communities play a major role in encouraging Australians ? especially younger Australians ? to learn about our wartime experiences and provide an opportunity for veterans to share their stories.

 

?Australia has a proud wartime history that has been part of the lives of so many Australian families.  The Government remains committed to honouring those who have served and continue to serve, ensuring their legacy is remembered for generations to come.?

 

Mr Griffin encouraged local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for funding to visit www.dva.gov.au/grants or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).

 

Editors note: A list of grant recipients from each state is attached.

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS ? Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Minister?s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm



 

Saluting Their Service grants New South Wales recipients

        Norfolk Island RSL Sub-branch will receive $1280 to help purchase a display case to house and exhibit an escape hatch from an RAAF 38 Squadron Caribou aircraft in the club?s military memorabilia area.

 

        Kurri Kurri RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help purchase display cabinets to house wartime memorabilia at the club.

 

        Brunswick Heads and Billinudgel RSL Sub-branch will receive $2240 to help install a display case and secure gun display board at the club to exhibit wartime memorabilia.

 

        The Royal Australian Navy Band Association will receive $2648 to help restore the band?s parade drums used during the Second World War, for use at special commemorative occasions.

 

        Woy Woy Ettalong Hardys Bay RSL Sub-branch will receive $1320 to help replace the wooden flagpole at the club for use on days of commemoration.

 

        The Fairmile Association will receive two grants: $4000 to help install a memorial dedicated to the Fairmile ships of the Royal Australian Navy at the Ship Memorial Precinct at RAN Fleet Base East, Garden Island; and $1545 to help hold a plaque dedication service.

 

        Merriwa RSL Sub-branch will receive $1050 towards a ceremony held in October commemorating the 95th anniversary of the formation of the Light Horse Regiment.

 

        The Illawarra Sub-branch of the National Servicemen?s Association will receive $4000 to help upgrade and restore the Illawarra National Servicemen?s Memorial in Wollongong.

 

        Batlow RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help replace the tiling around the Batlow War Memorial to improve safety for visitors.

 

        Doyalson-Wyee RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Doyalson-Wyee War Memorial by installing a glass fence and lockable gate to improve security.

 

        The Operations Pilgrimage Group will receive $3000 towards a dedication ceremony held at the National Maritime Museum on 11 November to commemorate the bell from the Krait, which went missing in 1944 and was rediscovered in Queensland in 2008.

 

        Blue Mountains Vietnam Veterans and Associated Forces will receive $3000 towards a ceremony held in August commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba at the war memorial in Springwood.

 

        The Royal Freemasons? Benevolent Institution will receive two grants: $1892 to help install a flagpole at the Leeton Aged Care Facility; and $1114 to help install a flagpole at the Glen Innes Aged Care Facility, for use on days of commemoration.

 

        Riverina Vietnam Veterans Reunion will receive $3000 towards a reunion held on 7 November at the Wagga Wagga RSL commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.

 

        Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society will receive $480 to help replace the deteriorated First World War Honour Board currently located at the Murrumburrah Folk Museum for permanent display at the Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society rooms.

 

        Moree Public School will receive $1804 to help restore the school?s honour roll which lists the names of students who served during the First World War.

 

        The Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia will receive $4000 to help install an Australian Naval Aviation honour roll in the memorial garden at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Nowra Hill.

 

        Young Historical Society will receive $410 to help restore two cabinets at the Lambing Flat Folk Museum to display wartime memorabilia.

 

        The Shoalhaven Sub-branch of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $1982 to help transfer naval wartime memorabilia currently stored on VHS tapes to DVDs to preserve the footage.

 

        United Service Club will receive $3000 to help purchase five lockable display cabinets to preserve and exhibit a collection of antique and veteran rifles dating from 1871 to the First World War.

 

        Merriwa RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help replace the uneven concrete and gravel surrounding the Merriwa War Memorial to improve safety for visitors.

 

        Ashfield RSL Sub-branch will receive $1100 to help replace the concrete border surrounding the memorial to improve safety for visitors.

 

        Chatsworth Island and Iluka RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help refurbish the Iluka War Memorial including cleaning the memorial and installing lighting to deter vandalism.

 

        Pottsville RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help install a nominal roll in Anzac Park, Pottsville, listing the names of those from the district who have served in wars and conflicts.

 

        Canley Vale Public School will receive $4000 to help restore a First World War honour board at the school.

 

        Narooma RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help replace the clock on the Narooma RSL and Citizens War Memorial in the town centre.

 

        St Joseph?s School Woodburn will receive $1000 to help students undertake a research project with local veterans to mark the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Royal Australian Air Force presence in Evans Head.

 

        Coffs Harbour RSL Sub-branch will receive $1750 towards a ceremony and luncheon held in July commemorating Indigenous veterans.

 

        Lane Cove 12 Foot Sailing Skiff Club will receive $2500 to help refurbish the honour board at the club in Longueville which lists the names of members who served in the Second World War.

 

        Illawong Public School will receive $2930 to help create a commemorative garden and install a plaque at the base of the school?s flagpole dedicated to veterans from the district.

 

        Taree Gardens Social Committee will receive $300 to help install a flagpole in the grounds of the Taree Retirement Village for use on days of commemoration.

 

        Parkes RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help restore the Parkes War Memorial and improve security.

 

        Gunnedah RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help relocate and refurbish the Breeza War Memorial which is currently located on a busy highway, to ensure the safety of the local community when attending commemorative ceremonies.

 

        Manly Warringah Pittwater RSL District Council will receive $8531 to help apply a non-visible wax coating to memorials located in Manly Warringah and Pittwater to protect them from graffiti attack.

 

        TS Manoora will receive $1300 to help erect a memorial wall in Taree dedicated to the Royal Australian Navy and create a garden around the wall.

 

        The New South Wales Police RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help publish a biographical dictionary of New South Wales police personnel who served in the Australian forces during 1939-1945.

 

Saluting Their Service grants ACT recipients

        The Merchant Navy Association will receive $245 to help purchase an Australian Red Ensign to fly at the Merchant Navy Memorial in Kings Park, Canberra.

 

        The ACT RSL Branch will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander war memorial at Mount Ainslie.  The upgrade will include stabilising the existing gravel path and installing seating.

 

Saluting Their Service grants Tasmanian recipients

        The Fairmile Association (based in NSW) will receive $2975 to help install a memorial at HMAS Shropshire Naval Memorial Park at Ulverstone dedicated to Fairmile ships of the Royal Australian Navy and all who served in them during the Second World War and hold a plaque dedication service.

 

        Dunalley RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help build a war memorial in Dunalley dedicated to all wars and conflicts.

 

        Judbury Progress Association will receive $678 to help renovate the Judbury War Memorial and restore the lettering on the memorial.

 

        Clarence City Council will receive $3000 to help install three plaques in Anzac Park Lindisfarne to commemorate naval service in the Second World War.

 

        The Tasmanian North West Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force Association will receive $924 to help install internal bollards in the flagpoles at RAAFA Park in Ulverstone to prevent vandalism.

 

        Scottsdale RSL Sub-branch will receive $740 to help attach a plaque to the Scottsdale War Memorial commemorating all Australian prisoners of war.

 

Saluting Their Service grants West Australian recipients

        The City of Fremantle will receive two grants: $4000 to help install a plaque at the Fallen Sailors and Soldiers Memorial at Monument Hill detailing the reasons for constructing the memorial; and $3000 towards an inaugural luncheon held in September to commemorate Battle for Australia Day.

 

        Gosnells RSL Sub-branch will receive $2475 to help install a plaque at the Gosnells War Memorial listing the names of local veterans who served during the Second World War.

 

        Bencubbin RSL Sub-branch will receive $1650 to help construct a memorial in Beacon dedicated to the five servicemen from the district who lost their lives during the Second World War.

 

        Canning Districts/Victoria Park RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help install fencing around the Shirley Neil Memorial Garden and flag station to improve security.

 

        Geraldton City RSL Sub-branch will receive $1780 to help replace the flagpole at the Geraldton War Memorial with a vandalism resistant flagpole.

 

        Toodyay RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help replace 26 commemorative plaques missing from the Toodyay War Memorial dedicated to servicemen from the district who lost their lives during the First World War.

 

        Wagin District High School will receive $3000 to help students conduct a research project on 112 soldiers from the district who were killed during the First World War.

 

        Wagin RSL Sub-branch will receive $3850 to help install a plaque on the Remembrance Wall at the local high school dedicated to 112 soldiers from the district who were killed during the First World War.

 

Saluting Their Service grants Victorian recipients

        Ballan RSL Sub-branch will receive $2384 to help install a flagpole and lighting at the soldier settlers commemoration area in Ballan to improve safety and help deter vandalism.

 

        Thomas Carr College will receive $4000 to help relocate the Malay/Borneo Veterans Memorial closer to the Information Centre in Tarneit to improve visitor access.

 

        Australian National Reserve Diving Team Six will receive $2250 towards a commemorative dinner held in November at the Melbourne Naval Centre to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of the diving team.

 

        The 2/14th Battalion Association will receive $2557 to help install a plaque dedicated to the battalion in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.

 

        Maribyrnong Maidstone RSL Sub-branch will receive $788 to help install a plaque at the Maribyrnong memorial dedicated to locals who served in the Vietnam War.

 

        Fifth Linstock Nominees will receive $1595 to help install a flagpole at the Newmans Manor aged care facility in Templestowe for use on days of commemoration.

 

        Echuca Regional Veterans Support Centre will receive $1535 to help install a flagpole at the centre to fly the Australian flag.

 

        Christ Church Grammar School will receive $340 to help purchase a replica banner of the 2/14th Australian Field Regiment to be used by students on days of commemoration.

 

        Bairnsdale Secondary College will receive $3000 to help construct a memorial in the school grounds for use on days of commemoration.

 

        The 1st Armoured Regiment Association will receive $1250 towards an event held in July at the School of Armour in Puckapunyal to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.

 

        Tobruk Street Primary School, Morwell, will receive $3000 to help produce a banner featuring student-based research about the Battle of Tobruk.

 

        Wycheproof RSL Sub-branch will receive $3390 to help restore the Wycheproof RSL War Memorial in Centenary Park and install a plaque at the memorial dedicated to those who served in the Vietnam War.

 

        The Merchant Navy War Service League will receive $3000 to help install a glass cabinet in the Western Port Oberon Submarine Association at Crib Point to display wartime memorabilia.

 

        Cohuna/Leitchville RSL Sub-branch will receive $500 to help install an honour board in the Cohuna Memorial Hall dedicated to Australian men and women who have served in wars and conflicts.

 

        The Lighthorse and Field Artillery Museum will receive three grants: $4000 to help restore two bronze honour boards dedicated to members of the Commercial Travellers Club who served during the First World War; $2800 to help install a display cabinet at the museum to house HMAS Yarra memorabilia; and $4000 to help restore an honour board dedicated to employees at the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works who served during the First World War.

 

        Knox Remembrance Day Committee will receive $1350 to help restore the vandalised First World War Memorial located in the Tim Neville Arboretum in Ferntree Gully.

 

        The C Coy 2 RAR/NZ November 2009 Reunion Committee will receive $1750 towards a reunion held in early November to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the company?s tour of duty in South Vietnam.

 


Saluting Their Service grants Queensland recipients

        Oxford Crest will receive $4000 to help establish a memorial garden featuring a flagpole and memorial stone engraved with ?Lest We Forget? on the grounds of Oxford Crest Village in Beachmere for use by residents on days of commemoration.

 

        RSL War Veterans? Homes will receive $3000 to help research and display 70 pre-Second World War medals and badges donated by former residents of the RSL Care Fernhill Retirement Community.

 

        The Queensland Branch of the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces National Association will receive $1050 to help install a plaque at the Memorial Hall grounds in Ipswich dedicated to the Australian contingent of the BCOF who were killed while serving in Japan in 1945-52 and hold a plaque dedication service.

 

        The Australian Defence Force Trackers and War Dogs Association will receive $803 to help install two plaques in the gardens of the Royal Australian Regiment National Memorial Walk in Enoggera dedicated to war dogs with overseas service.

 

        The Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Association of Queensland will receive $4000 to help build a memorial in Tugalawa Park dedicated to the men and women who served in the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers unit from 1945.

 

        Mount Morgan RSL Sub-branch will receive $2387 to help preserve an Australian Flag used during the First World War for permanent display at the club.

 

        Springwood Tri Service RSL Sub-branch will receive four grants: $4000 to help build a memorial at Rochedale State School; $3178 to help build a memorial at St Peter?s Primary School in Rochedale; $3766 to help build a memorial at St Edward?s Primary School in Daisy Hill; and $3178 to help build a memorial at Kimberley Park State Primary School in Shailer Park.  All four memorials will be dedicated to Australian servicemen and women who have given their lives in defence of our country.

 

        The 3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Corporation will receive $3000 to help publish stories and experiences of those who served in the battalion.

 

        Cairns RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 towards the inaugural Battle for Australia Day commemorations held at the Cairns Cenotaph in September.

 

        Murweh Shire Council will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Charleville War Memorial with four granite bollards and four statues depicting Australian soldiers at ease in the Catafalque stance.

 

        South Burnett Regional Council will receive $4000 to help construct two memorial walls along the pathway to the Kingaroy Memorial Park Rotunda where plaques dedicated to Australian servicemen and women and three flagpoles will be installed.

 

        The Dayboro War Memorial Association will receive $3953 to help replace deteriorated wooden bollards with illuminated bollards to protect the memorial and improve safety.

 

        The Townsville and District Branch of the National Servicemen?s Association of Australia will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial wall next to the National Servicemen?s Memorial in Rowes Bay Park.

 

        Pimlico State High School will receive $3000 to help develop an online teaching resource to record a group of 40 students? trip to war sites and cemeteries in Singapore and Gallipoli in September.

 

        Toogoom and District RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial wall in the Toogoom Memorial Gardens commemorating all Australian servicemen and women.

 

        The Toowoomba Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force Association will receive $4000 to help install a plinth and plaque at the Village on the Downs retirement facility in Harristown to commemorate Second World War veterans.

 

        Beerwah Peachester RSL Sub-branch will receive $850 towards a commemorative service held in August to mark the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.

 

        8th/9th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment will receive $4000 to help install a plaque on the memorial located in the Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, dedicated to those of the 8th, 9th and 8th/9th Battalions who lost their lives while on operational and non-operational service.

 

        The South Queensland Branch of the Australian Peacekeepers and Peacemakers Veterans Association will receive $2420 to help restore the Windaroo War Memorial and improve security and safety for visitors.

 

        Eudlo State School will receive $3000 to help create a community remembrance garden at the school dedicated to all Australian servicemen and women.

 

        Beenleigh and District RSL Sub-branch will receive $2896 to help restore a 1958 Series 2 Military Landrover for use during commemorative events.

 

Saluting Their Service grants South Australian recipients

        Semaphore Port Adelaide RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help purchase 28 street flags on flagpoles to be displayed during the Anzac Light On The Water event held in Port Adelaide each year.

 

        The South Australian Branch of the Association of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-servicemen and women will receive two grants: $3000 to help restore, preserve and display wartime memorabilia at the club premises in Richmond; and $3000 to help purchase four glass image panels to provide a pictorial history from the First World War until the present day.

 

        Scholz Park Museum will receive $3000 to help install a display case at the museum to exhibit wartime memorabilia.

 

        The South Australian Branch of the 8th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Association will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial on the Pathway of Honour in Adelaide dedicated to the battalion.

 

        The 92 Wing 70th Anniversary Committee will receive $3000 towards a ceremony and dinner held in September to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the formation of No 10 and 11 Squadrons.

 

        The South Australian RSL Branch will receive $535 to help publish 30 copies of a booklet detailing the service of 322 officers of the PMG Posts, Telegraphs and Telephone Department of South Australia during the First World War.

 

        The Georgetown Community Development Association will receive $4000 to help replace two deteriorated Second World War honour rolls at the gates of the Second World War Memorial Park, purchase a new honour roll to commemorate the Korean and Vietnam Wars and remove several trees that are encroaching on the ceremonial area.

 

        Walker Flat and District Community Hall will receive $4000 to help refurbish the local war memorial.

 

        The District Council of the Copper Coast will receive $4000 to help upgrade the surrounds of the Moonta War Memorial.

 

        The Blackwood and District RSL Sub-branch will receive $3710 to help restore the vandalised Blackwood Soldier?s Memorial including replacing the bayonet on the rifle held by the First World War soldier and restoring engravings.

 

        Bute RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help construct a large glass cabinet to house and display wartime memorabilia.

[Keith]

                                                                                          Wednesday, 25 November 2009

 

SEARCH ONLINE FOR OVERSEAS AUSTRALIAN MEMORIALS

 

Including a visit to an Australian war memorial during your next overseas trip is now much easier with the help of a new online resource launched today by Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin.

The Overseas Memorials Search http://memorials.dva.gov.au includes details and photographs of more than 110 official and privately constructed overseas memorials which honour Australian service across the globe.

Australians have served in locations throughout the world not only protecting our nation, but helping to protect our neighbours and allies, Mr Griffin said.

Official memorials have been established by the Australian Government or the Commonwealth in many of these locations, and local communities have also erected special memorials and monuments.

I encourage all Australians to consider visiting an overseas memorial as part of future travel plans, or as part of research into our wartime history.

Mr Griffin said the new database provides travellers with details about memorials on the Kokoda Track, a memorial plinth at Subic Bay in the Philippines and a memorial stone in Elands River in South Africa.

The database will continue to grow as more data is collected, and I invite people with information about the location or details of overseas memorials to contact my Department, Mr Griffin said.

The stories behind each memorial are unique and provide a powerful reminder of the courage of Australians who served and died overseas.

One such story is the moving tribute from the local community in Stadil, Denmark, who built a wooden cross to commemorate the crew of the Lancaster bomber EE138 which was shot down by a Luftwaffe night fighter over Stadil on 4 September 1943. The crew of eight men, four of whom were Australian, managed to steer the damaged Lancaster away from the village before it crashed.  All eight men were killed.  

The cross was engraved with the words Minde over faldne allierede Flyvere translated as In memory of fallen Allied Airmen, and after an Australian Government grant, now includes a memorial plaque and garden maintained by locals.

The Australian Government has provided funding to help upgrade and restore some of these memorials through the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program, Mr Griffin said.

The grants program has helped local communities enhance the memorial they have maintained over the years.  Through this program we are hearing stories of appreciation and gratitude for our Australian servicemen and women.

[Keith]

ABC NEWS
 
Digger's diary recounts 'hell on earth'
By Ben Worsley for PM

 
'Corporal Wilson got his head blown off': Charles Hardy wrote the diary while in the trenches at Gallipoli (ABC TV)

Audio: Diggers diary describes Gallipoli as 'hell on earth' (PM) http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/pm/200911/20091123-pm07-diggers-diaries.mp3

Related Link: ABC News Online special: Fromelles Fallen http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/fromelles/

After 94 years of research and historical writing, you might expect that we would know everything there is to know about the Gallipoli landings.

But the State Library of New South Wales has just proven that there is more to learn, especially on a personal level.

The library took possession of a digger's diary, largely penned in the trenches by a young soldier from Sydney called Charles Hardy.

He describes his predicament as "hell on earth" but he also takes time to poke some fun and get in strife.


'No toy soldier'

Private Charles Hardy it seems was a character, one with a gift for telling it like it was:

"Landed at Anzac 21st of August 1915 at rear of firing line. If killed, please inform my sister, Mrs M Lawson, Newtown, Sydney," an excerpt from the diary reads.

"Ammunition was issued today. No more a toy soldier. 18th Battalion got cut up. Corporal Wilson got his head blown off."

The 21-year-old blacksmith served with the 19th Battalion in France, Egypt and Gallipoli.

Keeping diaries was forbidden but he did it anyway in a pocket-sized book, mostly written at Anzac Cove.

"November 16. I waited for about 10 minutes before I fired at an old Turk to make sure of him. I took deliberate aim and then bang! Over he went and never moved on. I sneaked out at night time and cut one of his Turkish buttons off," another excerpt reads.


Uncensored memories

The 90-page tome was in private hands for decades but was just bought by the State Library of New South Wales for $5,000.

The library's manuscript curator, Tracy Bradford, says it is the personal, uncensored nature of the diary that makes it so valuable.

"His diary is very matter of fact, it's very poignant in places, it gives a real honest view of what life was like," Ms Bradford said.

Charles Hardy was not an angel. He describes spending three days in the clink as he calls it, for going AWOL in Cairo.

In his diary he teaches himself French and Greek and enjoys observing the foreigners around him:

"The French troops are very funny. They don't get any jam so they come up and say 'jam Johnnie jam'. I don't care for it. It gives me pains in my incinerator.

"Visited the Indian camp. Had some chap patty and curry. They think terrible lot of the Australian soldiers.

"Greeks are kicking up the devil because they are going to war soon. I think they talk too much."

"I think that really speaks to people because it's the unofficial history, it's not glossed over, it's sort of bureau speak, it's very, very personal," Tracy Bradford said.

"The Turks are very cheeky. We threw them some bully beef and they returned it full of slops. One big Turk shook his fist over the parapet at us," another excerpt reads.

"Shooting Turks is fun to the boys but it's death and sorrow on the Turks' side today. In all, thousands of them killed."


War-inspired wordsmith

Amid the horror, Charles Hardy tried some poetry:

"A flash and the sudden whistle of a cordite-driven ball. A sob in the clinging darkness and Private's dead, that's all."

The burden of war can be felt growing heavier as the diary goes on:

"May 15. Hell on earth. My nerves are shattered. Just about dead with thirst and hunger, my God I will never forget the flies and the sand.

"November 20: I'm 22 years old and have never had such a miserable birthday. It's terrible cold and windy. I'd sooner sell peanuts than be a soldier again.

"August 16: Went and looked at Graveyard at Lemnos Island. Was surprised to see so many poor chaps buried without any names. Nobody knows who they are. Mostly all Australians."

Somehow Charles Hardy avoided that fate. He was injured in France and discharged.

He returned to Sydney where he married.

Government records show he was still alive in the late 60s, but little else is known.

 
 

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THE HON. DR MIKE KELLY MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support

Friday, 20 November 2009
076/2009

DEFENCE HONOURS AND AWARDS TRIBUNAL INQUIRY INTO RECOGNITION FOR PEACEKEEPING SERVICE FROM 1947 ONWARDS

The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon. Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, today announced that the independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into recognition for Defence Force personnel who served as peacekeepers since 1947. 

?I am pleased that the Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal will inquire into recognition for peacekeeping service. This inquiry is another in a series of reviews into long-standing Defence honours and awards issues identified by the Australian Government in late 2007,? Dr Kelly said. 

A call for submissions will be released shortly in the national press.  Submissions to the inquiry close on Monday, 21 December 2009.

?Many people have raised with the Government the issue of separate additional recognition for Australian Defence Force peacekeeping service and I would encourage them to now take advantage of this opportunity to make a submission,? Dr Kelly said.

The Tribunal can be contacted at:

Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal
Locked Bag 7765
CANBERRA BUSINESS CENTRE   ACT   2610

or via email to DHA.Tribunal@defence.gov.au

The terms of reference for the inquiry and guidance on how to make a submission can be obtained at: www.defence-honours-tribunal.gov.au

[Keith]

Minister for Veterans' Affairs
 
 
VA094                                                                                                      Wednesday, 18 November 2009

 

$40,000 TO PROTECT TRIBUTE TO SANDAKAN-RANAU DEATH MARCH POWS

The Australian Government is investing $40,000 to protect a new memorial and the site of the prisoners last camp on the infamous Sandakan Death Marches, Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin announced today. 

The grant has been provided under the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program to help install fencing around the site of the last camp where the remaining survivors of the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches were murdered by their Japanese captors in 1945.
 

Mr Griffin said the funding would help pay for fencing that would protect the largely untouched site from wandering livestock, unauthorised entry and ensure it was preserved into the future.
 

Historian Lynette Silver has put a lot of effort into establishing the Last Camp Memorial Park in conjunction with the landowner Dr Othman Minudin, to ensure this important part of our wartime history is preserved and protected for many years to come, Mr Griffin said.
 

The Last Camp Memorial Park is located at the area believed to have been the last camp site of the remaining survivors of the Sandakan-Ranau Death Marches. The memorial was dedicated on 27 August 2009 the anniversary of when the last 15 surviving POWs were murdered, twelve days after the Second World War ended.

 
The courage and determination these men displayed in the face of the most severe adversity and certain death is inspirational, and we should ensure their service and sacrifice is never forgotten Mr Griffin said.

 

Protecting the grounds of the Last Camp Memorial Park will ensure this important site, part of one of the darkest chapters of our wartime history, will be preserved. It will also permit systematic investigation for historical artefacts and their conservation.

 

More than 2400 Australian and British soldiers died at the Sandakan prisoner of war camp and on the death marches from Sandakan to Ranau in 1945. Only six Australians escaped and survived Sandakan two managing to escape in the early stages of the second march with the help of villagers, and four more successfully escaped from Ranau into the jungle, where they were cared for by local people.

 

For more information on the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program visit www.dva.gov.au/grants. For more information on the Last Camp Memorial Park and Lynette Silver visit www.sandakan-deathmarch.com

[Keith]

 
VA093                                                                                                            Monday, 16 December 2009

 

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL COUNCIL APPOINTMENT

 

National President of the Returned & Services League of Australia, Rear Admiral Ken Doolan AO RAN (Retd), has been appointed to the Council of the Australian War Memorial, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, announced today.

 

Mr Griffin said the Council plays an important role in ensuring the Australian War Memorial continues to honour Australian service.

 

Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, approved Rear Admiral Doolans appointment to the Council as a part-time member for a three-year term.

 

Rear Admiral Doolan will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Council, particularly in relation to the Royal Australian Navy, Mr Griffin said.

 

Rear Admiral Doolan served as an officer during the Indonesian Confrontation and the Vietnam War; as Commanding Officer of HMAS Tobruk in 1980 and HMAS Brisbane in 1984.  In 1990 he served as Maritime Commander Australia and Operational Commander for all Australian combatant force deployed to the 1990-91 Gulf Crisis and Gulf War as part of Operation Damask. 

 

Since leaving the Australian Defence Force, he has held important and influential roles in the Defence Force Remuneration Tribunal, the Order of Australia Association and currently as National President of the RSL.  He has also written several historical works about the Australian Navy.

 

His blend of skills and experience and interest in military history will enable him to make an important contribution to the Councils work, Mr Griffin said.

 

The Australian War Memorial Council comprises up to ten part-time members, and the Chief of Navy, Chief of Army, the Chief of Air Force as ex-officio members.  As part of the continuing legacy of commemorating Australias wartime service, the Council is responsible for the strategic direction of the Australian War Memorial.

[Keith]

War diaries tell of one Digger's journey to hell and back
By Xanthe Kleinig
From: The Daily TELEGRAPH
 
 November 11, 2009  
 
DIGGER Harry Hartnett went to bed in disgust on November 11, 1918.

Off Fremantle, the ship's 1000 injured Diggers watched people running in every direction on shore.

"Gloomily we stood and sat on the decks wondering what it is all about," he wrote at the time.

The war was over. But the troop ship didn't get the news until 11pm when mainlanders thought to send a launch.

"Excited parties of men roamed all over the ship, beating tin plates, cans, anything that would make a noise," Hartnett wrote.

"Who could blame them after what they had been through during the course of World War I?"

Hartnett's diaries - a painstaking record of Australia's baptism of fire on the Western Front - are published this month, 90 years after his return.

Enlisting in 1915 at the age of 23, Hartnett saw action in Fromelles and the Somme before being shipped to "Blighty" with a bullet in his arm.

Against army regulations he carried three slim volumes to record his tour.

In the 1920s the returned soldier, then living in Kogarah, shopped them around to publishers but was told readers were "sick of the war".

In the 1970s he retired and rewrote the manuscript, typing out with one finger a copy for each of his daughters.

His daughter Enid Hartnett, now aged in her 70s, kept the originals after her father's death in 1975.

Hartnett and his younger brother Jack each kept a diary. But Jack's was cut short by his death in action in 1917 - the last entry referring to seeing Hartnett's division on the field.

"The sad part was Dad and uncle Jack must have passed each other in the lines; Dad was in the infantry and Jack was in the artillery defending them," Ms Hartnett said.

It was the husband of Ms Hartnett's sister Nola, Albie Thomas, who finally achieved their father's dream of publication. He contacted Chris Bryett, president of a group dedicated to finding the missing Diggers from the battle of Fromelles, who became the editor of Hartnett's book Over The Top.

"The thing that gets you about Harry's book is the detail, the amount of information," Mr Bryett said.

Hartnett's is an uncensored version of the war and true down to the details of their rations and weekly showers.

"You have to look at what these guys put up with. The message to Australia today is we are

 
 

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[Keith]

From: Terry Davies
Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 9:14 AM
Subject: Veterans and women suffer as legal aid money dries up

Source:  SMH

http://www.smh.com.au/national/veterans-and-women-suffer-as-legal-aid-money-dries-up-20091104-hy0g.html

Veterans and women suffer as legal aid money dries up

GEESCHE JACOBSEN CRIME EDITOR

November 5, 2009

ONE in five people seeking legal aid in NSW are being turned away from a system in crisis, said the Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos.

War veterans claiming pensions, grandparents locked in family law battles and indigenous women escaping domestic violence were missing out on funding for legal battles, he said.

Mr Hatzistergos is calling for an urgent increase in federal funding on the eve of a meeting of the state and federal attorneys-general in Sydney today.

In 1996-97 federal funding accounted for half the budget for legal aid in NSW, he said, but the share had fallen to a quarter, while the state share had risen rapidly since then.

The chief executive of Legal Aid NSW, Alan Kirkland, said the organisation would soon have to tighten eligibility for funding to war veterans and their widows, for claims relating to medical treatment and benefits.

"We're stuck between a rock and a hard place in choosing which services to cut next. Whichever way we turn, it will be a very disadvantaged group that suffers,'' he said. ''If anything, with the prospect of further interest rate rises, we'd like to have Commonwealth funding to help people who have difficulty making mortgage repayments to avoid repossession."

Legal Aid NSW has already stopped funding court action to enforce family court orders against former partners.

Grandparents seeking legal aid, for example for custody disputes, were also affected by a tightening of funding rules which took into account assets such as the family home, meaning many income poor but asset rich people missed out on funding, Mr Hatzistergos said.

Under a state-federal arrangement, the Federal Government is to provide finance for cases involving federal law, such as family law, federal criminal law, and social security and veterans affairs matters.

The president of the NSW Law Society, Joe Catanzariti, said in difficult financial times there were greater demands for access to legal aid funding, and pro bono work by lawyers was no substitute for adequate government funding.

''We've been advocating for some time that legal aid funding should be increased,'' he said.

The NSW RSL president, Don Rowe, said some war veterans were missing out on the legal representation they need.

''The funding for legal aid in these matters is already inadequate. To think that it might be further cut, due to a lack of funds from the Australian Government, is an insult to veterans.''

[Keith]

Queensland retirees in crisis as price of living rises
Article from: COURIER MAIL
John McCarthy

November 08, 2009

QUEENSLANDERS are facing an affordability crisis, with hikes in housing, transport, health and food, and Brisbane second only to Perth as the most expensive city to retire.

Food costs around Australia also soared with the cost of feeding a family up 40 per cent in a decade.

Self-funded retiree Marjorie Green is one of the many battling to make ends meet as investments dive and expenses continue to rise.

"By and large, most of us can manage day to day," she said. "But that's all we're doing."

Retiree tells: Cost of living outstrips budget http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26322609-3102,00.html

OECD figures: Aussies paying more for food http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26322574-953,00.html

Housing affordability: Home sites out of reach http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,26322457-3102,00.html

While housing costs leapt 6 per-  cent in the past year despite the global meltdown, home affordability in the southeast was expected to worsen with Government red tape scuttling several housing estates.

Rents also continued to rise with the average in Brisbane now about $370 a week while the inner city commands $460 on average.

The scrapping of the fuel subsidy earlier this year has also led to steep rises at the bowser to near the highest in the country while public transport costs will spike next year with dramatic increases already flagged by the State Government.

Of the major capitals Brisbane also topped the table for inflation in September, beaten only by Darwin.

It adds to the continued rise in unemployment in Queensland despite national levels falling last month, a factor blamed on the state's reliance on tourism and mining.

The escalating costs now mean retirees need to have investments providing almost as much as the average wage to afford a comfortable life.

A survey from Westpac and the Association of Super Funds showed the cost of a comfortable retirement in Brisbane was now almost $52,000 a year .

Even a modest retirement costs just over $28,000 a year, according to the survey.

The spike meant that some retirees were now skipping some costly medicines so they could afford food, according to the Pensioner and Superannuants League spokesman Ray Ferguson.

He said retirees "suffered greatly" during the economic crisis and many had been trapped into taking out expensive reverse mortgages to survive.

Retirees have missed out on price cuts in some areas of the economy including education and financial services, but have had increases in health services, food, transport and recreation.

They even missed the benefit of significant cuts to mortgage rates because most already owned their own home. But the drop in interest rates had slashed returns from investments such as bank deposits, he said.

 
 

www.theaussiedigger.com The Aussie Digger
 
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http://www.austvetmatters.net/ Fraud and Wannabe Website
 
http://www.anzmi.net/  Fraud and Wannabe Website

[Keith]

From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Friday, November 06, 2009 5:11 PM
Subject: Fw: FORWARDED MESSAGE - High Court SCRA Decision


High Court SCRA Decision

As many will know & for the benefit of those who don?t know, there has been a case recently by Slater & Gordon in which the High Court decision was that there be a difference in assessment for left & right medical condition of the knees IF it affects mobility i.e. ?difficulty with Grades, Steps and Distance? which equals a 20% assessment and lump sum payment under table 9.5 of the Comcare Permanent Impairment Guide (SRCA).

There would be many people who have made claims over the years in which Table 9.5 was used and received reduced compensation payments because of the one payment for the two injuries. If you know someone who has made a claim previously or are one of those who are affected then you need them or yourself to be seeking a re-assessment of the condition and ask for a new decision.

The other thing you could do is submit your original decision asking that it be set aside and amended appropriately taking into account the Fellowes v MRCC (2009) HCA 38 (23 September 2009) decision of the High Court.

This means you get two separate payments i.e. 20% for EACH knee plus pain and suffering.

Given that Comcare has been conducting a review of the Permanent Impairment Guide, they may make amendments to reduce the payments of any reassessments in the future by making claims under any revised PIG retrospective. 

ESO representatives should inform their pension claims officers. Not to do so is neglecting the ex-service people we try to assist.

[Keith]

From: Bill and Margaret Krause
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 5:30 PM
Subject: Fw: TPI Travel Entitlements 2010

Customer Service
305 Edward Street

GPO Box 1429
Brisbane  Qld   4001

TELEPHONE: 07 3235 3856
Mr Mike Gibb
TPI Federation Qld
175 Oxley Station Road
OXLEY   QLD   4075    

Dear Mike

Re: TPI train travel entitlement

The Queensland Government recently announced new fares for the TransLink network effective 4 January 2010. The fare change will help TransLink to continue to operate cost-effectively, and will be invested in improving public transport in South East Queensland.

As part of these changes, paper tickets will be removed from sale in December 2010.

Please be assured that TPI entitlements remain unchanged and the current travel permit and voucher process is still valid until December 2010.

We will contact you regarding any change to the current process as soon as a decision is made.

For more information on TransLinks current ticketing options please visit www.translink.com.au or call TransLink on 13 12 30 anytime.


Yours sincerely
 
Theo Taifalos
Group General Manager
Customer Service

05 November 2009

[Keith]

VA088                                                                                                                      Friday, 9 October 2009

MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AVAILABLE FOR VETERAN COMMUNITY

On the eve of World Mental Health Day, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, has encouraged members of the veteran community to seek appropriate help for mental health issues.
 

Mr Griffin said the VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service provided counselling and group programs to Australian veterans, peacekeepers, their families and eligible Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

 

"Some veterans and their family members experience mental health problems as a result of their Service.  I urge any veteran or veterans? family member who wants more information about improving their mental health to contact the VVCS on 1800 011 046, Mr Griffin said.

 

Even if you are dealing with my Department on compensation or other matters, dont wait to address your mental health issues.  VVCS is a free, confidential and responsive service that can provide you with the support you need when you need it most.

 

Mr Griffin said World Mental Health Day provided an opportunity to reach out, not only to veterans, but also to widows, wives, partners, children and mates.

 

Almost 50,000 veterans have a mental health disability, so I understand that the treatment of illnesses such as PTSD and related conditions is very close to the hearts of those in the ex-service community.

 

Mr Griffin said the Government was doing more now to assist veterans and transitioning ADF members with mental health-related problems, than ever before in the history of Australias participation in conflicts and peace operations.

 

In addition to the $145 million spent on veterans mental health annually, the Government has allocated $92 million over four years to better meet the mental health needs of veterans and current and former serving members of the ADF, including $9.5m to my Department to implement recommendations from Professor Dunts Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-service community, Mr Griffin said.

 

Other initiatives include $5.5 million for the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health to develop ADF and veteran-specific mental health initiatives, more free Operation Life suicide prevention workshops for people who are concerned about family, friends, mates or others in the veteran and ex-service community.  The At Ease website (www.at-ease.dva.gov.au) also provides veteran-specific information on common mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance misuse, and links to mental health services and other resources.

 

These programs demonstrate the Government?s commitment to mental health awareness and treatment across the veteran community.  However, there is always be more that can be done, and we will continue to do more.
 

World Mental Health Day raises public awareness about mental health issues.  The Day promotes more open discussion of illnesses, and investments in prevention and treatment services.  For more information, visit www.wfmh.org. Tomorrow (Saturday) is also National PTSD Awareness Day and Mr Griffin will speak at Kings Park (near the Carillion), Lake Burley Griffin, Canberra, from 1.50pm.

[perthpaul]

As expected

Arthur Rex Crane

he is not even on the official

WW2 Nominal Roll

http://www.ww2roll.gov.au

[Keith]

VA087                                                                                                                 Saturday, 3 October 2009

Statement on Rex Crane

This statement is regarding the article on Rex Crane in the Sydney Morning Herald, the Age and the West Australian published today, Saturday 3 October 2009.

I am aware of Mr Crane?s case and have been briefed by my Department.

I have directed my Department to refer this case to the Australian Federal Police.  This occurred on Thursday, 1 October 2009.

This is a very serious matter.

I know these allegations will be distressing for the veteran community and I fully understand why.  Those who have sacrificed so much for our country are rightly outraged when fraud of this nature occurs.

Personally, I think for anyone to impersonate a prisoner of war is disgusting.  It is a betrayal of all the values our veterans stand for.

I have very strong feelings about this and need to stress the gravity of the situation.

My Department works hard to protect the repatriation system and ensure people who deserve entitlements are those who are actually getting them.  There are reasons why we are so strict with the operation of the system and why some claims take time to examine.

Should these allegations be proven, it will illustrate to what lengths some individuals will go to to defraud our system and the large amounts of money that can be involved.

This matter should be pursued to the fullest extent of the law and I am confident that the AFP will do so. 

I eagerly await the outcome of that investigation.

Minister for Veterans? Affairs

The Hon Alan Griffin MP

 

 

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS ? Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

 
VA085                                                                                                            Thursday, 1 October 2009

AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL APPOINTS OFFICIAL ARTIST

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced the appointment by the Australian War Memorial of Shaun Gladwell as the latest official artist to cover the war in Afghanistan.

With Australian forces committed operationally overseas, it is important that their experiences are captured by leading artists and photographers, Mr Griffin said.

 Over the years, the Australian War Memorial has commissioned works by many official artists and these give an insight into the Australian experience of war.

 Shaun Gladwells work will add to the Memorials collection, continuing the tradition of official artists since the First World War.

The Australian War Memorial has a large and diverse collection which continues to grow with Australias involvement in recent peacekeeping operations and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Mr Griffin said.

Travelling during October, Shaun Gladwell will be accompanied by Nick Fletcher, a curator with the Memorial, who will look for significant items that may be added to the Memorials broader collection.

Mr Gladwell has been commissioned to create a body of work that includes video and photography which will become part of the national collection once completed.

A critically acclaimed artist, Mr Gladwells work explores personal history, memory and contemporary cultural phenomena through photography, performance, painting and sculpture. He is currently representing Australia in the 2009 Venice Biennale.

The visit is part of the Memorial?s ongoing collecting and official art programs, and was arranged with the assistance of the Australian Defence Force.

Further information:
http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/war_artists/  

 

Minister Griffin?s Office:                    Sasha Nimmo        0437683109

Australian War Memorial:                (02) 6243 4575      0409 600 038

[Keith]

From: Ron King
To: Kirsten Livermore
Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 7:25 AM
Subject: the forgotten war widows.


Kirsten Livermore.
federal member.
Capricornia.
 
Rw KING    oam.
president
Cap & Rockhampton region.
RSL sub branch.
Rockhampton.
 
Dear Kirsten.
REF: news article Sun Herald.27 sep 09.
 
I am writing this mail out of concern for the widow Breeana Till and her 2 children and the one on the way. It would appear that once a gain the DVA and the Government are playing games with a family that has no or very little support. Pertaining to the compensation and the pension factor and their entitlements.
 
Why is this woman being interviewed by a review panel for god sake? She and her children have lost a husband and a father, he is not coming home. This is the main thrust of all of this. It has happened and will keep on happening  in the past and into the future unless someone bites the bullet and gets the compo and the war pension entitlements sortd out and put into practice.
 
This man SGT TILL was KIA in Afghanistan, to say as reported he was injured, lets get the facts straight he was killed in action at war in another country supporting the AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT support of the AMERICAN  policies. The mans family needs support and the just compensation to get over the loss and to carry their lives on.The words spoken by the prime minister on the 8sep 08. were the first responsibility of government is the security of the nation.Therefore that particular has particular responsibility to those who have worn the nations uniform of Australia. Okay well said now back it up with just compensation to the family  of SGT TILL and all other kia and wia members of the defence force.
 
The soldiers who are killed in action and or Wounded in action are unlike a civil accident in a motor car where the accident I investigated to determine who was in the wrong, and who is to be charged ,fined sent to jail and so on it goes and then a court case to determine the compensation to be paid through a legal system and this can take up to 5-6 years if not longer. In the case of a member of the defence force its shot or blown up and is a kia or wia and nothing more to be said sent home and nursed back to health or is buried This person was killed or wounded by a unknown enemy at the time and will never know. The circumstances are two entirely circumstances the families of these veterans need to be given every opportunity to get on with life.
 
These very same families will never have the chance to amass family savings as a family, and save up for a retirement and still have to put children through school etc. It means the family is torn apart the wife has to move to where the best support can be obtained from family friends and support agencies. Soldiers going into battle need to know that the support back at home is there and will support his family in the time of need.
 
Kirsten it is requested you get behind this and push the call for fair and just compensation and to have the kia and wia in war reinstated.To identify the civil type injuries and war type injuries two different circumstances.
 
RW   KING   OAM
 

[Keith]

From: Butcher
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 6:28 PM
Subject: RE: COMMENTS IN DAILY TELEGRAPH REGARDING WAR WIDOWS SITUATION


This situation is not single event, if people took the time to examine the D.E.A; this young widow is the tip of the iceberg.

If DVA says she can approach Centre link for assistance her War Widows Pension is deemed to be an income and therefore attracts a tax. Once on that round about it is heart destroying. We, the people must force the government to review every entitlement for the widows and widowers of all our service persons.

Lou Butcher

Bateman?s Bay

AUSTRALIA, Love it or leave NOW!

From: Ron King
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 6:55 PM
Subject: Re: Breeanna Till


Good day Keith.
What is John and Ann a relay for the minister? I don't care what that minister has rang them as they DON'T represent the girl and or family, The matter of the fact is it has taken to long for the family to be able to get on with life and settle down to dad not being around any longer, and the fact she has taken on the care of his two children from a previous marriage,
 
Unlike others like ourselves [ my wife and I ] they never as a family had the chance to amass family savings or a planned financial future, and it will be twice as hard to do that now especially with a new baby on the way. This is typical biquadratic and political bull shit, excuse my French but that is all it is. The saying of the military giving them nothing is incorrect It's  THE GOVERNMENT and DVA's job to know take up the responsibilities , The pollies and the DVA staff have no idea as to what is needed especially the 23 year old case officer and the non speaking or understanding of English pensions people at the DVA offices. John and Ann I don't expect you to speak for the minister unless you are in the labour party .
RW   KING   OAM

From: advisor
To: 'Keith Tennent'
Sent: Sunday, September 27, 2009 8:05 PM
Subject: Breeanna Till

Keith and others,

I think the comment by John and Ann was fair as it focused on the word 'compensation'.  Alan Griffin would have alluded to John and Ann a range of other benefits that may or may not be available to Breeanna (i.e. those benefits which are means tested).

I believe from what I have read in todays newspapers that Breeanna was speaking at the current Review into Military Compensation hearings.  Therefore, I have to agree with Breeanna that the amount of 'compensation' offered in the form of a War Widows pension for her husband being Killed In Action is indeed lousy.

What we have been fighting for all these years is fair 'compensation' not only for those families of the military that are Killed In Action but also for those Wounded In Action and the thousands who suffer disabitilties from their military service be they war caused or while wearing the uniform of this great nation.

Do not be sidetracked by the range of other benefits (not compensation payments' available).  Those of you should be able to recall a past Minister for Veterans Affairs, Danna Vale who used a hell of a lot of spin in an effort to deny any increases in our 'compensation' payments.  I certainly do, the figures she used were erroneous, deceptive and downright misleading.

So I suggest for those of you that this affects, that Breeanna has done a very brave thing by standing up to be counted.  She is referring to 'compensation' for the death of her husband as we that are still alive and kicking are fighting for 'fair compensation' for our disabilities.

If the federal government had to fight out each individual case of 'compensation' in the law courts, it would cost the taxpayer millions for each case.  The real truth is that the people of Australia get off cheaply in paying 'compensation' for those of us that fight their wars to keep this country free.

Alan Griffin knows me and I am sure he would also know that I do not cop the crap about the range of benefits that may or may not be available to Breeanna and her children.  The fact is that Breeanna was only referring to 'compensation' payments.  Good onya Breeanna for having the guts to assist us in the fight for a better deal and especially so close to the recent death of your loving husband.

Take care and Persevere,

Rick

 

[Keith]

Forgotten war widow broke
Nick Leys
From: Herald Sun
September 27, 2009

JUST six months after her husband was killed in Afghanistan, Breeanna Till is broke -- let down by the government which promised solemnly to look after her.

Heavily pregnant with the child Sgt Brett Till will never know, the Sydney widow fears becoming a "single mum on the dole" when she gives birth in a few weeks.

The $905-a-week pay packet her husband earned lasted just two weeks after he died in a roadside bomb explosion.

In its place, the military gave Mrs Till a compensation payment of $305 a week.

Sgt Till, 31, was a highly respected Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician from the Incident Response Regiment stationed at Sydney's Holsworthy Barracks.

On March 19 he was with a group of soldiers conducting "route clearance" work in southern Afghanistan.

An improvised explosive device was located and in the course of disposing of the bomb, it exploded and killed him instantly.


Mrs Till, who looks after Sgt Till's two children from a previous marriage, Jacob, 10 and Taleah, 7, has made ends meet with part-time work, but will soon have to give that up because of the baby.

Last Thursday she broke down in tears as she told a Department of Veterans Affairs review panel of her plight at a public meeting in western Sydney.

She said most Australians would be outraged to learn how little financial support was afforded the families of servicemen killed fighting for the country.

In a week which saw politicians and heads of government agencies awarded a pay rise, Mrs Till revealed she was receiving the same amount of financial support as a single mother on welfare payments.

"What the DVA are offering the family of a man who died in the service of his country is the same as if I was on the dole as a single mum. It's disappointing," she said.

"The public opinion is if a guy is killed overseas, his family will be looked after.

"Obviously I have had to deal with Brett's death itself.

"But when he died, we got the rest of the fortnight's pay, one extra fortnight's payment, then it stopped."

The Department of Veterans Affairs had also given her a choice of whether to receive a pension or a lump sum.

"It's like having to choose whether to house the family or feed them," she said.

"The lump sum won't pay for a house, the pension won't pay the rent and bills."

The Rudd Government is reviewing the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act after a series of complaints by former servicemen.

Mrs Till's treatment flies in the face of the solemn public promises and expressions of sympathy made by officials immediately after her husband's death. Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston described Sgt Till as "highly skilled and very courageous".

Mrs Till spoke of conversations with other serving members of her husband's regiment about their expectations of compensation should they get killed or injured on the frontline.

"The boys say before they go overseas they want to do their service but also set up their families," she said.

"They are under the impression that if something happens to them, their families will be supported.

"But when I've spoken to other guys in Brett's troop, there is a difference to what they think they are entitled to against what happens."

**********************
Defence's shameful legacy
From: The Sunday Telegraph
September 26, 2009 
 
WIDOWS of federal parliamentarians get lifetime pensions and free air travel. Politicians have just taken a 3 per cent pay rise. The Government has splashed $95 billion this year on stimulating the economy with $900 cheques for almost all, new gyms for private schools and rebates for pink-batt insulation and solar panels.

But Breeanna Till, the pregnant widow of an Australian soldier killed on duty in Afghanistan, is struggling to survive on $305 a week - the paltry pension offered by the Australian Defence Force to "compensate" Mrs Till for the death of her brave, beloved husband.

The front page of our newspaper today should make Kevin Rudd and his government embarrassed and ashamed.

So, too, the previous Howard government, which first committed us to wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it is Mr Rudd now who is ultimately responsible for the neglect of Mrs Till - a situation which rips aside the pious solemnity with which Mr Rudd has made statements of eternal gratitude to the men killed in this war.

His fine words, delivered with all the gravitas that the PM can muster and echoed by Defence chief Angus Houston and then-minister Joel Fitzgibbon, have been exposed as nothing but hypocrisy and disingenuousness.

Air Chief Marshal Houston even offered a personal guarantee to Mrs Till that he would ensure her family was looked after. He has failed completely.

Sergeant Brett Till, an ordinance disposal expert, was killed instantly in Afghanistan in March this year as he tried to dismantle a roadside bomb that threatened the safety of his comrades and Afghan civilians.

Sgt Till did not get the chance to send a last message to his wife, children and unborn baby. He had no opportunity to rewrite his will or contact the pay office to ensure his financial affairs were settled. He didn't even have a moment to say goodbye to his mates; he just walked into an extraordinarily dangerous situation and calmly did his duty - duty which killed him on the spot.

We don't know what Sgt Till's last thoughts were; but, as a member of the Australian Defence Force, one of the world's most modern and well-funded military operations, he could have confidently assumed that at least one thing was certain: if he died on duty, his family would be looked after.

He was wrong.

Mrs Till, who is seven months' pregnant with her late husband's baby and the full-time carer of his two older children, is trying to get by on barely one-third of the $905 weekly salary that Sgt Till was bringing home. She must use that money to pay for food, clothing, transport, education and all the other necessities of life.

From March, when her Defence-provided housing arrangement ends, Mrs Till will also have to pay market rent. Shockingly, she is also still waiting for Defence to reimburse her for "specialist equipment" that Sgt Till had to buy, before deploying - extra tools he needed, just to do his job.

But Mrs Till is not complaining nor making a deliberate fuss. She raised her concerns at a public meeting held by the Department of Veterans' Affairs, which is reviewing military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements.

Indeed, Mrs Till has avoided seeking media attention for her case because she wants the issue of bereavement care to be sorted out for all widows - not just her.

She wants to go through the official channels to have this problem sorted, rather than getting a quick-fix from an embarrassed minister or Defence chief.

But, if Mr Rudd has a shred of integrity, he will be deeply embarrassed at this situation and he will fix it, now - not just for Mrs Till, but for all the families of Australian servicemen and women.
 

No Australian taxpayer would begrudge any payment to these families, who have given so much for the rest of us. We owe them respect, gratitude and the dignity of financial security.

 
 

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[Keith]

Pension Reform
Income support pensions are changing as part of the Australian Governments Secure and Sustainable pension reform. Changes include an increase to the pension rate and a new pension supplement to simplify allowances.

You will receive a letter from DVA during September explaining how these changes will affect you. It is important to read this letter carefully.

The changes will take effect from 20 September 2009. You do not have to do anything.

For more information see Pension Reform page http://www.dva.gov.au/pensions_and_compensation/Pages/PensionReform.aspx

The Hon Alan Griffin MP

Minister for Veterans? Affairs

VA084 Friday, 18 September 2009

NEW RATES BOOST VETERAN PENSIONS

More than 320,000 members of the veteran community are set to benefit from new pension rates from this Sunday, 20 September, announced the Minister for Veterans? Affairs, Alan Griffin.

Mr Griffin said the new pension rates are part of the Australian Governments Secure and Sustainable Pension Reforms.

"The increases to income support pensions, combined with the new Pension Supplement and improved indexation, mean maximum rate single service pensioners will receive $671.90 a fortnight and war widows/ers with income support supplement will receive $881.50 a fortnight," Mr Griffin said.

"The new maximum rate for couples is $1,013.00 fortnightly, or $506.50 each.

"Our reforms are aimed at giving those pensioners who rely on income support a fair go now, when they need it most, while improving the long term sustainability of the pension system.

"The Government is also simplifying the complex system of allowances and paying new supplements fortnightly," Mr Griffin said.

Indexation of income support has improved as the new Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) more realistically reflects the rise in cost of goods and services for pensioners. In the six months to June 2009, the PBLCI rose by 1.0 per cent. The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.6 per cent over the same period.

There is also a Work Bonus rewarding those of pension age who choose to continue to work.

"A letter is being sent to all pension recipients explaining how the pension reforms affect their personal circumstances. I encourage Veterans Affairs pensioners to read their letter carefully," Mr Griffin said.

"If any member of the veteran community has questions about their pension changes after reading the letter, they can contact my Departments special Pension Review team on 1300 307 901 or via www.dva.gov.au/pensionreform."

NB: Table of rates follows

Media inquiries only: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

Parliament House Canberra ACT 2602 Telephone 02 6277 7820 Facsimile 02 6273 4140

Pension
 Old fortnightly rate
 New fortnightly rate
 
Special Rate (TPI) Pension/ MRCA Special Rate Disability Pension
 $1,011.90
 $1,022.10
 
Extreme Disablement Adjustment
 $558.50
 $564.10
 
100 per cent General Rate of Disability Pension
 $359.50
 $363.10
 
Intermediate Rate Disability Pension
 $686.60
 $693.50
 
Service Pension ? single
 $569.80
 $671.90*
 
Service Pension couples
 $951.80 couple $475.90 each
 $1,013.00* couple $506.50* each
 
War Widows/ers Pension
 $607.00
 $679.00
 
Income Support Supplement
 $170.20
 $202.50*
 

[Keith]

From: Terry Davies
Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 2009 1:08 AM
Subject: Shop Assistant's Medal Gaffe


Source: Ananova

http://www.ananova.com/News/story/sm_3491913.html

Shop Assistant's Medal Gaffe

Monday, September 21, 2009

2009-09-21:T23:00H

A set of Victorian military medals worth 1,850 was sold for just 18.50 after a part-time shop assistant misread the price tag.

They belonged to an antiques dealer who was on his lunch break when they were sold, reports the Daily Telegraph.

The 13 medals, which date back to the 1890s, were on sale in the Treasure Chest antiques store, in Norwich, when a couple spotted them and bought them

The dealer, who has not been named, was selling his antiques through the shop, which is run by Pasquale Musso who is now appealing for the couple to return their bargain in exchange for a 250 reward.

Mr Musso said: "The dealer came back from his lunch break and said: "Oh, you've sold my medals". I said that I hadn't, and he said they had gone out of the cabinet.

"Each dealer has a book that we write their transactions in, and so we looked at his and it said they had been sold. I recognised the handwriting and asked the shop assistant, and she said she had sold them for ?18.50."

Mr Musso said that when he had pointed out the error to the assistant, she "went very white and got very upset".

"She didn't know anything about medals and didn't realise they would be worth that much," he added.

"I am feeling terrible at the moment. The dealer's wife is six months pregnant and so they need the money. The assistant didn't realise the value, and it is my responsibility.

"The medals date back to the 1890s and are very rare; there are a couple of Zulu medals with a bit of history to them and they are all very collectable."

[Keith]

 
VA084                                                                                                              Friday, 18 September 2009

 

NEW RATES BOOST VETERAN PENSIONS

 

More than 320,000 members of the veteran community are set to benefit from new pension rates from this Sunday, 20 September, announced the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin.

 

Mr Griffin said the new pension rates are part of the Australian Government?s Secure and Sustainable Pension Reforms.

The increases to income support pensions, combined with the new Pension Supplement and improved indexation, mean maximum rate single service pensioners will receive $671.90 a fortnight and war widows/ers with income support supplement will receive $881.50 a fortnight Mr Griffin said.
 

The new maximum rate for couples is $1,013.00 fortnightly, or $506.50 each.

 Our reforms are aimed at giving those pensioners who rely on income support a fair go now, when they need it most while improving the long term sustainability of the pension system.


The Government is also simplifying the complex system of allowances and paying new supplements fortnightly Mr Griffin said.

Indexation of income support has improved as the new Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) more realistically reflects the rise in cost of goods and services for pensioners.

In the six months to June 2009, the PBLCI rose by 1.0 per cent.  The Consumer Price Index rose by 0.6 per cent over the same period.
 

There is also a Work Bonus rewarding those of pension age who choose to continue to work.

A letter is being sent to all pension recipients explaining how the pension reforms affect their personal circumstances.  I encourage Veterans Affairs pensioners to read their letter carefully Mr Griffin said.
 

If any member of the veteran community has questions about their pension changes after reading the letter, they can contact my Departments special Pension Review team on 1300 307 901 or via www.dva.gov.au/pensionreform.

 

NB: Table of rates follows
 

Media inquiries only: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109                                                                         

Pension
 Old fortnightly rate
 New fortnightly rate
 
Special Rate (TPI) Pension/ MRCA Special Rate Disability Pension
 $1,011.90
 $1,022.10
 
Extreme Disablement Adjustment
 $558.50
 $564.10
 
100 per cent General Rate of Disability Pension
 $359.50
 $363.10
 
Intermediate Rate Disability Pension
 $686.60
 $693.50
 
Service Pension single
 $569.80
 $671.90*
 
Service Pension couples
 $951.80 couple

$475.90 each
 $1,013.00* couple

$506.50* each
 
War Widows/ers Pension
 $607.00
 $679.00
 
Income Support Supplement
 $170.20
 $202.50*
 

*New rates include new supplements which replace allowances previously paid quarterly.  The new Pension Supplement replaces, and incorporates the full value of the Utilities Allowance, Telephone Allowance (at the higher internet rate), the GST Supplement and the Pharmaceutical Allowance.


 

Pension increases apply from 20 September, paid from pension day 24 September.  The 24 September pension payment will include the last quarterly payment of Telephone Allowance and Utilities Allowance.  The first full payment of the new rates will be on 8 October.

Other reforms include a change to the income test taper rate.  Any pensioner who would otherwise have had a reduction in their payment because of the changes will go onto a transitional rate and will still receive a modest increase.  They will stay on the transitional rate until they receive a higher payment under the new rules.

The minimum pension increase is $20.20, however, with an increase of around 35 per cent in the value of the stock market since March 2009, there may be an erosion of the amount for some people.
 

The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

 
VA082                                                                                                                     Monday, 14 September 

PEACEKEEPERS? CONTRIBUTION HONOURED TODAY

The important and ongoing contribution of peacekeepers will be honoured today on Australian Peacekeepers Day, Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin said.

                                                   

Laying a wreath to mark the day during a service at the proposed site of the National Peacekeepers Memorial, Minister Griffin encouraged Australians to recognise the role of peacekeepers in helping to restore peace around the world.

 

Australia has been involved in peacekeeping operations for 62 years and there are currently more than 1200 Australian Defence Force personnel deployed to ten peacekeeping operations overseas Mr Griffin said.

 

Peacekeepers serve in dangerous and unstable locations around the world, seeking to restore peace and order and assisting the victims of conflict.  Today is an opportunity to honour their valuable contribution.

 

Australia has a proud record of peace operations over the past 62 years. More than 30,000 Australian peacekeepers have participated in some 50 United Nations and multinational peace operations across the globe since the first operation in Indonesia in 1947.

 

Australias peacekeeping roles have included military observation, logistics support, cease-fire monitoring landmine clearing humanitarian aid and repatriation of refugees.
 

Australia has contributed to peacekeeping operations in the Middle East Namibia Cambodia Mozambique Rwanda Bougainville East Timor Iraq Afghanistan the Solomon Islands and a host of other places.

 

Australias peacekeeping operations have involved men and women from the Australian Defence Force federal and state police forces and Australian Government agencies Mr Griffin said.

 

The Australian Government is also funding a study investigating the long-term effects on mental health and the quality of life of Defence Force peacekeepers deployed through the 1990s to 2002. The study, funded by the Department of Veterans? Affairs, will consider Australian involvement during this time in places such as Rwanda, Somalia, Cambodia, Namibia, Western Sahara and East Timor and complement the current Deployment Health Surveillance Program being undertaken by the Department of Defence.

 

This research will help us to better understand and respond to the future health needs of peacekeepers and peacemakers Mr Griffin said.

[Keith]

Wednesday, 9 September 2009
 
Questions without Notice  -  Veterans
 
 
All House debates on 9 Sep 2009  Previous debate Next debate  3:44 pm
 
James Bidgood (Dawson, Australian Labor Party)
 
My question is to the Minister for Veterans Affairs. Will the minister inform the House about the importance of the governments pension reform package for the veteran community?
 
 
 Alan Griffin ( Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs)

 
The Harmer review and these pension reforms are good news for the veteran community in this country. We are talking about an additional $1.1 billion with respect to income support for those veterans and war widows who are in a situation where they rely on government income support. We are talking about some 320,000 Veterans? Affairs pensioners in this situation, some 190,000 service pensioners and over 105,000 war widows. This comes on top of the 325,000 or thereabouts who benefited from the bonus payments in the first stimulus package and the nearly 130,000 who received support under the second stimulus package.
 
The Harmer focus was very much on the issue of income support for those who really needed it. As was outlined by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs earlier, it was also about simplification of payments and also improved indexation methods. It is complex, and the circumstances around individual veterans are something which they will need to understand. They will be written to accordingly to ensure that they have the information that they need to understand the nature of what they are receiving.
 
 Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
 
Again, the point was targeting where it was really needed for those who definitely required it?those who were on the lowest levels of income support from government. I note from some of the interjections that there have been issues raised around the question of disability pensioners under Veterans Affairs, the circumstances they face and the position around the question of why they did not receive this increase with respect to their disability pension payments. Let us make it clear, though: overwhelmingly they do receive support through these changes. Of TPIs those most severely disabled veterans who have suffered in the cause of their country?some 80 per cent-plus will receive benefits as they receive income support payments from government because they are in a situation where they are reliant on income support payments from government. Some 60 per cent of TPIs will in fact receive a net benefit into the future regardless of the impact of the taper rate and the transition situation, because nearly 50 per cent of TPIs are in receipt of the maximum level of income support they can receive from government according to their circumstances, whether they be single or in a couple. In fact, overall almost two-thirds of DVA disability pensioners, including those on general rates, will receive benefits through this system.
 
I want to make it very clear: the indexation method that was fought for over a 10-year period of neglect under the Howard government has been maintained and enhanced through the introduction of PBLCI as outlined earlier during question time. There is absolutely no doubt that this is a positive move forward for the veterans community in terms of those relying on income support.
 
 
 
 Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Science and Personnel)
 
Tell us about the DFRDB. Tell us about the defence pension.
 
 
 
 Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Sustainable Development and Cities)
 
You were a passenger on that one, Griffo.
 
 
 
 Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
 
I note also from some of the comments made across the table that there are issues around the question: what does the opposition really stand for on this issue? Maybe it is time we heard what their actual position is, because there has been a bit of smoking going on around the edges smoky positions with respect to this. There were a few people on email suggesting certain things about what they stand for and a few people around the edges intimating that they might support the shadow minister over there. The shadow minister, the member for Paterson, has alluded to the fact that there might be some support there. Let us get clear what the oppositions position has been with respect to these issues over the term of this parliament.
 
 
 
 Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport)
 
Tell us what the government position is.
 
 
 
 Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
 
That is an interesting point, but you see, Member for Kalgoorlie, there actually was an opposition position on this issue. It is one of the few issues where you actually had a position.
 
 
 
 Harry Jenkins (Speaker)
 
The minister will ignore the interjections.
 
 
 
 Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source
 
You might recall that when the member for Bradfield was the Leader of the Opposition you had a position. You believed targeted income support was an urgent need. So what did you have? You had 30 bucks a week for single age pensioners, but that is all you had.
 
 
 
 Harry Jenkins (Speaker)
 
Order! The minister will refer his remarks through the chair.
 
 
 
 Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
 
In fact, when asked the member for Bradfield specifically excluded service pensioners?I might add, to the shock of the RSL and others in the ex-service community. But then you had another policy. The member for Wentworth became Leader of the Opposition and you expanded that to cover?
 
 
 
 Harry Jenkins (Speaker)
 
The minister will refer his remarks through the chair.
 
 
 
 Alan Griffin (Bruce, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans' Affairs)
 
Sorry. The opposition, Mr Speaker, expanded it to cover service pensioners, but they still left out couples and war widows. So even when they have had a policy?and it is one of the few areas they have had a policy in since they have been in opposition?the circumstances were that they excluded massive elements of the veteran community. So where is your policy now? Are you supporting an income support targeted approach as implemented by this government? You are, because you have passed the legislation, but are you going further than that? Are you prepared to go further? I do not think you are.
 
 
 
 Harry Jenkins (Speaker)
 
Order! I remind the minister that my vet affairs days were 23 years ago and he should refer his remarks through the chair.

[Keith]

 
 

VA081                                                                                                      Wednesday, 9 September 2009

 

MORE SUICIDE PREVENTION WORKSHOPS FOR VETERAN COMMUNITY

 

On the eve of World Suicide Prevention Day, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, is encouraging more of the veteran and ex-service community to take advantage of the expansion in the number of suicide prevention workshops available to them.

 

The Australian Governments VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service has increased the number of free Operation Life suicide prevention workshops for people who are concerned about family, friends, mates or others in the veteran and ex-service community.

 

So far 119 participants have been trained in suicide prevention strategies at workshops over the past three months and I encourage more people in the veteran and ex-service community to register their interest in attending, Mr Griffin said.

 

Operation Life is a strategy to prevent suicide and promote good mental health and resilience across the veteran community.  Its major components include workshops providing introductory, intensive and refresher courses in suicide prevention. Welfare, pension officers and others from   ex-service organisations and the veteran community are encouraged to attend.

 

Mr Griffin said World Suicide Prevention Day provided an ideal opportunity to promote the Governments work in suicide prevention and mental health, especially for veterans.

 

The Government made a commitment to enhance suicide prevention and it has done this by expanding Operation Life and providing an additional $9.5 million to implement the recommendations made following a major study by Professor David Dunt into suicide in the ex-service community.

 

This is in addition to the Governments commitment of $83 million over four years to address gaps identified in mental health care in the ADF and transition through discharge, Mr Griffin said.

 

Operation Life workshops are not treatment programs but are designed to help members of the veteran community to recognise someone who might be having thoughts of suicide and to link them in with appropriate help.

 

To find out more about Operation Life workshops, contact VVCS on 1800 011 046 (during normal business hours) or visit www.at-ease.dva.gov.au.

 

World Suicide Prevention Day is held on 10 September each year to promote worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicide.

[Keith]

From: Neil
Sent: Thursday, September 03, 2009 10:28 AM
Subject: A reminder for Sept


Keith, This may be of interest for readers of your Site

Cheers Neil

IS171 - Last updated: 1 Sep 09 Page 1 of 5

DVA Factsheet

Factsheet IS171

Pension Reform

Service Pension Changes Effective 20 September 2009

Overview

On 20 September 2009, the Australian pension system will begin the most significant and widespread reform in more than 20 years.

This Factsheet is a summary of the changes to Service Pensions effective from

20 September 2009 only.

For general information about Service Pension refer to Factsheet IS01 Service Pension Overview.

Will anyone be worse off after 20 September 2009?

No. There is a minimum pension increase of $20.20 a fortnight for pensioner couples and single pensioners.

Why has the Government decided to change the pension system?

The Government?s pension reform package is addressing the following Harmer Pension Review findings:

The rate of single service pension and age pension as a proportion of the combined
couples rate is lagging behind other developed countries and does not adequately
recognise the costs for those wholly reliant on the pension to support themselves

The current system of pensions and allowances could be simplified by integrating them into either a new pension supplement or the base pension

 Pension payments should be tied to changes in the actual cost of living faced by pensioners .There is scope to target pension increases more towards those who have little or no private means.

Boost to pension rate

From 20 September 2009 the full rate single service pension will be increased by $65.00 per fortnight on top of normal indexation.

From the same date the full rate pensioner couples will receive an additional $20.20 per fortnight on top of normal indexation.

Service Pension Changes Effective 20 September 2009, continued

IS171 - Last updated: 1 Sep 09 Page 2 of 5

Streamlined allowances

The Government will simplify the existing pension allowances by creating a new fortnightly Pension Supplement. The Supplement incorporates the value of these four existing supplementary allowances:

 Goods and Service Tax supplement

 Utilities Allowance

 Telephone Allowance at the higher internet rate

 Pharmaceutical Allowance

and a one-off increase will be applied to the payment

Note: The portion of the Pension Supplement representing the telephone allowance
and utilities allowance is not payable to pensioners who live permanently
outside Australia, or who are absent from Australia for more than 13 weeks.

Keeping pace with pensioner costs

It is important that pension increases keep pace with the rise in costs that pensioners experience.

The Government will develop a new price index, to apply from 20 September 2009, designed specifically for households that rely on the pension. This new measure of price changes, the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI), will be used to increase pension rates when it is higher than CPI. The CPI will still be used to index relevant eligibility thresholds.

Change to income test

To ensure a sustainable pension system into the future, the pension income test will be changed.

From 20 September 2009, the rate at which pension is withdrawn for each one dollar of income over the free areas (known as the taper rate) will be increased from 40 cents to 50 cents per fortnight (from 20 cents to 25 cents each for couples). The additional income test threshold (free area) for dependent children will also be removed and no longer form part of the calculation of a persons income free area.

Service Pension Changes Effective 20 September 2009, continued

IS171 - Last updated: 1 Sep 09 Page 3 of 5

Transitional arrangements

A range of saving and transitional provisions will be in place to ensure no existing pensioner will be worse off.

The entitlements of existing pensioners who would otherwise be affected by the income test changes and whose pension would be reduced, will be maintained assuming no change in circumstances. The transition rules will ensure that they stay on the 40 cents taper until such time as the new arrangements provide a higher rate of pension.

Pensioners whose rate of pension is determined by the transitional arrangements will receive an increase in their maximum payment rate of $20.20 per fortnight for singles (or $20.20 combined for couples).

Around 70% of pensioners will move to the new rules immediately with only 30% needing the protection of the transition rules.

Workforce participation

The Government is encouraging workforce participation for older Australians by introducing a Work Bonus which treats earned income more generously.

From 20 September 2009, under the Work Bonus only half the first $500 of earned income per fortnight will be counted in the income test for those over pension age and not protected by the transition rules. The $500 amount will be increased by CPI each 1 July.

Example: A single person over pension age whose only income is earnings of $700 a
fortnight, will have $450 assessed as income.

$700 less $500 = $200

$500 divided by 2 = $250

$200 plus $250 = $450

The current Pension Bonus Scheme will close to new entrants from 20 September 2009.

The Scheme will continue to be available to existing members who accrue entitlements under existing rules.

Service Pension Changes Effective 20 September 2009, continued

IS171 - Last updated: 1 Sep 09 Page 4 of 5

Aged Care

The Government has announced that resident contribution in aged care will rise to enable the appropriate and equitable flow of the pension increase to both the care recipients and approved providers.

Resident contribution commonly known as the basic daily fee is currently 85 per cent of the basic single rate of pension. This will change to 84 per cent of the new pension rate from 20 September 2009 and a portion of the pension rise will flow to the aged care providers.

Self funded retirees, or part pensioners for whom pension increase is less than the expected rise in the resident contribution amount will be protected from paying higher aged care fees and will remain on their existing fee rate until they leave care. New residents (entering care on or after 20 September 2009) who do not benefit from the pension changes will initially pay the same rate as ?protected? residents and the higher rate will be phased-in over time.

Public Housing

It is expected that Public Housing tenants will receive the full benefit of the pension increase.

State and Territory Housing authorities are reviewing rent arrangements so that the boost to the pension rate will not result in a rent increase. Regular consumer price index adjustments will continue to be included in rent adjustments.

What do I have to do?

Nothing. DVA will calculate any required change for eligible pensioners.

Will my pension rate go down because of the change?

No, nobody will have a pension reduction because of the new rules. Your pension rate could only go down in September if you had an unrelated change of circumstances at the same time.

Will I get a letter to tell me what my new rate is?

Yes. DVA will write to pensioners to tell them what their rate of payment will be.

Oral advice

While we make every effort to ensure that you are given accurate information, it is important that you seek written confirmation of oral information or advice before making any major decisions based on that information.

We continually strive to improve the level of service you receive and make this request as an added safeguard for you.

Service Pension Changes Effective 20 September 2009, continued

IS171 - Last updated: 1 Sep 09 Page 5 of 5

Other Factsheets

Other Factsheets related to this topic include:

 IS01 Service Pension Overview

 IS30 Pension Rates, Limits and Allowances Summary

 IS14 Income Support Allowances

 IS16 Utilities Allowance

 IS07 Pension Bonus scheme

Prior to 20 September 2009, the above Factsheets describe current information only.

More information

All DVA Factsheets are available from DVA offices, and on the DVA website at

www.dva.gov.au.

You can phone DVA for the cost* of a local call on 133 254 or free call 1800 555 254 if you

are outside a major city.

Note: *Use a normal landline phone if you can. Mobile phone calls may cost you

more. Local call rates vary depending on your phone service provider

You can send an email to DVA at: GeneralEnquiries@dva.gov.au.

You can get more help from any DVA office.

[Keith]

Pension Reform

The Australian Governments Secure and Sustainable pension reforms are the most significant and widespread in more than 20 years. They will affect all members of the veteran and ex-service community currently receiving income support payments from the government.


There will be an increase to the income support pension rate.

A new Pension Supplement will replace four allowances with an increase for singles and couples.

New indexation arrangements for the base pension will better reflect changes in pensioners living costs.

A Work Bonus will be introduced for pensioners who are of pension age and choose to continue working.

Changes to the income test will affect how income support is calculated.

For more information, please read this Fact Sheet. http://factsheets.dva.gov.au/documents/
IS171%20SP%20changes%2020%20Sept%202009.pdf

During September, DVA will write to you explaining how these changes will affect you. Please read your letter so you understand the impact on your pension.

If you need further assistance, please call DVA on 1300 307 901 or email us your enquiry by completing this form http://www.dva.gov.au/pensions_and_compensation/Documents/D91770809FSUR.pdf  We will respond to your email within two working days.


Some documents on this page are published in Adobe Acrobat Portable Document Format (PDF). For information about using Acrobat Reader and PDF files, go to a PDF information page on the DVA website.
*****************
Review of Military Compensation Arrangements

The Review of Military Compensation Arrangements is a Government commitment to examine the current military rehabilitation and compensation system.

A Steering Committee has been appointed by the Minister for Veterans Affairs to manage the Review. Its primary responsibility is to examine issues raised during the review process and evaluate possible changes to current legislation and schemes. It will develop recommendations and sign off on a final report to the Minister.

Steering committee membership http://www.dva.gov.au/pensions_and_
compensation/Military%20Compensation%20Review/Pages/membership.aspx

VA060 - Ministers media release - Next step for Review of Military Compensation Arrangements (PDF 60Kb) http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2009/jul/VA060.pdf

VA019 - Ministers media release - Review of MC Arrangements (PDF 62Kb) http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2009/apr/VA019.pdf

Submissions
The deadline for submissions was 30 June 2009.

View submissions received.
http://www.dva.gov.au/pensions_and_compensation/Military%20Compensation
%20Review/Pages/Submissions.aspx



Consultation

The next stage of the Review involves consultation with members and former members of the Australian Defence Force, Ex-Service Organisations, key agencies and other stakeholders. Further details regarding consultation will be made available on this website when finalised.

Final Report

A report to the Minister is expected by 31 March 2010. However, this will ultimately depend on the number of submissions, the complexity of the matters raised, and their subsequent consideration.

Contact

Enquiries regarding the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements can be directed to the postal or email addresses below:

Email:   milcomp.review@dva.gov.au
Post:  Military Compensation Review
PO Box 895
Woden  ACT  2606
****************
Which Act applies to me

There are four Acts that provide compensation coverage for serving members and former members of the ADF. They are:

Veterans Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA)
Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (SRCA)
Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA)
Defence Act 1903 (DA).

For injury, disease or death related to service before 1 July 2004, you are likely to be covered under the SRCA or VEA. For injury, disease or death related to service on or after 1 July 2004, you will be covered under the MRCA.

See: Eligibility table which Act applies to me? http://www.dva.gov.au/serving_
members/adf/rehab_comp/Pages/which%20act.aspx

SRCA and VEA comparison

See an explanation of the differences between  the eligibility requirements of the SRCA and the VEA.

See factsheet: Comparison of SRCA and VEA (MCS02) (PDF 114kB) http://factsheets.dva.gov.au/factsheets/documents/MCS02%20Comparison
%20of%20SRCA%20and%20VEA.pdf

See further: Legislation on ComLaw website

Safety, Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 1988 (ComLaw website)
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/management.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200403477?OpenDocument


Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Act 2004 (ComLaw website)
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/management.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200401902?OpenDocument


Veterans' Entitlement Act 1986 (ComLaw website)

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/current/
bytitle/60A66D4221F90F9FCA257593001F7B56?OpenDocument&mostrecent=1

Defence Act 1903 (ComLaw website)
http://www.comlaw.gov.au/comlaw/management.nsf/lookupindexpagesbyid/IP200401433?OpenDocument

Contact
For further assistance, contact DVA http://www.dva.gov.au/contact_us/Pages/index.aspx

[Keith]

VA080                                                                                                                 Friday 4 September 2009

 

$1.2M FOR VETERAN HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECTS

 

Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin today announced more than $1.2 million in funding to support 78 health and wellbeing initiatives for veterans and their families across Australia.

 

I am pleased to announce that more than $1.2 million has been allocated in this round of the Veteran & Community Grants program, Mr Griffin said.

 

The funding will benefit some 26,000 veterans, war widows and widowers and their families by supporting a range of initiatives including health, nutrition and exercise sessions.

 

Mr Griffin said the grants demonstrate the Australian Governments commitment to organisations that care for the veteran community, and encourage veterans, war widows and widowers and their families to become involved in local health and wellbeing activities.

 

Veteran & Community Grants help fund local initiatives that improve access to community care services and encourage social interaction through Day Clubs, Mens Sheds and social excursions, Mr Griffin said.

 

It is important that the veteran community has access to a range of programs where they can learn skills to help them remain independent and active, particularly for the elderly living by themselves.

 

Veteran & Community Grants are available to ex-service and community organisations, veteran representative groups and private organisations that contribute to the health and welfare of the veteran community.  

 

Local and community organisations interested in applying for funding are encouraged to visit www.dva.gov.au/grants or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole  0437 863 109

 

Editor?s note: A list of grant recipients is attached.

 

The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Ministers media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm



 

Veteran and Community Grants Tasmanian recipients?$33,700 ? benefiting more than 420 veterans

        Meander Valley Legacy Widows Club will receive $3000 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Railton Sunshine Club will receive $3000 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Brighton Green Ponds RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help purchase a refrigerator for the club to support veteran social activities.

 

        The Tasmanian Branch of the Totally and Permanently Disabled Soldiers Association of Australia will receive $3500 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Clarence Legacy Widows Club will receive $3000 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Glenorchy RSL Bowls Club will receive $18,200 to help build an access ramp at the entrance of the club and disability access to bathroom facilities.

 

Veteran and Community Grants South Australian recipients? $286,969  benefiting more than 2700 veterans

        Unley RSL Sub-branch will receive $65,234 to help upgrade the facilities at the club including installing disability access.

 

        The Port Adelaide Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $51,425 to help repair the roof and install air conditioning at the club.

 

        The Beachvale Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $14,700 to help install an air conditioning system.

 

        West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL Sub-branch will receive $46,112 to help install a reverse cycle air conditioning system.

 

        Stirling RSL Sub-branch will receive $54,000 to help install an air conditioning system.

 

        Barmera RSL Sub-branch will receive $33,686 to help upgrade facilities at the club including purchasing tables and chairs, kitchen equipment and window coverings.

 

        Port Elliot RSL Sub-branch will receive $6443 to help upgrade the kitchen at the club to enhance members activities.

 

        The Mt Gambier and District Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $10,690 to help repair a water damaged ceiling, install an air conditioning system and purchase a new stove for the club kitchen.

 

        The 4th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment Association, South Australia, will receive $4679 to help purchase a computer, printer, camera, computer software and internet connection to produce the association newsletter.

 

Veteran and Community Grants Northern Territory recipients $81,339  benefiting more than 720 veterans

        Darwin North RSL Sub-branch will receive $53,367 to help upgrade the kitchen at the club to enhance member services and programs.

 

        The Northern Territory Rural Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans? Association of Australia will receive $22,486 to upgrade the doors and windows to help improve security at the club.

 

        Tennant Creek RSL Sub-branch will receive $5486 to help purchase outdoor furniture, a chair trolley and outdoor heaters to enhance programs for members during the winter months.

 

Veteran and Community Grants Victorian recipients? $380,836 ? benefiting more than 8100 veterans

        Lyndoch Warrnambool will receive $19,780 to help conduct a foot care awareness program in south west Victoria for veterans, carers and health care workers.

 

        Merbein Bowling Club will receive $40,226 to help install a synthetic lawn bowling green.

 

        Warrnambool RSL Sub-branch will receive $10,184 to help purchase a photocopier to produce the club newsletter.

 

        Sorrento Portsea RSL Sub-branch will receive $57,501 to help upgrade the club premises including installing non-slip vinyl in the kitchen, climate control blinds in the hall and constructing a sheltered area with disabled access.

 

        Manangatang RSL Sub-branch will receive $8980 to help install bathroom facilities at the clubrooms.

 

        Cobden District Health Services will receive $5561 to help purchase an air conditioning system and roof materials for the Cobdens Mens Shed.

 

        Casterton RSL Sub-branch will receive $12,563 to help install bathroom facilities at the clubrooms.

 

        Swan Hill RSL Sub-branch will receive $9974 to help purchase equipment for the club including a computer, camera, public address system and bowls mats to enhance activities for a Day Club.

 

        The West Gippsland Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $3715 to help members undertake first aid training and purchase a first aid kit for the club.

 

        Warrnambool RSL Sub-branch will receive $2200 to help purchase a song mixing machine for the Warrnambool and Veteran Charity Dance Group.

 

        Hastings 1066 Day Club will receive $4537 to help fund a series of bus trips for members and their partners to help reduce social isolation.

 

        Golden Wattle Day Club will receive $2480 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Bluestone Day Club will receive $2255 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Toora RSL Sub-branch will receive $35,515 to help purchase an air conditioning system and install bathroom facilities including an access ramp for members with a disability.

 

        Hamilton RSL Sub-branch will receive $3975 to help purchase a computer, computer software and printer to produce the club newsletter.

 

        Sunshine RSL Sub-branch will receive $39,247 to help purchase kitchen facilities including a dishwasher, steamer oven and coffee machine to enhance programs at the club.

 

        The Warrnambool Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $1599 to help purchase a data projector for presentations to members.

 

        Merbein RSL Sub-branch will receive $40,865 to help replace flooring at the club, which was unsafe.

 

        The Bass Coast Adult Education Centre will receive $30,861 to help purchase equipment and plants to establish a community garden at the centre.

 

        Anglesea RSL Sub-branch will receive $9700 to help restump the clubrooms to ensure the building remains a safe and viable meeting place.

 

        Montmorency RSL Sub-branch will receive $9900 to help replace carpet tiles and install an air conditioning system at the club.

 

        Traralgon RSL Sub-branch will receive $2297 to help purchase a public address system for use at club functions.

 

        Wildflower Day Club Watsonia will receive $7152 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Lyrebirds Day Club in Warburton will receive $4001 to help purchase equipment to support the club including a data projector, laptop, speakers and portable screen.

 

        Pakenham RSL Sub-branch will receive $3500 to help purchase an audio visual system to enhance services to members.

 

        The Totally and Permanently Disabled Soldiers Association of Victoria will receive $2228 to help purchase a television and DVD player to improve presentations and entertainment available to members.

 

        Ben?s Shed Yarra Junction will receive $10,040 to help purchase a dust extractor and gas heater for the Mens Shed.

 

Veteran and Community Grants Queensland recipients $121,805  benefiting more than 5200 veterans

        The Queensland RSL Branch will receive $40,968 to help refurbish the Angus House kitchen and dining room including installing new appliances and purchasing tables and chairs.

 

        The Warwick Branch of the Veterans Support and Advocacy Service Australia will receive $9500 to help purchase a multifunction printer to produce the association newsletter.

 

        Bauple and District Recreation Ground Association will receive $5685 to help purchase a computer, computer software and equipment to produce the association newsletter.

 

        The Sunshine Coast Zone of the Queensland RSL Bowls Association will receive $2120 to help purchase a computer, multifunction printer and office furniture to produce the association newsletter.

 

        Cooroy Pomona RSL Sub-branch will receive $50,965 to help purchase a 12-seater bus to transport members to social events and activities.

 

        The Warwick Branch of the National Servicemens Association of Australia will receive $3652 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Surfers Paradise RSL Womens Auxiliary will receive $2670 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Townsville TPI Ladies Auxiliary will receive $3795 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        The Sunshine Coast Branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $2450 to help fund a veterans golf day, highlighting the health and social benefits of keeping active.

 

Veteran and Community Grants West Australian recipients $47,287  benefiting more than 160 veterans

        The Western Australia Division of the Fleet Air Arm Association of Australia will receive $2538 to help purchase a computer, computer software, printer and external hard drive to produce the association newsletter.

 

        Healthy Veterans Group will receive $1565 to help purchase exercise clothing for veterans involved in the Healthy Veterans Fitness Program.

 

        The Beverley RSL Sub-branch will receive $18,836 to help upgrade the clubs catering equipment to support activities for members.

 

        The Shire of Bruce Rock will receive $24,348 to help purchase wood and metal work machinery and safety equipment to establish the Bruce Rock Men?s Shed.

 

Veteran and Community Grants New South Wales recipients $275,074  benefiting more than 8800 veterans

        The Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre will receive $5024 to help fund a series of technology learning workshops and social movie sessions for veterans.

 

        The Coolah District Development Group will receive $19,502 to help purchase tools, machinery and safety equipment for the Coolah Mens Shed and to fund a series of bus day-trips to other Mens Sheds in the local shire.

 

        Seven Hills Toongabbie RSL Sub-branch will receive $9653 to help purchase kitchen equipment, furniture and a public address system to enhance activities at the Hills Day Club.

 

        Uniting Care Ageing, Western Region, will receive $14,366 to help purchase tools and equipment to enhance and expand activities at the Tahmoor Men?s Shed.

 

        Tweed Heads Coolangatta RSL Sub-branch will receive $2400 to help purchase a photocopier to assist with the production of the clubs newsletter.

 

        Mudgee Mens Shed will receive $8649 to help install an air conditioning and heating system, purchase tools, audio visual equipment and a computer to enhance activities at the Mens Shed.

 

        The City of Lismore RSL Sub-branch will receive $16,758 to help purchase tools and equipment to enhance local Mens Shed activities.

 

        The Macular Degeneration Foundation will receive $69,841 to help provide a series of information sessions on macular degeneration to the veteran community.

 

        Widows and Veterans Entitlements Services will receive $2174 to help purchase a computer to produce a newsletter and information sheets.

 

        The Ballina Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $11,629 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        Coonabarabran RSL Sub-branch will receive three grants, $1919 to help purchase equipment to produce the club newsletter; $11,612 to help purchase and install new kitchen appliances to enhance programs at the club; and $17,580 to help purchase tables and chairs to expand activities at the Day Club.

 

        Newcastle and District RSL Life Members Association will receive $5440 to fund a series of bus trips to help reduce social isolation in the local veteran community.

 

        The Uniting Church in Australia, NSW Property Trust, will receive $12,000 to help purchase tools and equipment to enhance and expand activities at the Narrandera Mens Shed.

 

        The Southern District Council of RSL Sub-branches will receive $2280 to help purchase a computer to prepare information sheets for members.

 

        Wingham Rotary Club will receive $14,100 to help purchase tools and equipment to expand activities at the Wingham Mens Shed.

 

        Harden Murrumburrah Arts Council will receive $1410 to help conduct mosaic workshops for members of the veteran community.

 

        Corrimal Uniting Church will receive $16,305 to help purchase tools and equipment to expand activities at the local Community Mens Shed.

 

        Bay and Basin Community Resources in Nowra will receive $32,432 to help upgrade and refurbish the Bay and Basin Mens Shed, expanding activities available to members.

[Keith]

 
 
VA079                                                                                                           Thursday, 3 September 2009

 

MERCHANT MARINERS COMMEMORATED ON NATIONAL DAY

 

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, encouraged Australians to mark the important contribution of Australia?s merchant mariners to our wartime efforts on Merchant Navy Day today.

 

The Merchant Navy has been an important part of Australias war efforts helping to transport troops, supplies and other important cargoes across dangerous seas and oceans, Mr Griffin said.

 

Thousands of Australian merchant mariners served on Australian, Commonwealth and Allied ships during both World Wars.

 

Merchant ships were often in grave danger from enemy submarines, hostile aircraft, mines and unpredictable weather conditions.  They were easy targets, unarmed or lightly armed and carrying heavy cargoes making them slower and less manoeuvrable than navy ships.

 

On Merchant Navy Day we commemorate the service and sacrifice of all Australian merchant mariners.  Their contribution to our war efforts was invaluable and we are forever grateful for their bravery in getting the job done in dangerous and difficult conditions, Mr Griffin said.

 

Australian and Commonwealth memorials commemorate 435 Australian merchant mariners known to have been lost in both World Wars.  All merchant mariners who lost their lives are honoured at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra.  Those with no known grave are honoured at Commonwealth War Graves Commission Memorials to the Missing in Sydney, the Northern Territory, Port Moresby, Hong Kong as well as Londons Tower Hill.

 

In consultation with merchant mariners, the first Wednesday of September was chosen for Merchant Navy Day, marking the loss of the first Allied merchant ship in 1939.

[Keith]

 
 
VA078                                                                                                      Wednesday, 2 September 2009

 

REMEMBER WHEN AUSTRALIA FACED ITS GRAVEST THREAT

 

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today marked Battle for Australia Day and encouraged Australians to reflect on the period in our wartime history when the enemy arrived on Australias doorstep.

 

Today is an opportunity for all Australians to honour the efforts of those who served our country during the Second World War, on the frontline and the home front, at a time when our countrys safety and freedom were threatened, Mr Griffin said.

 

Australia faced direct threat from Japanese forces from 1942 to 1943.  Darwin experienced more than 60 attacks and Sydney Harbour was raided by midget submarines.  Townsville, Katherine, Wyndham, Derby, Broome and Port Hedland were among those towns that also experienced Japanese air raids.  The Australian Territory of Papua was invaded by the Japanese and parts of it were occupied for six months.

 

The mood of the nation at this time may never be truly understood by our generation, but we know that the men and women in our armed forces, as well as civilians, were fighting for their nations survival, Mr Griffin said.

 

In Europe for commemorations marking the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War, Mr Griffin laid a wreath at the Australian War Memorial in London to mark Battle for Australia Day and announced that long-awaited repairs at the memorial had been completed.

 

I have inspected the repairs on the Australian War Memorial at Hyde Park in London and am advised that we have fixed the problems which have plagued the memorial in recent years, Mr Griffin said.

 

I encourage all Australians travelling to London to visit our memorial and pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of the men and women who served us in both World Wars.

 

Etched into the walls of the memorial are the names of the 23,844 Australian towns who gave their sons and daughters to these conflicts and 47 of the battles they fought.

 

Information on Australias involvement in the Second World War can be found at ww2australia.gov.au. An interactive display of the Australian War Memorial London, can be accessed at www.awmlondon.gov.au.

[Keith]

 
Minister for Veterans' Affairs Mailing List
 

VA073                                                                                                                   Sunday, 23 August 2009  

 

AUSTRALIAS VETERANS URGED TO GET ACTIVE

Veterans Health Week, 24-30 August

 

Australias veteran community is being urged to get active to overcome or prevent health problems and to maintain good health and wellbeing, Minister for Veterans? Affairs Alan Griffin said today on the eve of Veterans? Health Week.

 

Mr Griffin said Veterans Health Week, 24-30 August, is a time for veterans, war widows and widowers to ensure they include physical activities in their daily routine to help maintain good physical and mental health.

 

Two-thirds of veterans, war widows and widowers supported by my Department are over 75 years of age, with veterans making up around 42 per cent of the Australian male population over 80 years, Mr Griffin said.

 

Loss of vision and hearing, heart health and mobility are the most common health problems for older Australians.

 

Keeping active increases muscle strength, keeps joints more flexible and can improve levels of independence, which is especially important for ageing veterans, war widows and widowers.

 

Mr Griffin said the Australian Government provided more than $4.8 billion in health care for the veteran community last financial year.

 

Around one in three people over 65 reported taking a fall at least once a year and falls can result in severe injuries and hospitalisation for older people. Strength and balance exercises have been shown to reduce the risk of falls and I encourage the veteran community to use this week to find out how exercise can benefit them, he said.

 

Veterans Health Week also promotes the range of programs offered to the veteran community by my Department, including the Heart Health exercise and healthy living program which has helped improve the health and wellbeing of more than 8000 veterans to date.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs is working closely with ex-service organisations to hold fun activities during Veterans? Health Week.  Activities include dance lessons, team sports, walking groups, laughter workshops, strength and balance sessions, meditation and yoga classes, as well as health checks and information sessions with local health providers.

 

Veterans Health Week encourages the veteran community to think about their health and to take part in regular exercise to live a stronger, healthier and happier life.  For more information on Veterans Health Week, and activities in your area, visit www.dva.gov.au/media

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

 
Anzac Day booze ban

Article from: Sunday Herald Sun
 
Ellen Whinnett

August 23, 2009

VICTORIAN bars will close at 3am on Anzac Day to ensure dawn services are free from harassment by drunks.

The Government will introduce legislation ordering every bar to serve last drinks before 3am, regardless of their closing times, to avoid last year's ugly scenes in which drunk revellers attended the dawn service at the Shrine of Remembrance.

The laws will be introduced before next year's Anzac Day and will see the serving of alcohol banned between 3am and noon on April 25.

But the traditional rum toddy enjoyed by veterans will be safe from the new laws, as RSL clubs and other venues hosting commemorative events and "gunfire breakfasts" will be exempt.

The move comes as the Government continues its efforts to stamp out alcohol-related violence and disorderly behaviour, which continues to plague Melbourne and some inner suburban nightclub strips.

Consumer Affairs Minister Tony Robinson said veterans and the wider community had been concerned about patrons from clubs and pubs disrupting Anzac Day dawn services and morning marches.

"Anzac Day is a sacred day for many Victorians and limiting late trading for pubs and clubs will maintain the dignity and gravity of Anzac Day services and events," he said.

The Government has also decided to extend the current freeze on late-night liquor licences across Melbourne until the end of 2011.

The move means no new venues will be allowed to operate after 1am in Melbourne, Docklands, Port Phillip, Stonnington and Yarra.

"We know many of the violent incidents in our entertainment precincts occur after 1am on weekends," Mr Robinson said.

"The freeze will keep growth in late-night venues in check so our other long-term strategies to improve the safety and amenity of our entertainment precincts can take effect."

New figures show the liquor licence Compliance Directorate uncovered 432 breaches of licence conditions in a week.

Between August 10 and 16, 460 venues were inspected and the breaches, mostly minor, were discovered.

Mr Robinson said 12 licensees had been disqualified this year for serious breaches and 45 warnings were issued.

 

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[Keith]

 
 

 

VA071                                                                                                                     Friday, 21 August 2009

 

KEY TARGETS MET IN VETERANS FAMILY STUDY

 

In the week of Vietnam Veterans? Day, Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin announced that key target participant numbers have been achieved to commence a study into the long term effects of war service on Vietnam veterans? families.

More than 13,000 randomly selected Vietnam veterans, Vietnam-era Army personnel who did not deploy to Vietnam, and their respective children have registered to participate in an intergenerational study to examine the long term effects of the Vietnam War and examine what health differences can be attributed to war service, Mr Griffin said.

These are the key groups that were required to take part in sufficient numbers to make the study scientifically robust.

Additional partners, siblings, nieces, nephews and other family members of Vietnam veterans and Vietnam-era Army personnel have also registered to provide information to the study.

The impact of service in Vietnam, beyond veterans to the impact on their loved ones, has been a concern for many years.

This study will help us to better understand what those impacts are and what action should be taken to assist those who need help.  It will also help us to understand any issues resulting from more recent deployments and the implications for the families of the veterans of today and tomorrow.

There are a number of components to the study.  Work has already commenced on some projects and we can now be confident the overall study can be successfully conducted.

An independent scientific advisory committee, chaired by Professor Bryan Rodgers, will ensure the research component of the study is undertaken in a sound scientific manner.  Additionally, an independent consultative forum consisting of representatives from ex-service organisations will ensure the veteran community perspective is provided.

Registrations are still open to participate in the study.  For more information visit www.dva.gov.au/vvfs or freecall 1800 502 302.  

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.
****************
 
 
VA072                                                                                                                     Friday, 21 August 2009  

 

$500,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS

 

Fifty-six sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans have received scholarships totalling more than $500,000 from the Australian Government to support their tertiary studies, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, said today.

Mr Griffin said the Long Tan Bursary scheme recognises the challenges some children face as a result of their parents? Vietnam War service and provides financial support to help ease the costs of tertiary education.

These students have overcome personal challenges to complete their education so far and Im pleased the Australian Government has been able to help them continue their education and realise their career aspirations of becoming teachers, scientists, doctors, nurses and future leaders of this country, Mr Griffin said.

Mr Griffin said more than 300 children of Vietnam veterans had benefited from the scheme since it was introduced in 2000.

Named after the Battle of Long Tan in which 18 Australians lost their lives, the bursary provides up to $9000 over three years to help hard-working and dedicated students complete their studies,? he said.

I congratulate the Long Tan Bursary recipients for 2009 on their commitment to date and wish them all the best in completing their tertiary studies.

Mr Griffin said further education assistance is also available through two new scholarships introduced in the 2009-10 Budget as well as other reforms to student income support.  

These new scholarships seek to encourage students who may never have considered university to look into further studies. The scholarships provide a start-up scholarship of $2254 a year to university students who receive financial assistance under the Veterans Children Education Scheme and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme.  A relocation scholarship, with $4000 in the first year and $1000 each year after, will be available for those students who have to move away from home to study, he said.

Mr Griffin encouraged children of Vietnam veterans looking to undertake or continue their tertiary education next year to apply for a Long Tan Bursary.  Applications opened on Vietnam Veterans? Day, 18 August, and will close on 31 October.  

For more information on the Long Tan Bursary go to Long Tan Bursary Information Page, or for more information on student income support reforms, go to 2009?10 Commonwealth Budget - Home.

Editors note: A list of recipients is attached. Please note, some of the recipients wish to remain anonymous.

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109
The VVCS Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046. To receive the Minister?s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm

 

Long Tan Bursary recipients studying in New South Wales and the ACT

         Sharonlee Cameron, Albury, Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy, Academy of Applied Hypnosis at Lindfield, Sydney.

         Kate Drummond, Albury, Bachelor of Nursing, Charles Sturt University, Albury.

         Sarah Gillam, Redhead, Bachelor of Arts, Newcastle University.

         Tyrone Holt, Mount Druitt, Diploma in IT (Multi Media), Western Institute of TAFE, Mount Druitt.

         Zakary Huggett-Wright, Jerrabomberra Heights, Advanced Diploma Computer Forensics, Canberra Institute of Technology.

         James Lindsay, Belmont, Bachelor of Science (Biological Science), University of Western Sydney.

         Chanelle Littler, Pappinbarra, Bachelor of Teaching, Bachelor of Early Childhood, Newcastle University.

         Jaxon O?Shea, Ariah Park, Bachelor of Civil Engineering, University of New South Wales.

         Natasha Palmer, Lithgow, Bachelor of Agricultural Management, Charles Sturt University, Orange.

         Lachlan Peattie, Blackmans Bay, Bachelor of Law/Bachelor of Economics, Australian National University, Canberra.

         Hugh Podmore, Double Bay, Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Arts (Hons), University of New South Wales.

         Georgia Scherini, Ardlethan, Bachelor of Education (Primary), Charles Sturt University, Wagga.


Long Tan Bursary recipients studying in South Australia

         Kelly Ferenczi, Houghton, Bachelor of Interior Architecture, University of South Australia.

         Lauren Hadaway, Pooraka, Bachelor of Arts (health promotion, linguistics), Flinders University.

         Rhys Murray, Hallett Cove, Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of South Australia.

         Sharnee Scott, Woodside, Bachelor of Health Science, Adelaide University.


Long Tan Bursary recipients studying in Western Australia

         Rebel Allen, Palmyra, Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Chiropractic, Murdoch University.

         Liana Annison, Albany, Diploma of Conservation and Land Management, TAFE WA.

         Amy Hardman, Edgewater, Bachelor of Commerce, Curtin University.

         Kristopher Healy, Dianella, Certificate IV of Education, Swan TAFE.

         Jemma Shoppee, Margaret River, Bachelor of Education, Edith Cowan University.


Long Tan Bursary recipients studying in Victoria

         Leah-Naomi Farnham-Quain, Warragul, Bachelor of Arts, Deakin University.

         Samuel Goodrich, Berwick, Diploma of Audio Engineering, JMC Academy.

         Clark Lavery, Surrey Hills, Bachelor of Information Technology, RMIT University.

         David Ludlow, Mount Eliza, Bachelor of Communications, RMIT University.

         Miko Morell, Watsonia, Bachelor of Engineering, Melbourne University.

         Rebecca Mountford, Wantirna, Bachelor of Social Science (Counselling), Australian Catholic University.

 

Long Tan Bursary recipients studying in Queensland

         Carlin Beattie, Auchenflower, Bachelor of Creative Industries, Queensland University of Technology.

         James Bell, Cooran, Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), University of Sunshine Coast.

         Amanda Brown, Nikenbah, Bachelor of Arts (Creative Writing), University of Sunshine Coast.

         Belinda Cain, Bundaberg, Bachelor of Learning Management, Central Queensland University.

         Kimberley Field, Cooloola Cove, Bachelor of Arts, University of Sunshine Coast.

         Andrew Gill, Mackenzie, Bachelor of Pharmacy, Queensland University of Technology.

         Emma Jones, Nambour, Diploma of Beauty Therapy, Demi International Training School.

         Bronte Maguire, Buderim, Bachelor of Journalism, University of Sunshine Coast.

         Brendan Murphy, Gin Gin, Bachelor of Engineering, University of Queensland.

         Selena Nicholson, Toowoomba, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), University of Southern Queensland.

         Kelly Ott, Auchenflower, Bachelor of Education, University of Queensland.

         Jacqueline Strudwick-Day, Kangaroo Point, Bachelor of Nursing, Griffith University.

         Farron Sullivan, Yeronga, Bachelor of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology.

         Jacqueline Walsh, Pomona, Bachelor of Exercise Science/Bachelor of Business, University of Queensland.

         Jaime Wright, Pomona, Bachelor of Nursing, University of Sunshine Coast.

[Keith]

From: Walker, Brett (D. Hale, MP)
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Sent: Thursday, August 20, 2009 11:05 AM
Subject: 20090819 HALE - Veterans' Affairs and other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform) Bill 2009


Veterans Affairs and other Legislation Amendment (Pension Reform) Bill 2009

Second Reading (19/08/2009)

Mr Hale (Solomon) (10.20AM)  

It is with a great deal of pleasure that I rise today to voice my support for the Veterans Affairs and Other Legislation Ammendment (Pension Reform) Bill 2009. This bill is yet another example of this governments commitment to both senior Australians and those who have served their country. The key elements of this bill will ensure our government delivers a sustainable and secure pension reform package for veterans and their dependants. The pension reform package addresses three key areas: it addresses the adequacy of income support pensions, it makes their operation simpler and more responsive to pensioners needs and it secures long-term sustainability. It prepares Australia to meet future challenges, including the ageing population, through changes to social security, family assistance, veterans affairs and aged-care legislation. The reforms will provide significant increases in pensions and result in a simpler, fairer and more flexible pension system. I know that that is something those I have spoken to in my electorate of Solomon look forward to.

We have a very vibrant veterans community in Darwin and Palmerston. In fact it would be remiss of me at this stage not to mention the very special day that we commemorated this week. Yesterday, on 18 August, Vietnam veterans and their families paid tribute to those who have served, suffered and died in and as a result of the Vietnam War at the annual Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day service at the Darwin cenotaph. Vietnam was Australias longest involvement in war, with around 60,000 personnel serving over 10 years from 1962 to 1972. Some 2,400 Australian service men and women were wounded in the conflict and 521 made the ultimate sacrifice.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the Vietnam Veterans Association Northern Territory branch for all their hard work in the community. Like so many community groups helping out those who need it most in the community, the great work the Vietnam Veterans Association does often goes unnoticed but I know the difference they make is significant. It was something that the very hardworking Minister for Veterans Affairs talked to me about earlier this year when he was up in Darwin for the bombing of Darwin commemoration.

More than 320,000 veteran pensioners will benefit from these reforms, boosting their income by $1.1 billion over the next four years. The bill will see a number of changes. Single service pensioners and war widows and widowers with income support supplement will receive up to $65 extra a fortnight. All service pensioners and couples will receive a guaranteed increase of just over $20 a fortnight. These increases are in addition to the regular indexation due in September.

The pension system will be simplified by combining the value of the fortnightly and quarterly allowance payments into a single pensioner supplement to be paid fortnightly from September this year. The pensioner supplement will be made up from the quarterly payments of the utilities allowance and telephone allowance and the fortnightly GST supplement and pharmaceutical allowance. The telephone allowance component of this payment will now be paid to all those eligible at the higher internet rate, regardless of whether or not recipients have the phone or internet connected.

To ensure the reforms are more responsive to recipients needs, from July next year pensioners will be able to elect to have some of their pension supplement paid quarterly instead of fortnightly. The pension reform package introduces a new pensioner and beneficiary living costs index. The new living costs index recognises that the cost of living for pensioners and beneficiaries may increase faster than the cost of living for the general community, as measured by the consumer price index.

From September this year the maximum base rate of income support pensions will be adjusted in line with either the consumer price index or the new pensioner and beneficiary living costs index, whichever is higher. Pension rates will also continue to be benchmarked to male average total weekly earnings. Lump sum advance payments are a popular mechanism to allow pensioners to budget for those unexpected one-off expenditures. The maximum advance will be increased to 1 times the fortnightly pension rate and the minimum advance will be set at half the fortnightly rate. A new work bonus will be introduced to provide an incentive to encourage those over the pension age who are able to continue in the workforce to do so. In fact only 50 per cent of the first $500 a fortnight of income will be counted in the income test.

This pension reform bill will improve the pension system and make it simpler and more sustainable into the future as the population ages. These changes have been a long time coming as part of the reforms. This bill delivers a stronger and fairer pension system that will serve both the recipients and Australia well into the future. These are people who have seen us through our darkest hours as a nation and we need to support them. Australia has a proud wartime history, and that has been part of the lives of so many Australians. The government remains committed to honouring those who have served and continue to serve, ensuring their legacy is remembered for generations to come.

I was very pleased when the Minister for Veterans Affairs announced funding for the Northern Territory branch of the Royal Australian Regiment Association for a reunion and a dinner to be held in Darwin commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba. Commemorative activities in local communities play a major role in encouraging Australians, especially younger Australians, to learn about our wartime experiences and provide an opportunity for veterans to share their stories.

Through a whole-of-government approach the pension reform package prepares Australia to meet its future challenges, including the ageing population, through changes to various pieces of legislation, including veterans affairs, social security and aged-care legislation. This government is delivering on its core values to support those most in need in our society and to give all Australians the opportunity to lead a decent and fulfilling life. As the very hardworking Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs said last month at the centenary of the age pension commemoration.

Todays celebrations coincide with the Australian Governments recent landmark reforms of the pension system, delivering a simpler, fairer, and flexible safety net for millions of age and disability pensioners, carers and veterans

These long overdue reforms will provide greater certainty for pensioners, and meet the new challenges of an ageing population in the 21st century.

In conclusion, the veterans in my community of Darwin  and I have many, and we will have more veterans in the future because of our involvement in the coalition forces in the last eight or so years are very happy. Pensioner entitlements was one of the things that veterans often bought up with me when I was doorknocking in my electorate during the election campaign. To be able to bring on an increase at a time of a fairly tough global financial environment is very important so that we can look after these people who have looked after us in the past.

There could be a certain element of criticism regarding spending, but the budget demonstrates the governments strong commitment to the veteran community and these increases show that. They provide certainty to the veteran community during these uncertain economic times. This spend, as I said, will be $1.9 billion over the period to 2012-13 this having been injected into the veterans affairs portfolio since the election of the Rudd government. It includes $1.1 billion, in response to the Harmer review, to some 320,000 veteran pensioners. So a large number of people will be directly assisted by the Rudd governments reforms in this area.

It is a tough area. I know that it would be easy to be critical of the former government; however, when it comes to our veterans and support for our people who are fighting overseas, defending our democracy and the rights that we hold dear, I think it is really important that this place is united in its support for those people. There is very strong support on the government benches. The member for OConnor mentioned the past with regard to Vietnam. We do not look to change our past, but we certainly look to the future as a Labor government. I know that, on many issues to do with defence, we have the support of the opposition. There is very rarely a point of difference between our position and the position of the opposition when it comes to our Defence Force personnel, their safety and their deployment. As a member of this House I certainly take very seriously our role whenever any sort of legislation that affects our service men and women is before the House, whether it be increases to pension benefits for veterans or deploying our troops into a dangerous area. These are things that all members take very seriously.

I have 1st Brigade in my electorate, and I am very proud of the role that 1st Brigade play. On 8 August this year we had a welcome home parade in Darwin for some 1,200 personnel coming back from Afghanistan, Iraq and East Timor. I really enjoyed the feeling in the crowd. It was a day for our veterans and the people who have served. The crowds really turned out in Darwin to welcome back 1st Brigade. They are an institution in my electorate. They contribute fantastically well in fundraising for charity events?for example, when they push the gun through the city each year and collect money. They help young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. They contribute in the sporting area very strongly. The Army, Navy and Air Force are involved in local sporting activities. They are a massive part of the fabric of the Northern Territory.

I think Darwin has probably more of an affinity with the Defence Force than other places and I will probably have to take a bit of flak from colleagues on both sides of the House for saying that through the bombing of Darwin and our close ties to the violence of war, experienced when it came to the shores of Darwin in 1942. Some 250 people lost their lives in those bombings. We have a very proud history of engagement in war on the shores of Darwin during the Japanese bombing raids at that time.

The community of Solomon fully support all endeavours to make things easier for those people who have come back. And it is probably about that, as much as anything. There are often financial constraints put on people who may be injured in war. Their ability to earn better incomes in the future is always jeopardised when they have been to war. There is obviously the physical damage that can occur but there is also the emotional trauma that many of our veterans have been through. The people of Darwin understand that and they turn out in great numbers whenever there is an opportunity to support the veterans, the returned service men and women and the people who have been in the services but who, in times of peace, have not been deployed. The fact that they were on standby, ready to go to defend Australia, means that we need to give them our utmost gratitude and respect. In Darwin we have a special relationship with our ADF. We have a booming ADF community. I am very proud to represent ADF personnel in this place. I am particularly proud to have 1st Brigade in our city. As I said, they do a wonderful job.

In speaking to veterans, I found that this pension increase and reform package has been very well received, including the fact that we have been able to put some of the bonuses into the fortnightly payments, that they are getting the utilities allowance to assist with power bills and the like, and that they are getting the internet. For some veterans who have disabilities the internet is their contact with the outside world. They can do all their shopping online. They can do all their banking online. They can talk online to friends through Facebook and those other mechanisms. So the internet is very important to them. I am proud, as a member of this government, that we have been able to assist in giving them a quality of life after they have served us.

I do not think you would not get too much dispute from anyone about this bill. I am glad to see that the opposition are supporting it. I did not doubt that they would support it, but it is good to see that they are supporting it. As I said halfway through my contribution today, I really believe our Defence Force goes above politics. Sure, we debate things in this place but, when it comes to an issue affecting the men and women of the services, that is an issue that is above politics. It is about supporting those people who look after our interests and let us enjoy the democracy that we live in. These reforms will deliver a stronger and fairer pension system to veterans and their dependants. I commend the bill to the House.

Brett Walker
Office of Damian Hale
Member for Solomon
(08)8981 3434 tel
(08)8981 8731 fax
0401 119 789 mbl
GPO Box 2163 Darwin NT 0801
brett.walker@aph.gov.au

www.DamianHale.com.au

[Keith]

Trooper honoured in Vietnam Remembrance Day

Mark Dodd | August 18, 2009

Article from:  The Australian

ANNIE Cowdroy and her family never expected to get the chance to properly farewell her brother, SAS Trooper David Fisher, who went missing in action during the Vietnam War in 1969.

 
Troops mark the Vietnam Veterans' Day Service and the Anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan in Canberra. Picture: Ray Strange

Trooper Fisher died during a ?hot extraction? falling from a rope attached to a rescue helicopter called to evacuate his patrol, which was encircled by a superior force of North Vietnamese soldiers.

The incident occurred in Cam My district in southern Phuoc Tuy province, where the Australian task force was based.

For almost 30 years, that seemed destined to be the final chapter in Trooper Fisher?s story.

But last year his remains were finally found and returned home, and today Vietnam Remembrance Day was marked in Canberra with an emotional ceremony and the unveiling of a memorial plaque to Trooper Fisher.

Dozens of SAS Vietnam veterans attended the ceremony at the Vietnam War Memorial, easily identified by their distinctive sandy beret and the winged dagger badge of the Special Air Service Regiment.

It's for Vietnam Veterans Day but its also to honour the return of my brother from Vietnam, Ms Cowdroy told reporters. This is a real milestone for us because it will give us an inner peace which we haven't experienced for a long time.

We're just forever grateful.

My feelings today are those of mixed emotions. We've got inner peace but we've also got emotions which bring tears but, most of all it is a wonderful feeling,? Ms Cowdroy said.

Another SAS veteran, Dennis Mitchell, said he enlisted, trained and went to war with Trooper Fisher.

It's a 39-journey that ends today. We should have been able to bring him (Fisher) home when he fell but we weren't able to and for me its a closing of the chapter, but not the end of the story.

Now Vietnam veterans are seen in as favourable a light, as World War Two or Korean War veterans, and that's a wonderful thing to see, because its just so important to the veterans themselves.

But I never thought I'd see the day when David came home and its just a wonderful, wonderful thing that we've also found the other two, Mr Mitchell said, referring to the last two Australian MIAs, the crew of a crashed Canberra bomber.

Attending the ceremony, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said his Government was paying special attention to the health and welfare needs of the Vietnam veterans community.

We remember the sacrifice of the 521 Australians who lost their lives in this conflict. We remember to, those who were wounded in battle and we remember those who today who still bear the scars of war, Mr Rudd said.

More than 60,000 Australian men and women served in Vietnam from 1962-1975.
 
 

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[Keith]

 
 
VA070                                                                                                                  Tuesday, 18 August 2009

 

VIETNAM VETERANS DAY

 

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today urged Australians to remember the service and sacrifice of Vietnam veterans on 18 August.

 

Vietnam was Australias longest involvement in a war with around 60,000 personnel serving over 10 years from 1962 to 1972, Mr Griffin said.

 

Some 2,400 Australian service men and women were wounded in the conflict, and 521 paid the ultimate sacrifice.

 

Vietnam Veterans Day is commemorated each year on the anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan, the best known Australian action of the war.

 

This years commemorations will have a special significance, as it is the first where all our missing in action from the Vietnam War have been located.

 

The remains of Pilot Robert Carver and Flying Officer Michael Herbert were recently discovered and will shortly be brought home to their families.

 

Mr Griffin said it was also important to acknowledge the effects of war service on individuals and families.

 

?Many Vietnam veterans have suffered long term health impacts from their service, and the effects still resonate with them today.  Often their families share this physical and emotional burden, and it is important to recognise their contribution and support, Mr Griffin said.

 

Minister Griffin will attend a commemorative service for Vietnam Veterans Day at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne later today.

[Keith]

COURTESY ROCKHAMPTON MORNING BULLETIN
 
Veterans' pensions rise: September

12th August 2009


?iStockphoto.com/robynmac

MORE than 320,000 veterans and their families will get a pension increase next month under legislation introduced into the lower house on Wednesday.

The changes to the pension rate and associated allowances broadly mirror changes recently made to other pensions.

Veterans' Affairs Minister Alan Griffin said the changes would provide significant increases in pensions and a simpler, fairer and more flexible system.

From September 20 this year, the pension would rise by $32.50 a week for single service pensioners and $10.10 a week for couples on the maximum rate.

War widows and widowers would get $30 a week more.

Mr Griffin said the present system of allowances and supplementary payments would be consolidated.

Telephone, pharmaceutical and utilities allowances and the GST pension supplement would be consolidated into a single supplement for service pensioners.

A "work bonus" - meaning only half the first $500 a fortnight of employment income would be counted in the income test - would be introduced to encourage veterans and their dependants to continue working.

However the income test would be tightened to "help ensure the pension system is sustainable in to the future", Mr Griffin said.

From September 20 the pension income taper test would increase from 40 cents to 50 cents for each dollar of income over the income test free area.

Debate on the Veterans' Affairs and other legislation amendment (pension reform) bill 2009 was adjourned.

 
 
 

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[Keith]

Courtesy of Vexnews
 
link:
www.vexnews.com/news/5577/big-payout-socialist-left-adviser-damned-in-tribunal-judgment-on-disabilities-discrimination/
 
 
DVA "adviser" has track record
 

BIG PAYOUT: Socialist Left adviser damned in Tribunal judgment on disabilities discrimination
By VEXNEWS ? August 12, 2009
 
Former Monash Uni student President and now a Rudd Government ministerial staffer in charge of shoe polishing and bin emptying, Socialist Lefty Mat Hilakari has been exposed and severely embarrassed by the publication of a damning judgment against him by the Anti-Discrimination List of the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
 
The VCAT case related to the Socialist Leftys misconduct in the Monash student elections last year, where Hilakari and his protg Julian Campbell were disqualified following their disgraceful attack on a colleagues disability.

While student politics can often be a hotbed of bitchiness and sleaze, the conduct of Hilakari and Campbell against their colleague Yuliya Mik was universally condemned, and exposed the dodgy student union to massive legal liability.
 
The judgment, available on the VCAT website, outlines some of Hilakaris crimes of hate against his younger female rival that have previously been reported in our much-loved predecessor publication.
 
These include Hilakaris attempt to cruelly and maliciously pervert affirmative action rules to deny Mik a vote on the student council, his arguably corrupt and venal role in an illicit $26,000 payment to a former employee as hush money and Miks condemnation of his thuggery in a report to the council. Many of the points raised by Mik in this report have subsequently been detailed in the scathing VCAT judgment. One part of the judgment in particular reveals the extent of Hilakaris bastardry when it refers to Miks testimony:
 
Mathew Hilakari has been consistently judgmental and unsympathetic to my illness. I tried to resolve the issues he had with me. In April 2008 (21st and 22nd) I had three informal meetings with Matthew Hilakari regarding harassment. At the first of these meetings I explained to him that my illness can cause me to be late or absent unexpectedly and I asked him to be less judgmental as my illness is not something I can control. I also asked that he update me if I was unable to attend or was late. Mr Hilakari responded with well every time youre running late to a meeting Im not going to stop and hold a minutes silence for you he also told me that he refused to stop being judgemental and would not be understanding if I was late or absent.
 

Mr Hilakari also told me that it was my responsibility to update myself on what I miss whilst I am away and that he wouldnt give me a word for word re-gurgitation of meetings. I found Mr Hilakaris attitude completely inflexible and discriminatory. I was also accused of never doing any work, repeatedly during these three meetings he would say you never do any work. When I pointed out to him that he frequently makes negative comments about me and my work but hadnt made a single positive comment this year about me or my work, he replied that this was because he couldnt find a single positive thing to say about me, and that he doesnt understand what I do with my hours because I dont do any work. I always gave my job everything I had and just needed some support and assistance while I caught up with what I had missed.

I continued to feel discriminated against and victimised by Mathew Hilakari. I was left out of important meetings and would often only find out afterwards that they had been held. He would not respond to my emails, and he told me I wasnt needed at these meetings.(sic)
 
Ironically Heartless Hilakari is now an adviser to the Federal Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin. While having participated in the vilification of a colleague suffering a disability for political gain, he now advises the government on its policies for war veterans.
 
The case was reportedly settled confidentially in early July, however VEXNEWS understands that Hilakari, Campbell and the Monash Student Association have been required to pay Mik a hefty sum in compensation. This has been rumoured to exceed $40,000.
 
Typically for the Socialist Left, the matter has been kept quiet around the union, even though an amount believed to be over $20,000 has been spent on legal fees.
 
One member of the student council who contacted VEXNEWS said they were outraged that the matter had been kept secret. I think its disgraceful, and sadly typical of these young socialists. They whine about how strapped for cash the organisation supposedly is, then spend a fortune on things like this that benefit no one but themselves. It has to stop.
 
(end)

[Keith]

Diggers' home to be sold to highest bidder
 
Who will save this site? ... Tim Hughes, outside Graythwaite, says the opportunity of a win-win situation for the heritage estate has been lost. Photo: Jacky Ghossein

Elicia Murray Urban Affairs Reporter

August 12, 2009

NORTH SYDNEY could lose one of its most tranquil parks because the State Government is pushing ahead with plans to sell the land, despite a Commonwealth offer to buy the site.

Graythwaite Estate, a former convalescent home for war veterans, is on the market as ''the last of North Sydney's acreage [sic]'' under a public tender offer that closes on August 28.

The sale offer has angered many residents, who say the three-hectare block, less than five minutes' walk from the train station, is being marketed as a developer's dream.

In April, the NSW Health Minister, John Della Bosca, as the minister responsible for the former convalescent home, rejected a Federal Government offer to buy the land for $16.8 million - the reserve price set by the Supreme Court.

A spokesman for Friends of Graythwaite Estate, Tim Hughes, said a win-win solution was going to waste.

''They are being totally bloodyminded about its future and ignoring its heritage value and open spaces,'' Mr Hughes said.

Graythwaite has been held in trust by the State Government since 1915 when Sir Thomas Dibbs, a North Shore banker, donated the estate to be used for wounded World War I veterans and then as ''a convalescent home in perpetuity for distressed subjects of the British Empire''.

Residents and North Sydney Council have been fighting NSW Health plans to sell the sprawling estate for more than a decade. Neighbouring Shore School has expressed interest in buying the property.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled the land should be sold and the proceeds used to fund a new rehabilitation centre for public patients at Ryde Hospital because the trust's original purpose had failed.

An alternative proposal by the Returned & Services League to use the now vacant and dilapidated sandstone mansion as a rehabilitation facility for private patients and Defence Force members was rejected.

In the 2007 federal election campaign, both major parties declared they would save the site. Labor promised $25 million ''to ensure Graythwaite is saved''.

The Federal Government has not ruled out making a bid in the public tender offer. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, said he was examining the tender documents but declined to comment on the $25 million commitment.

The Liberal Member for North Sydney, Joe Hockey, said: ''It's just ridiculous that State Labor has turned down a win for the State Government and a win for the community.''

A spokesman for Mr Della Bosca, Daniel Dew, said the Government had a responsibility to get the ''best price possible''.

COURTESY SMH
 

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[Keith]

AUSSIE DIGGER COMMENT

The simple truth is Governments have lied when they have told us deregulation of the power supply industry will lead to better competition and cheaper electricity. There is no case in the world where deregulation of the power supply industry has led to cheaper prices. In fact in California deregulation not only led to higher prices, it led to chaos in the supply chain and blackouts as companies played financial games with each other.
 
Governments do some things better than private industry and Governments have an obligation to employ people and supply some ESSENTIAL services. The mad hatter of deregulation and privatisation was always going to be an impost on ordinary Australians and the relentless march of Governments to offload all services to private companies must stop and be reversed.
 
Queenslands disabled Veterans, living on fixed incomes, will now have more of their compensation eaten away while corporations make more profit.
 
Power bills face 50 per cent jum
p
Article from: COURIER MAIL
 
Robert MacDonald

August 08, 2009

THE typical Queensland household now pays more for electricity than council rates.

And the gap will get worse next year, with power prices predicted to surge another 10 per cent, pushing the average home power bill to more than $2100 a year.

The rising costs make a further mockery of government assurances that deregulation of the state's power market meant more competition and cheaper prices.

Tell us: Are power prices too much of a shock?
The increase, being forecast by state-owned power distribution company Energex, would mean a 50 per cent jump in power bills ? about $700 ? since July 2007, when competition was introduced with promises by then-premier Peter Beattie that "no one will pay any more".

Council rates during the same time are expected to rise by about 30 per cent to about $2000 a year, assuming next year's increases follow recent trends. And worse is to come, according to industry experts who say growing use of renewable energy and the Federal Government's carbon reduction scheme ? due to start in 2011 ? will translate into further big power price increases.

"Prices are going to keep going up as far forward as you can look," industry analyst and former Electricity Supply Association of Australia chief Keith Orchison said yesterday.

Federal Government studies suggest a 20-25 per cent increase in retail power prices "in the initial years" of its carbon reduction schemes, which it plans to offset with rebates to qualifying households.

Queensland Council of Social Services director Jill Lang said yesterday her organisation would be "pushing heavily" for concessions for people unable to afford soaring power bills.

"We continue to be really concerned about this rapid rise in electricity prices and the impact on low-income households," she said.

"Electricity should be a right and everyone should have access to it."

The Queensland Competition Authority, which is currently reviewing existing pricing and tariff structures at the request of the State Government, has to make a final decision on next year's price increase before July 2010.

But Energex forecasts that prices will need to rise by about 30 per cent by 2015, starting with a 10 per cent increase next year, just to cover the cost of a proposed $6.4 billion, five-year expansion of its southeast Queensland electricity distribution network. Ergon is proposing a similar-sized investment for its network, which covers the rest of the state.

The Australian Energy Regulator is currently reviewing both organisations' investment plans to see whether they are justified, but Ergon and Energex say they will each have to spend more than $1 billion a year on network infrastructure to meet growing demand for power.

Energex chief executive officer Terry Effney said peak electricity demand in southeast Queensland was expected to rise by more than 70 per cent in the next decade.

Energy Minister Stephen Robertson declined to comment on possible price movements until the power regulators had finished their own reviews.

 
 

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[Keith]

 
 
 
VA068                                                                                                                        Friday, 7 August 2009

 

NEW PREMISES FOR WORLD-CLASS TRAUMA RESEARCH CENTRE

 

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today highlighted the Australian Governments commitment to the treatment of posttraumatic mental health when he opened a world-class centre for trauma-related research in East Melbourne.

 

Almost one-third (50,000) of Australias disabled veterans suffer a mental health disability, so the treatment of illnesses such as Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and related conditions is very close to the hearts of those in the ex-service community, Mr Griffin said.

 

The Australian Government has provided base funding of $5.5 million to the Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health (ACPMH)  an important contributor to the development of ADF and veteran-specific mental health initiatives and I am pleased to see the centre move into new, larger premises which will assist it to continue its vital work.

 

Mr Griffin said the $5.5 million over five years would assist ACPMH undertake research, develop policy and provide education to support organisations and health professionals who work with people affected by traumatic events.

 

This amount is in addition to $92 million of extra funding announced in the 2009-10 budget to boost mental health services for current and ex-service personnel, by implementing all of Professor David Dunts recommendations arising from his Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-service Community and Review of Mental Health Care in the Australian Defence Force and Transition through Discharge,? Mr Griffin said.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs $9.5 million share of this allocation is being used to strengthen mental health programs and simplify administrative procedures for those transitioning out of the ADF or applying for compensation.  Veterans with complex needs will be supported by more experienced case managers, while access to mental health clinical expertise is being increased.

 

Mr Griffin said the Department of Veterans Affairs had also worked closely with ACPMH in developing the recently released Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Adults with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, which provides GPs and mental health practitioners with a clinical algorithm to guide them in decision making.  

 

The Guidelines are integral in improving veterans access to mental health services, and ensuring practitioners better understand the mental health issues experienced by veterans and serving defence personnel so they can receive best practice treatment and care, he said.  

 

Further details about mental health services through the Department of Veterans Affairs is available on its website www.dva.gov.au   For more information about ACPMH visit www.acpmh.unimelb.edu.au

 

Media inquiries (Alan Griffin): Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

VA067                                                                                                                    Tuesday, 4 August 2009
 

95th ANNIVERSARY OF THE START OF THE WAR TO END ALL WARS

 

On 4 August 1914 German forces crossed the Belgian border and set in train an escalating conflict that would soon engulf Europe.  Australias pledge of support to Britain ultimately cost some 60,000 lives in a war that lasted four years and affected almost every household in the country.  

 

Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin said the 95th anniversary of the beginning of the First World War was an opportunity to reflect on the service and sacrifice of those who served in the war to end all wars.

 

More than 416,000 Australians enlisted in the First World War and of those more than 60,000 lost their lives on the battlefields of the Western Front, Gallipoli, the Middle East, in the skies above many of these battlefields and at sea, Mr Griffin said.

 

Some 160,000 Australians returned home injured or ill and Australias repatriation system grew out of our duty of care to these men and women and to the families of those who did not return.  We continue this duty of care today, supporting around 370 war widows of First World War servicemen.

 

We are also ensuring our First World War veterans are commemorated through enduring tributes.

 

The Australian Government is contributing $10 million over the next four years to establish a Western Front Interpretive Trail to better tell the story of Australian service in France and Belgium.  The concept will tell Australias story to visitors of all nations right across the Front, by working with communities and with regional and national authorities to improve existing facilities or create additional ones on Australian battlefields.  

 

This is long overdue recognition of Australia's contribution and by acting now we can improve interpretative sites as we move towards the centenary of our involvement in the First World War.

 

Each year on Anzac Day thousands of Australians gather at Gallipoli and now in France to honour those who served in these locations, but also those who served in all of the other wars and conflicts since.  Our commitment to commemorate their service remains strong, the Minister said.

 

The Department of Veterans Affairs hosts several websites on Australias wartime history. To learn more about Australians at war, visit www.australiansatwar.com.au, on the Western Front www.ww1westernfront.gov.au, at Gallipoli www.anzacsite.gov.au and the Second World War ww2australia.gov.au.

 

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.


VA066 Monday 3 August 2009  

$4 MILLION TO EX-SERVICE COMMUNITY TO SUPPORT VETERANS

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced $4
million to help members of the veteran community access their
entitlements, and connect with community and government services.

"Almost 200 ex-service organisations (ESOs) will receive a share of $4
million through the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST)
grant program," Mr Griffin said.

"The Australian Government supports the vital work of ESOs, and funding
from the BEST program helps them deliver services to around 400,000
veterans and their partners, war widows and widowers around Australia."

Mr Griffin said the veteran community is rapidly changing with an ageing
population and an increasing number of younger veterans with different
service experiences needing support.  

"ESOs provide key pension and welfare assistance to individuals and
families, and it is important that we help them adjust to the shifting
needs of the ex-service community," he said.

"Concerns have been raised about the current program and there is a
requirement to adjust to changing needs into the future.  The Government
therefore intends to review the BEST program.

"I will be consulting ESOs and other stakeholders in the coming months
to ensure the needs of the veteran community are being effectively met
through this funding."

Mr Griffin is writing to all organisations who applied for BEST grants.
Information about grants administered by the Department of Veterans'
Affairs is available on its website www.dva.gov.au

[Keith]

VA064                                                                                                                 Wednesday, 29 July 2009

 

$379,000 FOR PROJECTS TO HONOUR AUSTRALIA?S VETERANS

 

Projects honouring Australias wartime heritage received a financial boost today with the announcement of $379,487 in funding approved by the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin.

 

Mr Griffin said the funding for 152 projects is part of the Australian Governments Saluting Their Service Commemorative grants program to help communities across the nation honour and commemorate our wartime history.

 

The grants will fund local activities and initiatives that recognise the service and sacrifice of Australians who have served in wars, conflicts and peace operations,? Mr Griffin said.

 

Today, the Government is announcing funding for a range of projects including restoring and displaying wartime memorabilia, upgrading community war memorials, purchasing association banners and holding commemorative events.

 

In particular, helping regional and rural communities across Australia maintain their places of remembrance is an important function of this grants program as these memorials play a central role in honouring local sons and daughters who have served the nation.

 

Commemorative activities in local communities play a major role in encouraging Australians  especially younger Australians  to learn about our wartime experiences and provide an opportunity for veterans to share their stories.

 
Australia has a proud wartime history that has been part of the lives of so many Australian families.  The Government remains committed to honouring those who have served and continue to serve, ensuring their legacy is remembered for generations to come.?

 

Mr Griffin encouraged local community and ex-service organisations interested in applying for funding to visit www.dva.gov.au or contact their nearest DVA office on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers).

 

Editors note: A list of grant recipients from each state is attached.

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS ? Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

To receive the Ministers media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm




Saluting Their Service grants Tasmania Recipients ? $8387



        The Tasmanian Branch of the National Malaya & Borneo Veterans Association of Australia will receive $1228 to help purchase four Association banners for use on commemorative occasions.



        The Burnie and Districts Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $4000 to help install a Vietnam Veterans? Memorial  in Anzac Park, Somerset, dedicated to local veterans who served in the Vietnam War.



        The Tasmanian Branch of the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women will receive $700 to help restore a ceremonial lifebuoy for display with other wartime memorabilia in the foyer of their premises in Newtown.



        The Launceston Branch of the Royal Australian Air Force Association will receive $2459 to help install a memorial at Launceston Airport commemorating the service of RAAF personnel in the Second World War; purchase a display cabinet to exhibit RAAF wartime memorabilia at the Evandale Historical Society; and produce a DVD featuring the history of the No 7 Elementary Flying Training School.

 

 

Saluting Their Service grants Western Australia Recipients  $11,107



        Rockingham RSL Sub-branch will receive $1500 to hold an event for members of the local veteran community, including a march through the city, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.



        The Leeman Progress & Ratepayers Association will receive $4000 to help erect a gazebo at the Leeman War Memorial to provide shelter on commemorative occasions and a quiet place of reflection for visitors.



        Dawesville RSL Sub-branch will receive $2397 to help install three display cabinets at the Sub-branch to house a significant collection of wartime memorabilia.



        The City of Belmont will receive $1890 to help upgrade the Belmont Community War Memorial to include East Timor, United Nations peace operations, Iraq and Afghanistan and purchase a flagpole to fly the Australian Flag at the memorial.



        Geraldton City RSL Sub-branch will receive $1320 to help install a plaque on the memorial wall at the RSL Memorial Park in Geraldton dedicated to Korean veterans.



 

Saluting Their Service grants Victoria Recipients  $91,920



        Healesville RSL Sub-branch will receive $1500 to help restore four war memorials damaged in the recent Victorian bushfires in the towns of Eildon, Yea, Kinglake and Marysville.

 

        Mount Clear College will receive $3000 to help produce two large photographic montages commemorating the service and sacrifice of local servicemen and women to be installed in the college.



        The Box Hill Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive two grants: $1950 to help hold a reunion dinner in August for members and guests to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba; and $1050 to help cover the cost of a reunion dinner in March for members and guests to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Hat Dich.



        The Sunshine RSL Sub-branch on behalf of the Commemoration Park Memorial Committee Community Group will receive $4000 to help restore and replace Second World War plaques from the Yarraville Avenue of Honour and relocate them to the Battle for Australia War Memorial in Spotswood.



        The Springvale Remembrance and Community Vegetable Garden Committee will receive $3938 to help install a memorial in the new Remembrance Garden at the Springvale Veterans? Support Centre dedicated to the men and women of the Australian Defence Force who fought to defend Australia. The garden will offer visitors a place of reflection on days of commemoration.



        The Springvale Veterans Support Centre will receive $935 to help install a flagpole to fly the Australian Flag on days of commemoration.



        The 4/19 Prince of Wales Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room will receive $2853 to help develop a display depicting the Regiments service in Vietnam.



        The 2/4th Field Regiment Association will receive $400 to help install a plaque in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial dedicated to the Regiment.



        The 2/1 Australian Machine Gun Battalion Association will receive $1215 to help install a plaque dedicated to the Battalion in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial.



        Footscray City College will receive $3000 to help Year 9 students write and produce a book featuring the stories of peacekeeper veterans.



        The Williamstown Historical Society will receive $4000 to help restore the deteriorated Trafalgar Lodge First World War Honour Roll located at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute.



        The Royal Australian Navy Corvettes Association of Victoria will receive $1325 to help purchase a plaque dedicated to the Royal Australian Navy Corvettes and hold a service at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance for 50 guests.



        The Dandenong High School Ex-Students Association will receive $3000 to help install a stained glass window and bronze plaque at the School to commemorate the connection between the 4th Light Horse Regiment and the School.



        Kyneton RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help refurbish the Kyneton RSL Honour Board listing the names of 181 locals who served in the First World War.



        The North West Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $1250 to help hold a commemorative service in August to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.



        The Shrine of Remembrance will receive $3000 to help hold a Remembrance Day Poster Competition in Victoria in 2009 to encourage primary school students to learn about the significance of Remembrance Day and the First World War. The winning poster will go on display at the Shrine.



        The Victorian and Tasmanian Division of the Far East Strategic Reserve Navy Association will receive two grants: $1510 to help install a memorial in Echuca commemorating the Far East Strategic Reserve. It is the first memorial of its kind in regional Victoria; and $1350 to help with the costs of a dinner held in May following the unveiling of the memorial.



        The Lions Club of Lindenow will receive $3500 to help install lights and seating at the Lindenow War Memorial and landscape surrounding grounds to improve safety and usability for visiting veterans.



        Violet Town RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help refurbish the Violet Town RSL War Memorial including replacing a plinth and thorough cleaning.



        The City of Boroondara will receive $4000 to help restore the Beckett Park War Memorial in Balwyn including removing overgrown foliage and thorough cleaning.



        Rupanyup RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help install a 4th Light Horse Regiment Memorial in Memorial Park, Rupanyup, dedicated to several former local members of the Regiment that captured Beersheba.



        The Returned and Services Nurses Club of Victoria Sub-branch of the RSL will receive $3000 to help exhibit a commemorative display at the Australian Light Horse Memorial Park in Seymour depicting the role and sacrifice of Australian Army Nurses. The exhibition will be on permanent display from August 2009.



        Kongwak Community Group will receive $4000 to help replace missing and dying trees in the Kongwak Avenue of Honour, install a plaque at the Kongwak War Memorial listing the names of seven servicemen from the district who lost their lives on active duty and replace a tree beside the memorial.



        Leongatha RSL Sub-branch will receive $2972 to help purchase a large display case to preserve and display wartime memorabilia donated to the Sub-branch including uniforms, medals, documents, utensils and books.



        Redbank Reserves Committee will receive $1012 to help install a plaque on the new war memorial at Anzac Park, Redbank, dedicated to fifteen locals who served in the First World War.



        Newham Primary School will receive $3729 to help restore the Schools Honour Roll displaying the names of 36 former students who fought in the First World War.



        Warragul RSL Sub-branch will receive $3255 to help purchase and erect an internal halyard flagpole at the new Sub-branch premises.



        The Greater Shepparton City Council will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial next to the clock tower in Tatura dedicated to the men and women who served Australia in times of war and conflict. This will be Tatura?s first memorial.



        Sorrento-Portsea RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help attach two plaques to the brick wall adjacent to the Sub-branch premises commemorating locals who served in both World Wars.

 

        The 107 Field Battery Association will receive two grants: $3000 to help publish a unit history of the 107 Field Battery Malaya and South Vietnam; and $2250 to help hold a hold a dinner for members and guests in April 2010 to commemorate the 40th anniversary since the deployment of 107 Field Battery Royal Australian Artillery to South Vietnam.

 

        Friends of Same will receive $2926 to help hold a photographic exhibition Debt of Honour at Melbournes Fortyfivedownstairs Art Gallery depicting Australian service in Portuguese Timor in the Second World War.

 

 

Saluting Their Service grants South Australia Recipients  $44,703

 

        Clare RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help restore the Clare World War I Memorial Gates including mould removal and replacing render.



        One Tree Hill Progress Association will receive $880 to help restore the weathered memorial located at the One Tree Hill Institute which was constructed in 1919.



        SMOSH West Lakes Junior Football Club will receive $725 to help with the cost of holding the inaugural Anzac Day Commemorative Football game in April 2009.



        The Northern Suburbs Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $1800 to help install a memorial plaque in the Association?s Memorial Garden dedicated to the 58 South Australian soldiers killed in the Vietnam War 1962-1975.



        The Perry Park Aged Care and Housing Group will receive $1685 to help install a commemorative plaque at the facility for use by residents on days of commemoration.



        Salisbury RSL Sub-branch will receive $2800 to help upgrade the Sub-branchs war memorial commemorating all Australians who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations since the Boer War.



        Unley RSL Sub-branch will receive $2273 to help restore the vandalised Unley First World War Cenotaph. The Cenotaph will be relocated from the Clarence Gardens Bowling Club to the Unley Memorial Gardens where it will be more secure.



        Yorke Peninsula Veteran and Community Centre will receive $3000 to help restore 109 photographs taken of the remount unit of the Australian Light Horse in Palestine during the First World War.



        Riverland Vietnam Veterans Association will receive $7000 to help construct the Riverland Post World War II Armed Services Memorial in Berri dedicated to locals who served Australia in all wars, conflicts and peace operations after the Second World War, and hold a memorial dedication service and luncheon in August for members and guests.






        The South Australian Division of the Royal Australian Ordnance Corps Association will receive $1035 to help purchase a Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps banner to be used in marches on days of commemoration.



        The South Australian Division of the Royal Australian Engineers Association will receive $549 to help purchase a Royal Australian Engineers Vietnam unit banner for use in marches on days of commemoration.



        Marion RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help restore the deteriorating Marion First World War Memorial.



        The Peninsula Residential Care Centre will receive $3080 to help install a flagpole at the Centre in Kadina for use by residents on days of commemoration.



        Kadina Memorial High School will receive $1171 to help correct inaccuracies on the Kadina Memorial Archway and add missing names. The archway is dedicated to formers students who served in wars, conflicts and peace operations since the Boer War.



        The Mylor History Group will receive $2035 to help purchase a lightweight and portable display system to exhibit a significant collection of wartime memorabilia which will be transported around the town.



        Skyline Residential Care will receive $1670 to help install a flagpole at the facility in Flagstaff Hill for use by residents on days of commemoration.



        The Flinders Ranges Council will receive $4000 to help restore a 95mm smooth bore Turkish field gun located in the RSL Memorial Gardens in Quorn. The gun was captured on 1 November 1918 by the Australian Light Horse Unit at Beersheba and is one of only three captured by the Australian Light Horse Regiments during the First World War.



        The National Trust of South Australia will receive $3000 to help install large descriptive wall panels and a specially designed case to house some of the wartime memorabilia held by the Penneshaw National Trust Museum.

 

 

Saluting Their Service grants Queensland Recipients $73,310

 

        The Queensland Branch of The Royal Australian Regiment Association will receive two grants: $560 to help purchase 100 flags to use during a service to be held at the National Memorial Walk in Enoggera in November to commemorate members of the 9th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment who died during service in Vietnam; and $3100 to help construct a time capsule to be filled with wartime memorabilia and entombed in a small memorial plinth at The Royal Australian Regiment National Memorial Walk, Enoggera and construct a memorial dedicated to the 8th/9th Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment.

 

        The United Nations Association of Queensland will receive $616 to help restore the weathered Peacekeepers Memorial located in Brisbanes Anzac Square.



        Queensland RSL Care War Veterans Homes will receive $3000 to help create a Gallipoli Memorial Garden in the grounds of the Parkinson facility for residents to use as a place of reflection on commemorative days.



        The Bracken Ridge 5/7 Royal Australian Regiment Association will receive $2112 to help create a website depicting the history on the Regiment for the use of members and the wider community.



        Walkerston-Pleystowe RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help landscape the grounds of the Walkerston-Pleystowe Memorial Gates located in Anzac Park where commemorative services are held.



        The New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles Ex-members? Association will receive $1020 to help conserve and frame wartime memorabilia held in the New Guinea Volunteer Rifles and Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles Military Museum in Wacol, Brisbane, including two silk escape maps, artworks depicting the Toll Massacre and a Japanese 1000 stitches charm belt.



        Oxford Crest in Eagleby will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial garden and erect a flagpole for residents to use on days of commemoration.



        Marburg and District Residents Association will receive $1700 to help erect an honour board in the Marburg Community Centre commemorating locals who volunteered for service during the First World War.



        The Patriots Australia Gold Coast Chapter will receive $1417 to help hold a luncheon in October to commemorate United Nations Day and Australia?s involvement in United Nations peacekeeping missions.



        The 2 Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) Association will receive $1025 to help install a plaque in the Sculpture Garden at the Australian War Memorial dedicated to the Regiment.



        Bribie Island Ex-Servicewoman?s Association will receive $1270 to help install an honour board in the Anzac Room at the Bribie Island RSL Club dedicated to all servicewoman.



         The Greenbank Sub-section of the Naval Association of Australia will receive $1750 to help with the costs of a dinner held in May to mark the 70th anniversary of the beginning of the Second World War and the Battle of the Coral Sea.



         The 11 Field Ambulance Association will receive $825 to help purchase a banner for the Association to use at marches on days of commemoration.



         The Toorbul War Memorial Restoration Committee will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Toorbul and District War Memorial including thorough cleaning and replacing plastic name plaques with stainless steel versions.



         Bribie Island RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help restore a Royal Australian Navy frigate anchor located in the memorial grounds of the Bribie Island RSL and Citizens Memorial Club.



         Yeppoon RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help upgrade and restore the Yeppoon Memorial Cenotaph including replacing the damaged marble face.



        Wide Bay and Burnett District RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help renovate the memorial shelter in Cracow to house the Cracow Roll of Honour and wartime memorabilia for public display.



        Mapleton RSL Sub-branch will receive $565 to help attach a bronze plaque to the memorial stone at RSL Mapleton Memorial Park commemorating locals who served in both World Wars.



        The Gold Coast City Council will receive $3495 to help upgrade the grounds of the Robina Community War Memorial including installing flowerbeds and planting poppies and rosemary to honour local men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.



        Glasshouse Country RSL Sub-branch will receive $540 to help install a plaque in Anzac Avenue at Beerburrum dedicated to local servicemen who lost their lives in the First World War, and purchase three hand-held flagpoles for school children to use during commemorative services.



        Milne Bay Military Museum will receive $3000 to help purchase a display cabinet to house medals dating from the Boer War to present conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.



        Yarraman RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Yarraman War Memorial with the addition of two bronze plaques dedicated to locals who served in all wars and conflicts.



        The Gold Coast Vietnam Veterans Social Golf Club will receive $3193 to help install a memorial wall around the Vietnam Veterans Memorial located at the Boomerang Farm Golf Club in Mudgeeraba. The wall will feature plaques of past members who served in Vietnam, Korea, Malaya and peace operations.



        The Gold Coast Naval Foundation will receive $2350 to help hold a commemorative service and luncheon in October for members and guests to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Leyte Gulf and honour the service of HMAS Australia II.



        Cooroy-Pomona RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help purchase two display cabinets to house wartime memorabilia including six secure compartments to house military weapons.



        Westmar State School will receive $4000 to help erect a war memorial dedicated to local veterans who served in all wars and conflicts. Community members will help to create a garden around the memorial.



        Pittsworth RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help restore wartime photographs for display at the Sub-branch.



        St George RSL Sub-branch will receive $3872 to help restore the deteriorating First World War Honour Board located at St George Hospital.



        The Southport and Districts Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia will receive $900 to help hold a commemorative service at the National Memorial Walk in August to commemorate the Battle of Long Tan; and install a plaque on the Cenotaph in Anzac Park dedicated to those veterans who lost their lives in Vietnam.

 




Saluting Their Service grants New South Wales Recipients ? $132,949

 

        Ramsgate RSL Sub-branch will receive $1100 to help hold a luncheon in July for members and guests at the Ramsgate RSL Memorial Club to honour veterans of recent conflicts including Rwanda, Iraq, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.



        Scots Church Sydney will receive $3890 to help refurbish a First World War honour board at the Church.



        Mortdale RSL Sub-branch will receive $930 to help install a plaque at the Mortdale Memorial Park to commemorate the contribution of the 45th Battalion during the First World War.



        Sans Souci Public School will receive $3128 to help restore the School?s First World War Honour Board in time for its 125th anniversary commemorations to be held in 2010.



        The 3rd Cavalry Regiment (Vietnam) Association will receive two grants: $1224 to help install a plaque in the Western Garden at the Australian War Memorial dedicated to all who served in the 3rd Cavalry Regiment, Royal Australian Armoured Corps, in Vietnam 1965-1972; and $3000 to help hold a final reunion dinner in November for members representing Cavalry units that served in Vietnam. A service will be held at the Vietnam War Memorial on Anzac Parade in Canberra after which the plaque will be unveiled at the Australian War Memorial.

 

        Brighton Le Sands Sub-branch will receive $96 to help purchase an Australian White Ensign to be displayed at the Sub-branch on commemorative occasions.



        Merriwa RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help install a display cabinet at the Sub-branch to exhibit wartime memorabilia from the Boer war to current deployments.



        Newcastle City Council will receive $4000 to help restore the Vietnam Veteran?s War Memorial located in Civic Park including cleaning and replacing deteriorated materials.



        Cooma Monaro RSL Sub-branch will receive $2498 to help install a memorial in the Monaghan-Heyes Memorial area in Cooma dedicated to locals who have served in the Australian Defence Force since 1975.



        The HMAS Culgoa Association will receive $1250 to help hold a final reunion in September for members and guests at the Swansea RSL Sub-branch for Culgoa crew members who served in the Korean War.



        Greta RSL Sub-branch will receive $850 to help hold a commemorative event to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War.



        The Entrance/Long Jetty RSL Sub-branch will receive $1210 to help purchase database software to record more than 15,000 articles of wartime memorabilia dating from the Boer War, which are displayed at the Military Museum at the Sub-branch.



        Maitland Vietnam Veterans and Services Legion will receive $3000 to help hold a dedication ceremony and luncheon in September for members and guests at the new memorial in Maitland dedicated to those who died in the Vietnam War.



        The Lions Club of Tathra will receive $4000 to help upgrade the Tathra War Memorial including replacing cracked paving and building steps leading to the memorial to improve safety.



        Burringbar RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help restore the Burringbar First World War Cenotaph Honour Roll which was unveiled more than 90 years ago and includes the names on 123 local diggers  33 of whom made the ultimate sacrifice.



        Corrimal RSL Sub-branch will receive $933 to help restore the Corrimal Honour Roll located in Anzac Grove.



        The NSW 4 RAR/4 RAR (Commando) Association will receive $734 to help purchase two banners for the Association to use on days of commemoration.



        Chamberlain Gardens aged care facility will receive $1639 to help install a flagpole to fly the Australian Flag on days of commemoration.



        The 7th Australian Division Australian Imperial Force Association will receive $3800 to help upgrade the Bass Hill Memorial located on Remembrance Drive with the addition of a memorial wall to accommodate plaques dedicated to the Division.



        Eden Park Residential Aged Care will receive two grants: $1650 to help install a flagpole to fly the Australian Flag on days of commemoration; and $670 to help install an honour board at the facility listing all resident veterans and war widows.



        The Royal New South Wales Lancers Memorial Museum will receive $1551 to help restore and preserve the Boer War diary of Major General Lee who commanded the NSW Lancers Squadron during the Boer War. The diary will also be digitally copied for preservation and display purposes.



        Thirroul RSL Sub-branch will receive $2695 to help restore a Bofors gun located at Woodwood Park, Thirroul, which was on board the HMAS Anzac during the Korean War, and attach a plaque outlining the history of the gun.



        Wangi Wangi RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help install four display cabinets in the main lounge of the Sub-branch to exhibit a large amount of memorabilia held by the Sub-branch including pieces from the Boer War through to present operations.



        Blaxland-Glenbrook RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help construct a memorial at the site of the Glenbrook Chemical Warfare facility commemorating all RAAF personnel who worked there during the Second World War.



        The Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome Committee will receive $1750 to help hold a dinner at the Evans Head RSL Sub-branch to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the involvement of the RAAF with the Evans Head community.



        The Evans Head Living Museum and Community Technology Centre will receive $4000 to help install a memorial and garden at the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the formation of the Empire Air Training Scheme and the involvement of the RAAF in the Evans Head Community.



        The Fairmile Association will receive $360 towards morning tea provided at a dedication ceremony held recently at the Shrine of Remembrance commemorating the Fairmile ships and their crews.

 

        The HMAS Vampire Association will receive $200 to help present a plaque to the Australian National Maritime Museum commemorating the 50th anniversary of the commissioning of HMAS Vampire and all her crew.



        Coolah District Development Group will receive $3000 to help collect, restore, preserve and interpret photographs and wartime memorabilia relating to locals who served in the Second World War.



        The 3 RAR Museum will receive $2927 to help restore and frame wartime memorabilia including photographs, flags, papers and maps held by the Museum in Holsworthy before they relocate to Townsville in 2010.



        Coonabarabran RSL Sub-branch will receive $3000 to help restore and record wartime memorabilia and purchase lockable display cabinets to house memorabilia including medals, publications and personal mementos.



        Taree RSL Sub-branch will receive $1900 to help restore the memorial located in the foyer of the Sub-branch which is the main focus for community services.



        Dungog RSL Sub-branch will receive $1900 to help hold a function in October to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.



        30 Squadron RAAF Beaufighters Association will receive $2000 to help install 52 walkway pavers at the 30 Squadron RAAF Memorial at the North Fort Walk Artillery Museum in Manly.



        The Bowral Vietnam Memorial Walk Trust will receive $4000 to help complete the Bowral Vietnam Memorial Cherry Tree Walk with the addition of a commemorative column and nine mature cherry trees dedicated to the nine battalions of The Royal Australian Regiment that served in the Vietnam War.



        The Royal Australian Engineers (RAE) Vietnam Memorial will receive $3837 to help construct a memorial at the School of Military Engineering at Moorebank dedicated to those who served in the Indonesian Confrontation in Sabah 1964-1966, and hold a plaque dedication service and dinner in September for members and guests.



        The 78 Squadron Association will receive $2970 to help install a plaque at the Camden War Cemetery dedicated to No 78 Kittyhawk Fighter Squadron, which was formed and trained in Camden during the Second World War.



        Killara High School will receive $1655 to help erect an honour roll commemorating former students who served in both World Wars and subsequent conflicts.



        Goulburn Mulwaree Council will receive $4000 to help refurbish the Boer War Memorial located in Belmore Park, Goulburn, which was built in 1902.



        Coffs Harbour RSL Sub-branch will receive $4000 to help replace concrete surrounding the Coffs Harbour Memorial Wall with turf to improve visitor safety at commemorative services.



        Holsworthy High School will receive $3000 to help create a memorial garden with a flagpole and memorial stone in its grounds for use on days of commemoration.



        Great Lakes Council will receive $2050 to help purchase a display cabinet and restore wartime memorabilia for displays at the Booral Soldiers Memorial Hall including a Light Maxim MGO8/15 gun.



        The Albury Wodonga Sub-branch of the National Servicemen?s Association of Australia will receive $4000 to help install a memorial in parkland adjacent to the Harold Mair Bridge in Albury dedicated to national servicemen who served Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations.



        The NSW Ex-Women?s Royal Australian Navy Association will receive $1000 to help preserve and catalogue wartime memorabilia held in the Association archives in Grose Wold including uniforms, letters, photographs and insignia donated by members.



        Gloucester RSL Sub-branch will receive $2750 to help hold a reunion in August to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.



        The 5 RAR Association will receive $3000 to help hold a reunion and dinner in March 2010 to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the formation of the 5th Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, dedicated to those members who were killed in action or wounded.



        The 9th Australian Division Council will receive $3000 to help purchase a unit banner bearing colours for the 9th Australian Division to be used in marches on days of commemoration.



        The Molong Museum and Historical Society will receive $3000 to help restore and preserve wartime memorabilia for display including photographs, uniforms, military handbooks and Japanese souvenirs.



        The Great Lakes Sub-branch of the Vietnam Veterans Federation will receive $2790 to help construct a memorial with two plaques next to the Lone Pine tree at the John Wright Park in Tuncurry to commemorate the Anzacs and as a tribute to all those who served Australia and wars, conflicts and peace operations.



        The Tinonee Memorial School of Arts will receive $242 to help upgrade the Tinonee Honour Roll with the addition of ten veterans whose names were originally omitted.



        Kandos RSL Sub-branch will receive $3420 to help install eight commemorative plaques at the Kandos Town Square commemorating all those who served Australia in wars, conflicts and peace operations.



        The RAAF Vietnam RAAF Transport Flight/35 Squadron Council will receive $2350 to help hold a reunion in August to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the deployment of the first RAAF unit to Vietnam.



        The 78 Squadron Association will receive $3000 to help publish the first unit history of No 78 Squadron RAAF.

 

Saluting Their Service grants Australian Capital Territory $14,361



        Canberra Grammar School will receive $3000 to help add details of the school choir?s participation in the 2009 Anzac Day ceremonies in France and the United Kingdom on their website and produce a CD recording of the tour.



        Norfolk Island RSL Sub-branch will receive $3211 to help erect a war memorial at Norfolk Island Central School dedicated to former students lost in both World Wars and the Korean War.



        Charles Conder Primary School will receive $4000 to help build a veterans garden in the school grounds. Local veterans will be invited to help plant the garden. A plaque will also be installed in the garden dedicated to those who served in all wars and conflicts.



        The RAAF Association National Council will receive $1150 to help hold a reunion in Hobart in September to mark the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War.



        Canberra Services Club will receive $3000 to help display wartime photographs depicting Australian Army deployments including the European theatre, New Guinea and Korea. Australia?s first Indigenous commissioned Army Officer, Captain Reginald Saunders MBE, is the central figure linking the photographs.



Saluting Their Service grants Northern Territory  $2750



        The Northern Territory Branch of the Royal Australian Regiment will receive $2750 for a reunion and dinner held in June in Darwin commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.

[Keith]

COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
Wounded soldiers in British compo battle

By Stephanie Kennedy in London for AM
 
Compensation row: A British soldier stands guard in Iraq in 2007. (Reuters: Atef Hassan, file photo)

Wounded British soldiers are locked in a bureaucratic battle with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as it tries to cut their compensation payouts.

As the bodies of another four soldiers killed in Afghanistan made their final journey home, the British Government went to the Court of Appeal in a bid to reduce the compensation awarded to two wounded servicemen.

One was shot through the upper leg and ended up needing 11 operations; the other was wounded in training.

Their payments were increased after medical complications relating to their initial injuries.

In court the MoD argued they should only be compensated for the original injuries, not any subsequent problems.

Minister for Veterans Kevin Jones insists the Government is trying to make the system more fair.

"What we are doing today is to really make sure that the scheme which has been put in place does what it says; it makes sure that the most severely injured are compensated the most, and that we have a scheme which is just and fair," he said.


'These are human beings'

But the Government's legal action has triggered widespread anger.

Simon Weston was severely burned in the fire on British troop ship the Sir Galahad in the Falklands War in 1982.

"I think it is probably the most mean-spirited, penny-pinching way you can treat these incredible people," he said.

"They didn't choose to be injured; they chose the job and the conflict was chosen for them.

"Then there is the duty of honour to be paid by the Government. Their lives are blighted forever; they will not be able to work in many of these cases, so if the attributable injuries and complications afterwards cause them not to be able to work, then we have to pay them for that.

"We have to compensate them for that. It shouldn't come down to a balance sheet. These are human beings. They are not just a commodity."

Colonel Richard Kemp is a former commander in Afghanistan and has joined the chorus of ex-soldiers criticising the Government.

"It is a disgrace. I think our forces, our wounded soldiers and their families, and the families of our dead soldiers, must be really well looked after," he said.

"They sacrificed huge amounts and it is vital that they are given more compensation. In fact, we shouldn't be reducing, we should be increasing the levels of compensation."


Ongoing care needs

Diane Dernie fought a successful campaign for more compensation for her son, who was severely injured in a roadside bomb.

Like many, she believes no injured troops should return home from the battlefield only to fight more battles in the court room.

"It is desperately, desperately sad and it shows that the main flow in the armed forces compensation scheme gives absolutely no consideration to care needs," she said.

"Many of these boys will have ongoing care needs for the rest of their lives."

Mr Weston warns morale and recruitment could be affected if the matter continues.

"Who would want to go and do something that you accept could cause terrible injury or even death, but then knowing that if your injuries are that severe and you get greater complications, that you are not going to get any support or even financial help?" he asked.

On a day when more young British soldiers return home in coffins draped in the Union Jack, the Government's actions seem ill-advised.

 
 

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VA063                                                                                                                       Monday, 27 July 2009

 

AUSTRALIAN AND KOREAN VETERANS MINISTERS MARK KOREAN VETERANS? DAY

 

Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin welcomed Korean Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs Mr Yang Kim to Canberra today to discuss plans to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War next year, before attending a service to mark Korean Veterans Day.

 

Minister Griffin and Minister Kim attended the service at the Australian National Korean War Memorial on Anzac Parade to mark Korean Veterans Day and to lay a wreath to commemorate those lost.

 

As we gather here today, we pay tribute to all those who lost their lives in the Korean War including 340 Australian servicemen and women.  We are proud of their efforts in helping to ensure the freedom of the South Korean people and we will continue to honour their memory, Mr Griffin said.



Minister Griffin said Australia and South Korea enjoyed a close bond forged during the Korean War when Australian servicemen and women came to the aid of the South Korean people.

 

More than 17,000 Australians served during the Korean War, helping to defend and protect the South Korean people, Mr Griffin said.

 

When the Chinese launched their spring offensive on 22 April 1951, some 700,000 Chinese troops began advancing across the breadth of South Korea from the Yellow Sea to the Sea of Japan.  Near Kapyong, around 2000 Commonwealth and US forces  including men from the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment  successfully held off the advance; demonstrating again the bravery and ingenuity of Australians in battle.

 

The Ministers also discussed cooperation on upcoming plans to mark the 60th anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War in 2010.

 

I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk with Minister Kim about commemorating this important anniversary for both the South Korean and Australian people, Mr Griffin said.



Korea is often referred to as the forgotten war overshadowed in history by the scale of the Second World War which preceded it.  But the contribution of the Australian men and women who served in Korea was important, and this anniversary will be a chance for us to appropriately honour their service and sacrifice and commemorate all those lost.

 

For more information on Australias involvement in the Korean War visit www.awm.gov.au/atwar/korea.asp  

[Keith]

World War I soldier Harry Patch dies, aged 111

Article from: Agence France-Presse
 
By Katherine Haddon

July 26, 2009 06:55am


WWI trench soldier Harry Patch dies

Claude Choules last surviving veteran
Patch called the war "organised murder"

HARRY Patch, the last soldier to fight in the trenches of Europe during World War I, has died at the age of 111.

Claude Choules, 108, who lives in Perth, Australia, and served with the Royal Navy, now becomes the last surviving veteran of the 1914-18 conflict from the British side.

Patch, who fought at the notorious Battle of Passchendaele in 1917, was also Britain's oldest man following the death of fellow veteran Henry Allingham, the oldest man in the world, one week ago.

He is the last World War I veteran to have served in the trenches, according to the dersdesders.free.fr http://www.dersdesders.free.fr/ website, which is regarded as an authoritative chronicle of veterans of the conflict.

"The Great War is a chapter in our history we must never forget, so many sacrifices were made, so many young lives lost," said Prince Charles, reacting to Patch's death.

"So today nothing could give me greater pride than paying tribute to Harry Patch."

"The noblest of all the generations has left us, but they will never be forgotten," Prime Minister Gordon Brown said. "We say today with still greater force, we will remember them."

Patch did not speak about his wartime experiences until he was aged 100 and was strongly opposed to violent conflict, calling war "organised murder".

"It was not worth it, it was not worth one let alone all the millions," he said.

"It's important that we remember the war dead on both sides of the line - the Germans suffered the same as we did."

Last year he made his last trip to Belgium to remember his fallen comrades and unveil a memorial.

Patch - nicknamed "The Last Tommy" by Britain's media - was conscripted into the British army at the age of 18 and served as a machine-gunner with the 7th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry.

He was 19 when he fought in the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele, also known as the Third Battle of Ypres, in Belgium in which an estimated 500,000 soldiers died.

That battle was one of the bloodiest in the conflict. One of the opposing German soldiers was Adolf Hitler.

After four months in the trenches, Patch was wounded by shrapnel in a German shell attack in which three of his comrades died. He was sent home to Britain and his war was over.

In France, the secretary of state for defence and veterans Hubert Falco paid tribute to Patch and recalled other World War I soldiers who recently died, including Allingham and the last French veteran Lazare Ponticelli last year.

"One of the last witnesses to the Great War has passed away, and I want to pay homage to him," Falco said of Patch.

Following the war, Patch worked as a plumber until his retirement in 1961. During World War II, he worked as a fireman on the home front.

Patch married Ada Billington in 1919 and the couple were married for 58 years until her death and had two sons, both of whom Patch outlived.

He married his second wife Jean in 1980 but she died in 1984.

Patch's care home, Fletcher House in Wells, southwest England, said he died early on Saturday.

His friend Jim Ross added that he was "surrounded by his many friends" when he passed away.

"Funeral arrangements are being made in accordance with Mr Patch's wishes, and we wish to extend our deepest sympathies to his family," the home said.

The funeral is due to be held at Wells and will focus on prayers for peace and reconciliation, the Ministry of Defence said.

Patch's biographer Richard Van Emden told BBC television that "he was just a lovely man, he had a sparkle and a twinkle about him".

"He was the last of that generation and the poignancy of that is almost overwhelming," he said.

The dersdesders.free.fr website says there are three remaining Great War veterans in the world - Choules plus Frank Buckles, 108, of the United States and John Babcock, 109, who is Canadian but also lives in the United States.

Buckles and Babcock did not see active combat, it adds.

 
 

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VA062  Thursday, 23 July 2009
FUZZY WUZZY ANGEL PRESENTED WITH MEDALLION

 

The first commemorative medallion honouring Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels care for Australian soldiers during the Second World War will be presented by the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, at 3pm today.

 

Speaking on Papua New Guineas Remembrance Day, the Minister said he was honoured to be in Papua New Guinea PNG to present the first medallion at a special service in Bomana War Cemetery near Port Moresby.

 

Australians have long revered the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels for their role in carrying supplies to troops fighting in nearly inaccessible terrain and for their care in evacuating the wounded, Mr Griffin said.

 

Many Australians who became sick or wounded during the New Guinea campaign owe their lives to these civilians, who are affectionately known as Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.

 

They earned great respect for their strength, ingenuity and compassion. Their contribution is the basis of much of the goodwill and warm relations between the two countries.?

 

The Medallion was announced by Prime Minister Rudd and Prime Minister Somare on 28 April 2009. The Medallion features the image of a blinded and barefoot Private George Whittington being helped along by Raphael Oimbari, which came from a photograph taken on Christmas Day 1942 near Buna on the PNG north coast.

 

An estimated 50,000 Papuan and New Guinean citizens assisted during the Second World War by carrying supplies, building bases, airfields and other wartime infrastructure, and evacuating the sick and the wounded from the fighting.  

 

The medallions are available to surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels and the widows or widowers of Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels.  The Australian Government is seeking to ensure all surviving Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels are honoured. More information on nominations is available from the Department of Veterans Affairs or the Australian High Commission in PNG.

 

While in PNG Minister Griffin is also attending events commemorating Remembrance Day.

 

The men whose lives depended on the work of the Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels rightly held them in high esteem. It is a mark of the enduring nature of that esteem that we continue to honour those efforts which began 65 years ago,? Mr Griffin said.

 

Editors note: an image of the medallion is now available for download from http://www.dva.gov.au/news_archive/Pages/photo%20gallery.aspx.  Images of the ceremony will be available for download later this afternoon.

[Keith]

VA061  Tuesday, 21 July 2009

 

VETERANS ENCOURAGED TO TAKE HEALTHY STEP FORWARD THIS AUGUST

 

The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today delivered on an election commitment to reinstate Veterans Health Week, announcing that it will be held from 24 to 30 August 2009, for the first time in eight years.

 

Mr Griffin, joining veterans in Brisbane today for a game of indoor bowls, said the Australian Government had re-established the initiative because of the importance of promoting a healthy lifestyle for veterans and their families.

 

In a study of the health and wellbeing of Australian veterans, war widow and widowers, almost half (49 per cent) said they tried to make at least one change to improve their health in the past 12 months, Mr Griffin said.

 

Veterans Health Week is an opportunity to take a positive step to improve health and fitness, which can have significant long term benefits.

 

Department of Veterans Affairs and its local Veterans Affairs Network and VVCS  Veteran and Veterans Families Counselling Service offices are partnering with ex-service organisations and community groups to develop Veterans Health Week programs at a local level and organise local events.

 

Mr Griffin said the theme of this years Veterans Health Week was physical activity encouraging members of the veteran community to think about their health and wellbeing and take part in regular exercise to live a stronger, healthier and happier life.

 

Veterans Health Week highlights the importance of including physical activities as part of a regular routine, regardless of age or fitness level, Mr Griffin said.

 

During the Week, the veteran community can participate in walking groups, dance classes, laughter workshops, team sports and concerts as well as gain access to information on safety and health issues.

 

Veterans Health Week is only a few weeks away so I encourage veterans, war widows and widowers, their families and carers, to mark the Week in their calendars and look out for activities in their area.

 

For more information on activities in your area visit www.dva.gov.au or to find out how to organise an event, contact the Department of Veterans Affairs on 133 254 (for metropolitan callers) or 1800 555 254 (for non-metropolitan callers). Northern Territory callers please call 1300 551 918.

[Keith]

COMMENT

We sent an earlier email asking the DVA Minister how this matter will affect disabled DVA Veteran clients. It seems there will be either an email or letter of explanation sent later.
 
 
Lab-test revolt to hit costs in health
 
Adam Cresswell, Health editor | July 20, 2009

Article from:  The Australian
PRIVATE pathology corporations are seeking doctors' help to mount a mass retreat from bulk-billing - a move expected to land many patients with out-of-pocket costs averaging $40, or up to $100 in some cases, for tests they typically now receive for free.

Member companies from each of the three big corporations that dominate the pathology market have recently written to doctors who order tests, asking that in future they only ask the laboratory to bulk-bill a patient if the doctor believes the patient to be "financially disadvantaged".

The companies blame the move on a second round of cuts to Medicare rebates, which they estimate to cost $416 million over four years, announced in the latest federal budget.

But the letters have been condemned by consumer groups, who are accusing the companies of profiteering.

It also sets the industry on a collision course with the federal government, which yesterday said the industry had raked in high profits for years, and called on doctors to ignore the companies' requests.

If many doctors do the companies' bidding, it will not only push up costs for patients, but could present the government with another headache by derailing the upward march of the overall bulk-billing statistics.

Among all medical disciplines, pathology has long had one of the highest rates of bulk-billing - currently 87 per cent - and is also one of the biggest single sectors, accounting for nearly 100 million services last year.

The most recent letter from the pathology companies, sent by NSW-based Douglass Hanly Moir just 10 days ago, told doctors that it was "inevitable that we will need to reduce our very high dependence on bulk-billing" after the most recent rebate cuts.

The letter, signed by DHM chief executive Colin Goldschmidt, said the latest cuts would strip 5 per cent from the company's Medicare revenues, and were "particularly disappointing" following a previous round of cuts worth $181m announced in last year's budget.
"In light of the challenging reimbursement situation that we face, we ask for your co-operation and assistance in one area - to please restrict your requests for bulk-billing of pathology services to only those patients whom you believe to be financially disadvantaged," the letter said.

"We will apply a reasonable maximum out-of-pocket gap for any privately billed episodes. And we will continue to bulk-bill all legitimate pensioners and health care card holders at all times."

The Australian has obtained similar letters sent by Gribbles Pathology, part of the Healthscope group, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology, which like Douglass Hanly Moir is part of the Sonic group, and Laverty Pathology and QML Pathology, both part of Symbion Pathology.

Dr Goldschmidt told The Australian that 60 per cent of the patients referred to DHM for testing potentially could be considered able to pay a gap, although how many were charged was up to the referring doctors. "There will always be a maximum out-of-pocket gap applied - usually in the vicinity of $100 would be the absolute maximum," Dr Goldschmidt said. "The average gap would be more like $40."

Carol Bennett, executive director of the Consumers' Health Forum, said it was "incredibly disappointing that the industry has decided to take that position" and she disputed the industry's claim it was to protect standards.

"Any attempt to increase the cost to consumers, based on some arbitrary measure of who's deserving, would absolutely have a flow-on impact on ... quality of care," she said.

Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said pathology companies had enjoyed high profit margins averaging 18.5 per cent before tax from 2003-04 to 2005-06.

"It is unsustainable for taxpayers to fund large corporate profits in a budget that has taken a $200 billion hit in revenue as a result of the global financial crisis. These changes have also allowed us to divert funding into areas that need urgent attention, such as diagnostic imaging services," she said.

She called on doctors to "continue their requests for the bulk-billing of pathology services as per usual".

 
 

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Suspected Diggers' remains found

Ilya Gridneff | 15th July 2009

Names on the memorial at Lone Pine.

Heidi Costello
 
 AAP

THREE skeletons suspected to be those of Australian diggers have been uncovered near Rabaul in Papua New Guinea.

Local firm Nivani Construction was excavating in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, last month when workers discovered human remains from World War II.

Steve Day from Nivani told AAP on Wednesday it was the first time they had come across such remains.

"We were digging for roadwork fill and found three skeletons," he said.

"There is all sorts of paraphernalia and some Australian army representative came up to inspect and they think they are Australian soldiers."

Day has boxed the finds and expects an Australian Defence Force team to arrive for further examinations.

Australia first clashed with Japanese troops when they invaded Rabaul on January 23, 1942.

The 1,400 Australian troops known as Lark Force were outnumbered and forced to evacuate Rabaul.

The Japanese later killed around 160 Australian troops they had captured in the surrounding area in what became known as the Tol Plantation massacre.

The Japanese occupied Rabaul and used it as a hub for their Pacific campaign with more than 100,000 troops based in the harbour town and surrounding area.

But as the Pacific war moved north they were cut off from resupply and were heavily bombed by the allies until their surrender in August 1945.

 
 
 

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COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
45yo Navy collision injury claim settled

 
HMAS Melbourne after colliding with HMAS Voyager in 1964. (ADF)

Audio: Voyager claims settled 45-years after collision (PM) http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/pm/200907/20090716-PM10-hmas-voyager.mp3

What is believed to be Australia's longest-running personal injury battle has come to an end, with a settlement in a claim arising from the collision between two Australian Navy ships 45 year ago.

Eighty-two people died when the destroyer HMAS Voyager was sliced in half by the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne in 1964.

The vessels were involved in manoeuvres in Jervis Bay at the time.

Kathleen Britton, the widow of Peter Britton, who died of a stroke in 2003, has accepted $120,000 from the Commonwealth to settle her husband's post traumatic stress claim.

Mr Britton was playing cards on HMAS Melbourne when the collision occurred.

Ms Britton said as a result of the collision her husband "suffered depression, self blame, anger and alcohol problems".

"He had needless obsessive counting rituals because of his psychiatric disorder," she said.

Mr Britton's mother said after the collision her son "changed from a happy-go-lucky person to a secluded and isolated man with feelings of sadness".

Ms Britton says she is relieved to reach the end of her case.

"My husband died during the litigation process and I cannot understand why the Government failed to show any compassion towards me or my husband," she said.

About 112 claims on behalf of HMAS Voyager crew and more than 120 claims by Melbourne crew have now been completed.

The collision of the two ships shocked Australia and led to two Royal Commissions.

The first Commission was critical of Captain Robertson from HMAS Melbourne and the second Commission found Captain Duncan Stevens of HMAS Voyager was unfit to command at the time.

 
 

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VA060                                                                                                                 Wednesday, 15 July 2009

 

NEXT STEP FOR REVIEW OF MILITARY COMPENSATION ARRANGEMENTS

 
The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin announced that the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements steering committee has been appointed, and met yesterday to commence its consideration of almost 50 submissions from the service and ex-service communities.

 

The appointment of this steering committee is the next step toward delivering the Governments election commitment to review the current military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements Mr Griffin said.

 

The steering committee members combine an extensive knowledge of veterans entitlements, rehabilitation, safety and compensation law and policy.

 

The reviews steering committee is chaired by Ian Campbell Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission. Its members are Major General Craig Orme Department of Defence Ms Peta Furnell The Treasury Ms Joan Ross Department of Finance and Deregulation Ms Michelle Baxter Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations and Peter Sutherland an independent expert in military rehabilitation and compensation law and a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University College of Law.

 

We need to ensure that the experiences of those who have been through the military rehabilitation and compensation system are considered as part of the Review, and I am grateful to those organisations and individuals who have made submissions Mr Griffin said.

 

The next stage of investigations and consultations will include visits to Defence Force facilities and consultations with current and former members of the Australian Defence Force, exservice organisations key agencies and other stakeholders.  The Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Exservice matters and the ExService Roundtable will also be consulted for their views during the Review process.

 

The Review is critical in identifying solutions for wider concerns relating to military rehabilitation and compensation. It is a significant step by the Government towards addressing concerns with military rehabilitation and compensation legislation and the administration of the schemes.

 

The Review is examining the adequacy and suitability of military rehabilitation and compensation arrangements including perceived disparities and inequities between legislative schemes. Its terms of reference and further information about committee members can be found on the review web page from links at www.dva.gov.au. The Review is expected to report to Government in the first half of 2010 subject to the complexity of the matters raised.

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

VA056                                                                                                                             Friday, 3 July 2009 
 

BURSARIES AWARDED TO FIVE SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TERTIARY STUDENTS


The Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin today announced five South Australian students all children of Vietnam veterans, would receive up to $9000 each in Australian Government funding to help them complete tertiary education.

Mr Griffin said the Long Tan Bursary scheme helps the children of Vietnam veterans pursue tertiary education.

The Long Tan Bursary scheme aims to help dedicated students achieve their long term study goals by easing the financial cost of their tertiary study Mr Griffin said.

More than 250 sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans have benefited from the bursary scheme since it was introduced in 2000.

Named after the Battle of Long Tan in which 18 Australians lost their lives, the bursaries are available for tertiary students, including mature age students who have achieved good academic results and have overcome personal challenges to successfully complete their secondary education.

These students have proven their determination to pursue their studies and I congratulate them on their determination and perseverance to succeed in their chosen career paths Mr Griffin said.

This year five students in South Australia have received bursaries.

         Kelly Ferenczi, Houghton, Bachelor of Interior Architecture, University of South Australia.

         Lauren Hadaway, Pooraka, Bachelor of Arts (health promotion, linguistics), Flinders University.

         Rhys Murray, Hallett Cove, Bachelor of Pharmacy, University of South Australia.

         Sharnee Scott, Woodside, Bachelor of Health Science, Adelaide University.



Mr Griffin said Long Tan Bursaries totalling more than $500,000 would be presented to 56 Australian students in the coming weeks.  The Bursary recognises that children of Vietnam veterans can face health and wellbeing challenges due to their parents service and attempts to relieve these students of some financial burden so they can concentrate on completing their studies successfully.

The Australian Government is also seeking to lift the aspirations of students who would previously never have considered university.  As well as other reforms to student income support, the 2009-10 Budget introduced two new scholarships.  The scholarships provide students receiving financial assistance under the Veterans Children Education Scheme and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme a start-up scholarship of $2254 a year.  A relocation scholarship worth $4000 in the first year and $1000 each year after will be available for those students who have to move away from home to study Mr Griffin said.

For more information on the Long Tan Bursary go to Long Tan Bursary Information Page or for more information on student income support reforms, go to 2009?10 Commonwealth Budget - Home.

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109
Editors note One of the recipients has asked to remain anonymous.

[Keith]

From: Communities - SMTP
To: spiritus
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 9:16 AM
Subject: Reply from Minister's Office

Qld Government increases electricity rebate.

[Keith]

 
VA055                                                                                                                  Wednesday, 1 July 2009

 

REMEMBERING MONTEVIDEO MARU OUR WORST MARITIME DISASTER  

On the 67th anniversary of Australia?s worst maritime disaster the Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin, has called for the nation to pause and remember the 1053 Australian lives lost in the sinking of the Montevideo Maru.

 

War brings many tragedies and today we remember one of the greatest tragedies of the Second World War Mr Griffin said.

 

Speaking on indulgence in Parliament last week, Mr Griffin said the story of the sinking was an unfortunate and lesser known episode of the Second World War.

 

On 1 July 1942 a United States submarine USS Sturgeon, torpedoed and sank what it believed to be a Japanese merchant vessel.  It was in fact the Montevideo Maru, carrying Australian prisoners of war (POWs) and civilians who were locked in the hold with no means of escape once the ship was struck he said.

 

On board were 1053 Australian prisoners of war and civilians who had been captured and held by the Japanese at Rabaul on the island of New Britain, in what is now known as Papua New Guinea.

 

The Montevideo Maru took 11 minutes to sink.  No Australians survived.  It was not until after the war that Australian authorities discovered the tragic fate of those captured at Rabaul.

 

The families and associations with connections to the Montevideo Maru have never lost sight of the tragedy that occurred 67 years ago. That some questions concerning the ship may never be answered must also add to their sense of loss.  It is something that we as a nation should never forget Mr Griffin said.

 

Mr Griffin said a local ceremony would be held in Subic Bay to remember those lost in the tragedy.
 

Today the Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Mr Rod Smith will unveil a plaque commemorating those on board the Montevideo Maru on behalf of the Papua New Guinea Volunteer Rifles Association at the Hellships Memorial established in memory of all the ships that carried POWs he said.

 

Mr Griffin also confirmed he has approved a $7200 grant to enhance the central plinth at Subic Bay.

 

Later in the year, under a grant made by the Australian Government to the RSL Angeles Sub-branch in the Philippines, commemoration of the Montevideo Maru at the Hellships memorial will be further enhanced and an interpretation will be placed in a nearby museum.

 

The funds have been granted through the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorial Restoration Program, which recognises the contribution that organisations around the world make to honouring Australias wartime heritage.  For more information visit www.dva.gov.au/commems_oawg or contact the Department of Veterans Affairs on 133 254 (international callers +61 2 6289 6184).

[Keith]

 
Bomber Kim Beazley hits job bullseye
 
Dennis Shanahan, Political editor | July 01, 2009

Article from:  The Australian

KEVIN Rudd has given the man he deposed for the Labor leadership, Kim Beazley, a job that will allow the former defence minister to pursue all his obsessions.

Cabinet has appointed the former opposition leader and now Australian National University chancellor to the council of the Australian War Memorial.

The appointment is not only a recognition of Mr Beazley's service and interests but also the beginning of a gradual removal of Howard government political appointees from plum jobs.

It is not ambassador to the US in Washington, which people still talk about for the long-serving Hawke-Keating minister and former deputy prime minister. Nor is it the high commissioner to India, which was suggested for Mr Beazley. But it is a warm recognition from the Rudd cabinet, which holds a majority of those who sought to remove Mr Beazley as Labor leader in late 2006.

Mr Beazley is expected to replace Howard government minister Jocelyn Newman, who was appointed to the War Memorial council in 2002 after she retired from the Senate and was reappointed by the Coalition in 2005 and 2007. Ms Newman's term expires this year.

In a swath of government appointments being made at the end of the financial year, when many appointments expire, Mr Beazley is the second to replace a Howard government minister.

Former Liberal defence minister John Moore has lost his post as chairman of the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation.

Agriculture Minister Tony Burke appointed respected Sydney investment banker and businessman Jim Dominguez as chairman of the board last week.

The positions of former Howard ministers Peter Reith, a director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and Amanda Vanstone, the ambassador to Italy, are expected to come up for replacement soon.

Mr Rudd has been notable for not undertaking a "night of the long knives" when coming into government and removing departmental heads or political ambassadorial appointments.

The Prime Minister appointed former Coalition deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Tim Fischer as Australia's first full-time ambassador to the Holy See in Rome.

When Peter Costello announced his intention to retire at the next election, Mr Rudd suggested there should be a role for former ministers in public life.

 

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[Keith]

COMMENT

Privatisation does not lead to cheaper costs in all cases.

Governments do some things better than private business and also have an obligation to employ people.

At a time of historically low inflation, low borrowing costs for businesses, stable wage costs and what should be fierce competition for those dollars locked up in comsumer pockets, why is it that prices continue to increase? We now have increased electricity costs, vehicle registration and food costs, and on and on the list goes.
Electricity costs to lift at peak times
Article from: COURIER MAIL
 
By Steven Wardill

June 30, 2009

QUEENSLAND households are set to be hit with higher power prices at the time of day they want to use electricity the most - the morning and early evening.

The State Government has ordered the Queensland Competition Authority to investigate a new system of power pricing that ramps up costs at peak times.

Such a scheme would likely mean higher prices in the mornings and early evenings.

Air-conditioners in summer and heaters in winter would be significantly more expensive to use at these times, but the price of power could be cheaper at other times.

Your say: Is the new power pricing system fair?

The Government wants consumers to feel the financial pain of their consumption decisions in a bid to reduce the multibillion-dollar cost of expanding the network to cope with peak demand times.

In a letter to the QCA, Energy Minister Stephen Robertson said the existing tariff structures had been in place for 20 years and needed reviewing.

"Strong Queensland population growth over recent years has also seen peak electricity demand increase, requiring significant investment in transmission and distribution networks," he said.

"This indicates a need for customers to see the impact of consumption decisions."

Opposition energy spokesman Jeff Seeney said he hoped the move was not a "stalking horse" for an unjustified price gouge and discount prices should be offered at off-peak times.

"Demand-side management can be a very desirable thing if it is done right," he said. "But it can be just another power price rise in disguise if it's done wrong."

The directive was issued to the QCA on the same day the Government announced a ban on all air-conditioners with an efficiency rating below four stars from September 1. About 40 per cent of units now on the market will be illegal to sell under the new rules.

The QCA has been ordered to review whether the current tariff levels promote competition and allow real electricity costs to be fully recovered from southeast Queensland consumers.

Alternative pricing structures promoting demand-side management, such as "inclining block" and "time of use" tariffs, must also be considered.

Similar tariff schemes already exist for hot water services and pool pumps but the Government wants a system to take in all power use.

A final report, which will also have to cater for the Commonwealth's Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme, has been ordered by August 31 with the new tariff structure to be introduced mid next year.
******************

COMMENT

Privatisation does not lead to cheaper prices in all cases.

Governments do some things better than private business and also have an obligation to employ people.

At a time of historically low inflation, low borrowing costs for businesses, stable wage costs and what should be fierce competition for those dollars locked up in comsumer pockets, why is it that prices continue to increase?

We now have increased electricity costs, vehicle registration and food costs, and on and on the list goes. This Nations totally disabled War Veterans and other disabled War Veterans on fixed incomes cannot bear these increases without a commensurate increase in the benchmark for their compensation and pensions and without increases in allowances.
 
Rush on petrol bowers before price rise on July 1

Article from: COURIER MAIL

Anna Caldwell

June 30, 2009

EXPECT a logjam at the bowser today as motorists scuttle to fill up their tanks one last time before Queensland's 8.354c-a-litre fuel subsidy is scrapped at midnight.

The change is just one of a raft of new measures set to dramatically change the lives of average Queenslanders from tomorrow, July 1.

The scrapping of the subsidy is paired with a 20 per cent hike in registration, making motorists the biggest losers in the new financial year.

Industry groups fear the price will jump up to 10c from tomorrow and many expect the hikes will have a serious flow-on effect to the cost of everything from couriers to groceries.

The subsidy's abolition will prop up the State Budget to the tune of more than $500 million a year.

The changes at a glance
 

* 8.35c petrol subsidy abolished
* People in same-sex defacto relationships considered a couple for social security purposes
* Councils introduce cat registration and mandatory cat and dog microchipping
* Electricity cost rises 15.5 per cent, but pensioners' electricity rebates also increase to match the increase
* Changes to taxes, including lifting the 30 per cent threshold lifted from $34,000 to $35,000 and the 40 per cent rate reduced to 38 per cent
* Maximum offset for low-income earners increased from $1200 to $1350
* Rate rises of 8.7 per cent at Redland, 5.4 per cent at Moreton Bay, 6.45 per cent in Brisbane, 7.5 per cent on the Sunshine Coast, 6.9 per cent in Logan
* Higher income threshold indexing on Baby Bonus and Family Tax Benefits A and B paused for three years.


Mobile hairdresser and mum Yolanda McRobert, who lives at The Gap in Brisbane's west, was hurriedly filling up her four-wheel-drive at The Gap's Matilda station yesterday before heading to Toowoomba with her family for the school holidays.

"This will hit us hard," Ms McRobert said.

"I make two school runs a day, to Ashgrove and The Gap and I use the car for work.

"I'm expecting hundreds extra on my annual fuel bill which is a big deal for a family."

Ms McRobert said to combat the price hike, she planned to swap one of her school runs with a walk.

"I'll be walking my younger son to and from school to save money," she said.

"The 20-minute walk will probably do us good, which might be an upside of this."

A spokeswoman for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission http://www.accc.gov.au/ said the body would be closely monitoring fuel prices.

She urged consumers who suspected a provider was distorting the prices to contact the Brisbane Office of Fair Trade http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/287259/fromItemId/325459

If they aren't slugged at the bowser, most consumers will be slugged at home, facing a 15.5 per cent jump in power prices from tomorrow as well.

Pensioners will dodge the bullet, with rebates for almost 500,000 increasing by 15 per cent to offset the spike in electricity prices.

Southeast Queensland council rates are also set to soar, ranging from 5.4 per cent hikes at Moreton Bay to almost 9 per cent at Redlands.

In better news, tomorrow also heralds the start of $3.4 billion in nationwide tax cuts.

The changes will see the 30 per cent tax threshold lifted from $34,000 to $35,000 and reduce the 40 per cent rate to 38 per cent.

Low-income earners will have their maximum offset increased from $1200 to $1350.

The indexation for the high-income thresholds for the baby bonus and family tax benefits A and B will be frozen for three years.

 
 

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[Keith]

Jun 27, 7:56 PM EDT

Did toxic chemical in Iraq cause GIs' illnesses?

By SHARON COHEN


AP National Writer
 
 
Larry Roberta's every breath is a painful reminder of his time in Iraq. He can't walk a block without gasping for air. His chest hurts, his migraines sometimes persist for days and he needs pills to help him sleep.

James Gentry came home with rashes, ear troubles and a shortness of breath. Later, things got much worse: He developed lung cancer, which spread to his spine, ribs and one of his thighs; he must often use a cane, and no longer rides his beloved Harley.

David Moore's postwar life turned into a harrowing medical mystery: nosebleeds and labored breathing that made it impossible to work, much less speak. His desperate search for answers ended last year when he died of lung disease at age 42.

What these three men - one sick, one dying, one dead - had in common is they were National Guard soldiers on the same stretch of wind-swept desert in Iraq during the early months of the war in 2003.

These soldiers and hundreds of other Guard members from Indiana, Oregon and West Virginia were protecting workers hired by a subsidiary of the giant contractor, KBR Inc., to rebuild an Iraqi water treatment plant. The area, as it turned out, was contaminated with hexavalent chromium, a potent, sometimes deadly chemical linked to cancer and other devastating diseases.

No one disputes that. But that's where agreement ends.

Among the issues now rippling from the courthouse to Capitol Hill are whether the chemical made people sick, when KBR knew it was there and how the company responded. But the debate is more than about this one case; it has raised broader questions about private contractors and health risks in war zones.

Questions, says Sen. Evan Bayh, who plans to hold hearings on the issues, such as these:

"How should we treat exposure to potentially hazardous chemicals as a threat to our soldiers? How seriously should that threat be taken? What is the role of private contractors? What about the potential conflict between their profit motives and taking all steps necessary to protect our soldiers?

"This case," says the Indiana Democrat, "has brought to light the need for systemic reform."

For now, dozens of National Guard veterans have sued KBR and two subsidiaries, accusing them of minimizing and concealing the chemical's dangers, then downplaying nosebleeds and breathing problems as nothing more than sand allergies or a reaction to desert air.

KBR denies any wrongdoing. In a statement, the company said it actually found the chemical at the Qarmat Ali plant, restricted access, cleaned it up and "did not knowingly harm troops."

Ten civilians hired by a KBR subsidiary made similar claims in an arbitration resolved privately in June. (The workers' contract prevented them from filing suit.)

This isn't the first claim that toxins have harmed soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan; there have been allegations involving lead, depleted uranium and sarin gas.

This also isn't the first challenge to KBR, whose billions of dollars of war-related contracts have been the subject of congressional scrutiny and numerous legal claims.

Among them are lawsuits recently filed against KBR and Halliburton Co. - KBR's parent company until 2007 - that assert open-air pits used to burn refuse in Iraq and Afghanistan caused respiratory illnesses, tumors and death. (KBR says it is reviewing the charges. Halliburton maintains it was improperly named and expects to be dismissed from the case.)

Earlier this year, several members of Congress asked Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to investigate potential burn pit hazards. He replied that his agency is conducting a health study of 30,000 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and noted the VA "has learned important lessons from previous military conflicts" as it deals with environmental exposure questions.

Some veterans advocates say the military is more attuned to health risks than it was in Vietnam and the Gulf War, but still falls short.

"I'm a realist - things are going to get burned, things are going to be blown up," says Tom Tarantino, an Iraqi veteran and policy associate at the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. "But I think the DOD (Department of Defense) could do a better job at tracking what people are exposed to. If there's a big pit outside your base, you need to know what's going on and do tests ... so if people start getting sick, they won't spend years trying to figure out what's wrong with them."

This isn't a natural fit, he concedes, since the Defense Department "is a war-fighting agency, not an environmental protection agency. But I think there's a lack of information out there."

This case stems from the chaotic start of the war in 2003 when a KBR subsidiary was hired to restart the plant, which had been looted of equipment, wiring, even metal roofing and siding. The Iraqis had used hexavalent chromium to prevent pipe corrosion at the plant, which produced industrial water used in oil production.

It's the same chemical linked to poisonings in California in a case made famous in the movie "Erin Brockovich."

Hexavalent chromium - a toxic component of sodium dichromate - can cause severe liver and kidney damage and studies have linked it to leukemia as well as bone, stomach, brain and other cancers, according to an expert who provided a deposition for the civilian workers.

The chemical "is one of the most potent carcinogens know to man" and it can "enter every cell of the body and potentially produce widespread injury to every major organ in the body," said Max Costa, chairman of New York University's Department of Environmental Medicine.

KBR, however, says studies show only that industrial workers exposed to the chemical for more than two years have an increased risk of cancer - and in this case, soldiers were at the plant just days or months.

The company also notes air quality studies concluded the Indiana Guard soldiers were not exposed to high levels of hexavalent chromium. But Costa says those tests were done when the wind was not blowing.

Both soldiers and former workers say there were days when strong gusts kicked up ripped-open bags of the chemical, creating a yellow-orange haze that coated everything from their hair to their boots.

"I was spitting blood and I was not the only one doing that," recalls Danny Langford, who worked for the KBR subsidiary. "The wind was blowing 30, 40 miles an hour. You could just hardly see where you were going. I pulled my shirt over my nose and there would be blood on it. I also saw the soldiers. They had blood splotches on their masks."

Larry Roberta, a 44-year-old former Oregon National Guard member, remembers a strange metallic taste and dust everywhere. He sat on a bag of the chemical, unaware it was dangerous.

"This orange crud blew up in your face, your eyes and on our food," he says. "I tried to wash my chicken patty off with my canteen. I started to get sick to my stomach right away."

Roberta had coughing spells and agonizing chest pains, he says, that "went all the way through my back. Whenever I breathed, the pain got more sharp. ... Every day I went there, I had something weird going on."

Russell Kimberling, a former Indiana National Guard captain, had severe sinus troubles that forced his evacuation to Germany. After returning, he became alarmed one August day in 2003 while escorting some officials to the plant in the southern Iraqi city of Basra.

"I jumped out of the truck and I turned around and they (KBR staff) had full chemical gear on," he says. "I looked at some of my soldiers and said, 'This can't be very good.'"

"They could have told us to put chemical suits on," Kimberling adds. "There are so many things that could have been done."

Ed Blacke, hired as plant health, safety and environmental coordinator, says he became worried after workers started having breathing problems and a former colleague sent him an internal KBR memo outlining the chemical's dangers. Blacke says when he complained at a meeting, he was labeled a troublemaker and resigned under pressure.

"Normally when you take over a job, you have a briefing - this is what's out there, here's what you need for protective equipment," says Blacke, who testified at a Senate Democratic Policy Committee hearing last year. "There was nothing, nothing at all."

Blacke and Langford were among those whose civil claims were resolved in arbitration.

Kimberling is among nearly 50 Guard veterans - most from Indiana, a smaller number from Oregon and West Virginia - who've sued.

Mike Doyle, the Houston lawyer representing the soldiers and civilians, maintains KBR knew as early as May 2003 the chemical was there, but didn't close the site until that September.

"Once they (KBR) found out about it, they didn't tell anybody and they did everything to conceal it," he contends. "You have (KBR) managers in Houston, in Kuwait City who knew about this. Their staff was getting reports and soldiers and civilians who were in the field were told, 'No big deal. There's nothing to worry about.'"

The lawsuit cites minutes of an August 2003 KBR meeting that mentions "serious health problems at the water treatment plant" and notes "almost 60 percent of the people now exhibit the symptoms."

In a recent wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, KBR chairman William P. Utt suggested the company be given some latitude with its military contracts.

"We think there ought to be some consideration given in many of these claims to the same protections the government has from these suits that exist," he said.

He also said KBR has been unfairly targeted in war zones. "People think there's an opportunity here in Iraq, let's paint it on KBR, then we'll worry about making the facts precise or correct later," Utt said.

As for the water plant, KBR says once it learned of the chemical, it took precautions to protect workers, notified the Army Corps of Engineers and led the cleanup. It says the Corps had previously deemed the area safe.

KBR also points to Army tests of 137 Indiana Guard soldiers that showed no medical problems that could be linked to exposure, as well as a military board review that found it unlikely anyone would suffer long-term medical consequences.

But Bayh and Doyle say those tests were done too late to be valid and note that soil tests were taken after the contaminated area was covered with asphalt and gravel.

Doyle also disagrees with KBR's contention that workers weren't there long enough - weeks or months - to have elevated cancer risks.

It can take a long time for symptoms of illness to surface - five to 10 years or more for cancer. But some of those who say they were exposed are already ill.

Gentry, a retired lieutenant colonel who commanded the Indiana Guard unit, is in the late stages of lung cancer, which has spread to other parts of his body, according to his friend, Christopher Lee.

Gentry hasn't sued, but in a December 2008 deposition he recalled complaining to his superiors after his soldiers were told by KBR workers the orangish sand was a cancer-causing chemical. He said it was "very disappointing" that KBR managers didn't share that information.

"I'm dying because of it," he said.

While acknowledging he wasn't 100 percent certain that's why he has cancer, Gentry - who served a second tour in Iraq - said his doctor "believes the most probable cause was my exposure to this chemical."

KBR's actions, he said, had put "my men at risk that is unnecessary."

The Indiana, West Virginia and Oregon National Guards have sent hundreds of letters to soldiers notifying them of possible contamination and urging them to seek medical attention. The Oregon Guard also set up a Facebook page and reports about 15 soldiers have reported medical symptoms.

Bayh has introduced a bill calling for a special medical registry that would require the Department of Defense to notify all military members of exposure to potential toxins - and provide comprehensive medical care. (It would be limited to those serving after Sept. 11, 2001.)

A similar notification measure was approved Thursday in the U.S. House, an amendment to the defense authorization bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Kurt Schrader, an Oregon lawmaker.

All these measures come too late for 1st Sgt. David Moore, who served with Gentry.

He thought his persistent cough in Iraq would stop when he returned home. Instead, breathing became difficult; he eventually needed a chair in the shower because he could no longer stand, says his brother, Steve. Moore had nosebleeds, too, and boil-like rashes behind his ears and on his back, arms and legs. He went from doctor to doctor. "None of them could ever figure out what it was," his brother says.

By late 2007, the one-time construction worker - who had been "strong as an ox," and ran 3 1/2 miles every other day - couldn't even venture outside, Steve Moore says. But he didn't give up.

"He was always upbeat," his brother says. "He said, 'They'll figure it out, they'll figure it out.' He thought that until the last time I talked to him. You could see the fear in his eyes. They had him on 100 percent oxygen and he still couldn't breathe. He requested to be put on a ventilator so they could figure it out."

Moore died in February 2008. The cause was lung disease. His death was ruled service-related. His brother believes it was hexavalent chromium.

Larry Roberta, the former Oregon Guardsman who needed stomach surgery after his return, still has physical and emotional problems: Post traumatic stress. Mood swings. Nose polyps. Chest pains. Migraines that can keep him bedridden for days.

He takes two inhalers - he can't walk a block without them - and high blood pressure medicine every day and testosterone shots every two weeks.

"I have 100 percent disability," he says. "I've got a long laundry list of things that happened to me while I was there. If you add it all up, I'd be almost 200 percent disabled."

Roberta recently testified before Oregon lawmakers, urging them to set aside money for Guard members who develop cancer from exposure to the chemical.

His wife, Michelle, says her husband's illness has dramatically changed his outlook.

"He has no ambitions for life anymore," she says. "At his age, that makes me very sad. I worry about him every day."

Kimberling, the former Indiana Guardsman, struggles as well.

The father of two young children - he's a pharmaceutical salesman in Louisville, Ky. - says he hasn't been able to get life insurance because his possible exposure is mentioned on his medical records.

Sometimes, he says, it's hard to sort out his real aches from his fears.

"I feel like I'm a 38-year-old in a 60-year-old's body," he says. "There are a lot of things that seem to be going south a lot quicker than they should. Sinus problems ... pain in my joints that I've never felt before.

"I'm not sure if it's the anxiety of finding out about it or not. I kind of know and feel it's just a matter of time before it catches up with me."

---

Kimberly Hefling in Washington, D.C., contributed to this report.

? 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy.
 

 
 

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[Keith]

VA054                                                                                                                    Thursday, 25 June 2009

F-111 DESEAL/RESEAL REPORT TABLED IN PARLIAMENT

The Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin, today welcomed the tabling of the parliamentary inquiry report into claims for compensation from former F-111 Deseal/Reseal workers.

The tabling of this report delivers our election commitment to examine the former Governments response to the health and support needs of RAAF Deseal/Reseal workers and their families he said.

The inquiry carried out by the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trades Defence Sub-Committee, was asked to investigate and review claims for compensation from former F-111 Deseal/Reseal workers and their families, as well as the Commonwealths response to these claims.

The aim was to ascertain whether the Commonwealths response was adequate and consistent with the findings of the 2004 Study of Health Outcomes in Aircraft Maintenance Personnel, and if the overall handling and administration of the program was sufficient.

More than 130 submissions were provided to the Committee and six public hearings were held.  

The report makes 18 recommendations to Government he said.

I thank the Committee members for the work they have done considering this very complex issue. The report raises a number of matters that the Government must now consider.

The Governments official response to the Deseal/Reseal report will be announced publicly in due course.  A copy of the report is available online at http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jfadt/deseal_reseal/report.htm

 

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

 

The VVCS ? Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.

[Keith]

COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
1 in 4 pensioners living in poverty: OECD

By News Online's Vivien Cuttle and staff


The OECD report says retirees should take out annuities which offer a guaranteed retirement benefit. (www.flickr.com: Orin Optiglot)

Related Link: The OECD's report on Australian pensions
An OECD report on pensions has found Australia has one of the highest rates of poverty for people aged over 65.

The report says more than one in four Australian seniors live in poverty by international measures, which is the fourth highest old-age poverty rate in OECD countries, after Ireland, Korea and Mexico.

And the report says the "relatively low level of the age pension" is to blame for the high poverty level.

"Equivalent schemes in other OECD countries are worth 25 per cent more (compared with national average earnings) than the age pension in Australia," the report says.

"New Zealand's basic pension, for example, is worth 80 per cent more relative to average earnings than the age pension."

The lead author of the OECD Pensions at a Glance report, Edward Whitehouse, says Australia has the ability to fix the problem.

"Australia has a very high rate of old-age poverty and the fiscal room for manoeuvre to address the problem," he said.

"Public pension spending is only 3.5 per cent of national income in Australia, compared with an average of over 7 per cent of GDP in OECD countries."


Budget changes

The report welcomed the increase to the aged pension in the federal Budget.

But welfare groups have raised concerns that more low-income families will fall into poverty because of budget changes that will see smaller annual increases to some family tax benefit arrangements.

Community Services Minister Jenny Macklin says the benefits will keep pace with inflation.

"It will be slightly less than it would otherwise have been, but I do emphasise again that the maximum rates will still increase and they will still maintain their value in real terms compared to the consumer price index," she said.

"We are increasing the single rate of the age pension by $32.49 a week for single pensioners, $10.14 a week for pensioner couples combined.

"That will happen in September and it's one of the largest increases for single pensioners that we've seen for a very, very long time."


Crisis strikes

The report also found Australia's superannuation funds have been hit had by the global financial crisis, with real losses of 26.7 per cent in 2008.

The OECD says the crisis has hurt Australian seniors because private pensions and other investments provide nearly half of retirement incomes in Australia (45 per cent), more than double the OECD average of 20 per cent.

It says those close to retirement and those already in retirement have been the worst affected by investment losses.

The reports says investment losses in Australia were particularly large because of the large share of equities in pension-fund portfolios.

The OECD says investments should be switched towards less risky assets as people near retirement, a process known as "lifecycle".

"Most people don't want to make active investment decisions about their retirement savings," Mr Whitehouse said.

"Governments should encourage lifecycle investing because it puts people's retirement savings on auto-pilot and will protect old-age incomes from future crises."

The OECD report says retirees should take out annuities which offer a guaranteed retirement benefit.

Most Australians take out pensions as lump sums and invest the funds or as income streams, but these can leave the value of retirement assets vulnerable to turmoil on financial markets.

 
 

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VA052                                                                                                                     Tuesday, 23 June 2009

 
GRANT TO HONOUR AUSTRALIAN SERVICE ON THE KOKODA TRACK

 

One month before Papua New Guineas annual Remembrance Day, the Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin today announced a $12,000 grant to upgrade and refurbish the southern gateway to the Kokoda Track and two memorials honouring Australian service.

This funding will help restore and repaint the Memorial Archway, a nearby 25-Pounder gun at Owers Corner and the 39th Infantry Battalion Memorial, Mr Griffin said.  

Thousands of trekkers retrace the steps of Australian soldiers each year; passing through the archway as they begin their journey on the Kokoda Track.

The 39th Battalion was the first Australian battalion to face the Japanese on the Track, and the memorial at McDonald?s corner honours their service.

The fighting on the Kokoda Track was among the toughest experienced by Australian troops during the Second World War.  

Australian casualties were high with more than 600 killed and more than 1000 wounded during the Kokoda Track campaign.

Mr Griffin said the funding was made available to the Kokoda Memorial Foundation for the restoration projects through the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorials Restoration Program administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The program recognises the contribution communities and organisations around the world make to honouring Australias wartime heritage and provides funding to help organisations such as the Kokoda Memorial Foundation restore and preserve unofficial memorials overseas, Mr Griffin said.

Through this program, we can work with community organisations and individuals to help ensure the legacy of those who served our nation is remembered for generations to come.

For more information about the Overseas Privately-Constructed Memorials Restoration Program and how to apply visit www.dva.gov.au/oawg/grants/index.htm or contact DVA on 133 254.  Overseas callers please contact +61 02 6289 6184.

The first engagement on the Kokoda Track between the Australian Military Forces (39th Battalion and the Papuan Infantry Battalions) and the Japanese is remembered each year on Papua New Guinea?s Remembrance Day, 23 July.

Media inquiries: Belinda Cole 0437 863 109

Editors note: Historical images of Owers Corner are available from the Australian War Memorial's Media Centre www.awm.gov.au/media/


The VVCS  Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046.To receive the Minister?s media releases automatically by email subscribe at minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm

[Keith]

COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
WWI soldier to be 'honoured at last'


A highly decorated World War I soldier who was found buried in an unmarked grave in Gympie, in south-east Queensland, will today be honoured at a memorial service.

Gilbert Harry served on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Medal and Military Cross and Bar for bravery.

He died in 1931 aged 38.

It was not until this year that the significance of his unmarked grave in the Gympie Cemetery was realised and a headstone and plaque were erected.

The Gympie RSL sub-branch's president, Ivan Friske, says he is pleased Mr Harry is now being properly recognised.

"I feel it's very sad that any soldier from any conflict that hasn't been recognised with something as little as a plaque," he said.

"It's very sad because these men and women went off to fight for Australia.

"I think it's very remiss of our community not to have put something there before today."

Mr Friske says little is known about Mr Harry.

"He was on a farm about 27 kilometres out of Gympie," he said.

"He was unmarried, according to the information that we have, he spoke very little about his war service.

"Unfortunately when he died, according to my knowledge, he was buried in a pauper's grave - whether there was a funeral service held I'm not sure," he said.

The Gympie RSL has bought two of Mr Harry's gallantry medals and will display them at its clubhouse.

 
 

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COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
ATO warns of phoney email scam
 

The Australian Tax Office (ATO) is warning people of a fraudulent email and phoney tax website that aims to obtain their personal details.

The email and associated links claim to be from the ATO and incorporates its official logo.

The ATO warns the public to be aware that they never send emails asking people to provide personal information or tax file numbers.

If people have followed the link from such an email and entered their personal details or information to the website, they are advised to contact the tax office.

 

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COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
WWI veteran now world's oldest man

A British World War I veteran is now the world's oldest man, following the death of Japanese man Tomoji Tanabe who was 113-years-old.

Mr Tanabe had been the world's oldest man for two years.

Henry Allingham, his successor turned 113 earlier this month.

Mr Allingham is the only founding member of the Royal Air Force still alive.

Before his death, Mr Tanabe said the secret to his longevity was a big appetite coupled with a strict diet that did not include alcohol, cigarettes or snacks.

- AFP

 
 

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VA051                                                                                                                         Friday, 19 June 2009  

VETERANS? REVIEW BOARD
 
The Minister for Veterans Affairs, Alan Griffin, today announced that Mr Michael Griffin has resigned as Principal Member of the Veterans Review Board and that Mr David Mackrell will be appointed as the acting Principal Member pending the recruitment of a permanent replacement.
 

David Mackrell has considerable senior management experience in both the Commonwealth and state public services and an extensive knowledge of veterans issues Mr Griffin said.

 

The veteran community will be familiar with Mr Mackrell from his time as Deputy Commissioner (Queensland) of the Department of Veterans Affairs. His strong skills in administration will ensure the continued efficient operation of the Board during the period of transition to a new Principal Member.

 

The Veterans Review Board has an ongoing role in providing an independent tribunal in an informal and supportive environment which ensures members of the veteran community continue to receive their lawful entitlements.

 

In the coming weeks, I will begin a recruitment process to select a new permanent Principal Member of the Veterans Review Board.  The position will be advertised nationally.

 

David Mackrell has agreed to a three month appointment, during which the selection process will proceed.

 

I thank Michael Griffin for his time at the Board and wish him well with his future endeavours.

 

Background

The Veterans Review Board is an independent tribunal that reviews decisions on veterans? entitlements and some military rehabilitation and compensation claims.  

 

The Board is made up of members who decide cases and staff who assist the members. There are four types of members: Principal Member, Senior Members, Services Members and Members.

 

The Principal Member is responsible for the overall operations of the Board. Ongoing appointments of members are made by the Governor-General.

[Raymond Evans]

Just one sentence from the DVA Minister (Below posting) hit me between the eyes and that was, 'While not suggesting for one minute that any TPI is well off, it is fair to say that those who are in this financial situation are in a substantially better position than those who are in receipt of only the full Service Pension.'

This is an appalling thing to state by comparing an unhealthy person against a healthy person.

My question is, 'Just where do these Ministers get their advice?'

Its about time government stopped comparing and stared paying those injured real values of living standards equivalent to that of a decade ago instead of devaluing compensation payments.

A clear example of devaluation is the TPI payment. It was paid at 47% of the average wage and higher, during the 70s, 80s and 1990s. Today its paid at 43% of the average wage. In 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 the TPI payment was 41% of the average wage.

  DATE   ~ T&PI rate per week ~ Community Value per week   ~  % of Community Value

Sep-90        $267.85                        $562.70                                  48%
Mar-91         $277.05                        $585.60                                 47%
Apr-92         $281.20                        $598.90                                  47%
Sep-93        $289.55                        $618.10                                  47%
Sep-94        $294.50                        $631.80                                  47%
Sep-95        $307.55                        $654.80                                  47%
Sep-96        $317.50                        $673.50                                  47%
Sep-97        $318.40                        $693.80                                  46%
Sep-98        $318.40                        $715.60                                  45%
Sep-99        $323.50                        $727.10                                  44%
Sep-00        $347.30                        $796.10                                  44%
Sep-01        $354.25                        $848.70                                  42%
Sep-02        $371.40                        $879.40                                  42%
Sep-03        $381.30                        $921.00                                  41%
Sep-04        $385.50                        $949.50                                  41%
Sep-05        $408.10                        $1,006.70                               41%
Sep-06        $426.45                        $1,041.60                               41%
Sep-07        $469.00                        $1,090.00          43%}    $25 a week increase+part index(Jul 07)
Sep-08        $498.90                        $1,131.10          44%}    Full MTAWE indexation (Mar 08)
Mar-09        $505.95                         $1165.30                                43%

One can see that the TPI payment is still loosing parity. This will continue until it is bench-marked.

NO OTHER GROUP OF AUSTRALIANS HAVE SUFFERED A DROP IN LIVING STANDARDS AS TPIs HAVE OVER THE PAST 12 YEARS.

[Keith]

From: Griffin, Alan (MP)
To: Keith Tennent
Sent: Friday, June 19, 2009 9:27 AM
Subject: Response to TPI Federation letter of 1 June re budget issues


Please find attached the Government?s response to the issues raised by TPI Federation President Blue Ryan regarding the recent budget.

Explanation of Impact of Government Pension Changes on Special Rate (T&PI) pensioners

Basis for Government Changes to the Pension System

On 15 May 2008, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, announced that the Secretary of her Department, Dr Jeff Harmer, would lead a review into measures to strengthen the financial security of seniors, carers and people with disability.  The investigation was to include a review of the Age Pension, Carer Payment and Disability Support Pension.

The focus was to be on these income support payments.

Payments to Eligible Veterans and Ex Service Community Members
The structure of payments in the veteran community includes two main streams that relate to a persons circumstances.  This covers support at a financial level as well as the impacts of service.  That is  (1) Income Support pensions; and (2) Compensation pensions.  

Income Support Pensions

The main income support pensions are the Service Pension, including Invalidity Service Pension, and the Partner Service Pension.  A service pension provides a regular income for people with limited means.  A service pension can be paid to veterans on the grounds of age or invalidity, and to eligible partners, widows and widowers.  It is subject to income and assets tests.  The age service pension paid to veterans who have qualifying service and the partner service pension paid to eligible partners, widows and widowers, are paid 5 years earlier than the age pension paid by Centrelink.  This is in recognition of the intangible effects of war that may result in premature ageing of the veteran and/or loss of earning power.  Invalidity service pension, which is equivalent to the Disability Support Pension paid through Centrelink, may be granted at any age up to the age of 65 years.
Compensation Pensions

Disability pension is paid to compensate veterans for injuries or diseases caused or aggravated by war service or certain defence service rendered on behalf of Australia. It is a non-taxable pension.  There are several different types of disability pension. The General Rate is the scale of compensation that takes into account the medical impairment and life style effects of a disability.  It does not have regard to whether or not a veteran is employed.  The initial assessment of pension follows automatically after a disability is recognised as war or defence caused.  If a veteran cannot work because of war or defence caused disabilities, the Intermediate or Special (TPI) Rate might be payable.  Veterans who are 65 or over with very severe disabilities might be entitled to an Extreme Disablement Adjustment.

War Widows Pension is a pension that is paid under the VEA to compensate widowed partners of veterans who have died as a result of war service or eligible defence service.

The difference between the two income streams is very important.  Compensation pensions are designed to compensate for the results of service and are not subject to income testing or taxation as are income support pensions.  Income support pensions are targeted to those with insufficient other sources of income and are discounted for those who are earning income via work, superannuation or other investments.  DVA compensation recipients are the main group who do not have their compensation pensions used to discount their eligibility for income support pensions.

What About TPIs

There is an acceptance that part of the Special Rate (TPI) Pension is considered as compensation for loss of income earning capacity, but because TPIs still have access to income support pensions like the Service Pension, the entire TPI Pension is considered to be a compensation payment and is therefore not subject to income testing or taxation.  There are just under 29,500 TPIs, of which 24,000 (81 per cent) receive some form of income support pension, predominantly through DVA as a Service Pension, in addition to the Special Rate Pension.

The 5,500 (approx.) TPIs who are not in receipt of a form of income support pension are in possession of other income or assets in excess of the following figures beyond their TPI pension.  For couples it is the combined income or assets that is taken into account, regardless of which partner earns the income or owns the asset.
The income cut-off limit for singles is $41,015.00 annually, or $1,577.50 per fortnight, and for couples $68,497.00 annually, or $2,634.50 per fortnight (combined).

The assets cut-off limit for single homeowners is $555,750 and for couple homeowners is $882,500.

The assets cut-off for single non-homeowners is $680,250 and for couple non-homeowners is $1,007,000.

Of the 5,500 TPI pensioners who are not in receipt of an income support pension, some 3,200 who are over age pension age will benefit from the replacement of the Seniors Concession Allowance by the Seniors Supplement that comes into effect on 20 September 2009.

The Seniors Concession Allowance is currently $518.80 per annum (pa) for singles and $1,037.60 pa (combined) for couples.  The new Seniors Supplement is $780.00 pa for singles and $1,176.00 pa for couples (combined).

 
While not suggesting for one minute that any TPI is well off, it is fair to say that those who are in this financial situation are in a substantially better position than those who are in receipt of only the full Service Pension.

This table shows a comparison for a single TPI on full Service pension.
    CURRENT       SEPTEMBER 2009    
TPI    TPI    $1,011.90    TPI    $1,011.90
Service pension   Maximum basic rate (single)    $  550.30    Maximum basic rate (single)    $  610.30
    GST supplement    $    19.50    Pension Supplement    $    55.80
    Pharmaceutical allowance    $      6.00        
    Telephone Allowance    $      5.32        
    Utilities Allowance     $    19.95        
    Total Service Pension    $  601.07    Total Service Pension    $  666.10
Total TPI and Service Pension      $ 1612.97      $1678.00

Note: The September 2009 rates are shown without the indexation adjustments for both TPI and Service pension that will occur at that time.

All of those TPIs who receive some form of income support pension will benefit from the changes announced.  Those who receive a full Service Pension will benefit to the full amount provided.

A TPI Pension should be treated the same as a Disability Support Pension
A TPI Pension is not the same as a Disability Support Pension.  A Disability Support Pension, paid through Centrelink, is equivalent to an Invalidity Service Pension.  That is, they are both income support payments paid to those who are disabled and unable to work, but both are subject to income and asset tests.  They are not compensation payments in the same way as a Disability Pension received as a result of the impacts of service (which is not subject to income testing or taxation).

The basis of the Government?s taxation reforms is to provide more to those who rely on income support pensions to survive.  The Harmer pension review report handed down in February 2009 is complimentary to the overall taxation review, due to be reported to Government in December 2009.  The focus of the Government?s Secure and Sustainable Pensions package, announced in the Budget following the Harmer review, is on those whose income support pensions have particularly lost out in relative terms, over time, in order to maintain a basic standard of living.  This is clearly those who are on the single rate of pension.  Hence, the greater relative increase for such pensions.


This is the same as the Indexation Issue

The key question resolved just prior to the last election was the method of indexation to be used to adjust Disability Pensions relative to Income Support pensions.  The argument was that it was only fair that they should be treated in the same manner to maintain indexation relativities over time.  This was the argument that Labor championed in the lead up to the election and which the Coalition Government belatedly acted upon.  It is not the same argument as the need to adjust the base rate of income support pensions to allow those who rely only on them the opportunity to try and maintain a reasonable standard of living.  Particularly when around 80 per cent of TPIs will also benefit from the changes made to income support pensions.

One of the major issues regarding the indexation method was the argument that, over time, there was an increasing gap between the TPI pension and the percentage of Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE) that it represents, and that this led to greater inequity for TPIs regarding the value of their payment.  The link was to MTAWE and not to income support pensions like the Age or Service Pension.  The point relating to income support pensions is that they had the benefit of the better indexation method, ie to maintain their relative value as a percentage of MTAWE. Because the overwhelming majority of TPIs receive some form of income support pension, there was an inconsistency of indexation methods across different types of pensions that were being received.

The indexation method for disability pensions of all sorts and income support pensions will remain the same.  In fact, an additional indexation formula has also been added to ensure that the value of pensions are better maintained.  

The means of maintaining the value of both income support and disability pensions over time has been secured.  What has altered, on a one-off adjustment basis, is an increase to the base rate and pension supplement for single income support pensions, in recognition of the inability of those who rely solely or substantially on them to make ends meet.  There has also been a one-off adjustment to the pension supplement for couples.  As the one-off increase to income support pensions also flows on, completely or in part, to more than 80 per cent of TPIs and is only denied to those who have substantial other sources of income, it shows that the increase is targeted to those most in need.

Its not an adjustment that relates to how damaged you have been in service to your country.  Its not designed for compensation pensions where income support pensions are still available to those who qualify for them.  Its an adjustment designed to provide additional income support to those who must rely on income support payments to survive.

[Keith]

THE HON. GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science


THE HON. ALAN GRIFFIN MP
Minister for Veterans? Affairs


002/2009
Wednesday, 17 June 2009


LGC FORENSICS WINS FROMELLES DNA CONTRACT


Greg Combet, Minister for Defence Personnel, Materiel and Science, and Alan Griffin, Minister for Veterans Affairs, today announced that LGC Forensics has been awarded the contract to analyse viable DNA from the remains of up to 400 World War One British and Australian soldiers found in Fromelles, France.

The awarding of this contract marks the next step in the process in identifying those Australian and British soldiers who fought and died on 19 and 20 July 1916 at the battle of Fromelles said Mr Combet.

The United Kingdom and Australian Governments are jointly committed to honouring the service of these World War One British and Australian soldiers.  The Australian Government will take every reasonable measure towards identifying these brave soldiers

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is overseeing the project on behalf of the UK and Australian Governments and has engaged LGC Forensics to undertake the DNA analysis. LGC Forensics provided the best solution to the specific project requirements.

LGC Forensics commenced a pilot study in early May to determine viability of the DNA in the remains. It is anticipated that the results of this pilot study will be available by the end of July 2009.


All descendants who have registered their details with the Fromelles Project will be contacted soon by the Government. The UK Government will also be contacting relatives who have registered with it. This will occur regardless of whether the pilot study finds viable DNA or not.

The process of identification will be complex and is likely to take some time said Mr Griffin.

It will involve examination of records, physical evidence gathered during the recovery of remains, and DNA comparison, if practical.  The findings will then be considered by an identification board, which is likely to sit for the first time in March 2010, to ascertain whether the identity of any remains can be determined.

It is the intention of both Australia and the UK out of respect for the soldiers involved, that reinterment is not delayed pending completion of the identification process.  Once all identification data is obtained, the remains will be reinterred with military honours in the new cemetery at Fromelles.  This reinterment is expected to commence in early 2010.

The cemetery will be the first of its kind constructed in over 50 years and it will be dedicated on the anniversary of the Battle of Fromelles in July 2010.  At that time, where identifications have been achieved, named headstones will be placed for each of the identified soldiers.  The placement of named headstones will continue into the future as the identification process continues Mr Griffin said.

Background:

The group burial at Pheasant Wood was confirmed during a limited excavation in May 2008 which was contracted by the Australian Government.  It is believed up to 400 Australian and British soldiers were buried there by German forces following the Battle of Fromelles in July 1916.

The Battle of Fromelles began 19 days after the opening of the Somme campaign on 1920 July, and was the first battle fought by Australians on the Western Front.  It is known as Australia?s bloodiest 24 hours with 5533 Fifth Australian Division casualties.   

Archaeological excavation of the site was contracted to Oxford Archaeology and commenced in May 2009. Individual re-interment of remains the new Commonwealth War Graves Commission Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery is expected to be completed in February 2010. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is overseeing the excavation on behalf of both the Australian and United Kingdom Governments.

For ongoing project updates or to register your details if you believe you may be related to a soldier buried at Pheasant Wood, go to www.army.gov.au/fromelles or call 1800 019 090.

[Keith]

Carer payments start rolliing out
COURTESY ABC NEWS

Federal Families Minister Jenny Macklin says carers will today start to receive a $600 annual payment.

She says about 500,000 carers will benefit from the extra money.

Ms Macklin says the payment is in addition to other carer payment and pension increases announced in the Federal Budget.

"From September 20, those who are on carer payments will also receive a weekly increase - if they're single - of $32.49," she said.

"And of course those on the disability support pension and the aged care pension will also receive similar increases from the single rate pension."

She says the payments will help relieve the cost pressures facing carers.

"The payment of this $600 carer supplement will start from today and should all be paid by Friday, June 26," she said.

"It will be paid automatically into people's bank accounts by Centrelink."

 
 

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[Keith]

COMMENT

This increase will flow on to some DVA pension recipients. However as far as we know there will be no flow on to TPIs disability compensation pension. Service Pensions should see an increase.
 
COURTESY ABC NEWS
 
Pension increases to proceed: Macklin

Posted Sun Jun 14, 2009

Families and Community Services minister Jenny Macklin says the Federal Government is set to proceed with promised pension increases and carer payments.

Ms Macklin said the government would start paying a $600 carer supplement from June 17.

She said she would introduce legislation to parliament on Monday to allow the $32 increase in the single pension and an extra $10 a week for pensioner couples from September 20.

"They need this money, but it will also be good for the economy," she told Network Ten.

Ms Macklin said the families of pensioners who qualified for the December bonus, but had since died, would not have to return the payment.

"It's really only the Liberal Party that is so hard-hearted as to say that a widow grieving for their pensioner husband wouldn't receive this money," she said.

- AAP

 
 

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[Keith]

VA050                                                                                                                         Friday, 12 June 2009

 

LIFE AFTER WAR EXHIBITION OPENS AT THE SHRINE

 

An exhibition showing how Australia coped with the debilitating effects of the First World War on our young nation will be opened today at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne by the Minister for Veterans Affairs Alan Griffin.

 

Shell Shocked Australia After Armistice shows that while a great many Australians celebrated the end of the war, the following years brought a period of grief and unparalleled adjustment which quickly tempered the joy of victory.

 

Of the more than 330,000 Australians who left our shores to serve overseas during the First World War, more than 61,000 never returned home. Up to 160,000 returned injured or ill and for many their recovery was slow or life-long Mr Griffin said.

 
In 1938, twenty years after the war, there remained more than 1,600 veterans in homes for the permanently incapacitated, and around 23,000 seeking care from repatriation hospitals.

 
The human toll on a young nation is highlighted in the exhibition through records, photographs, letters and medical reports which reflect many personal stories of Australians from different walks of life.

 
The exhibition shows the many ways Australia and Australians coped with the aftermath of the war. Its stories include the lasting impact on the women of the Australian Army Nursing Service, the anxiety of those at home and the introduction of the Repatriation system which fulfilled the promise to care for those who suffered from their war service and provide for the dependants of those who did not return.

 
Shell Shocked also shows the treatment of returned Indigenous servicemen ? equal as soldiers but not as civilians, the internment camps for enemy aliens and the community and government response in building memorials on battlefields and here at home post war Mr Griffin said.

 

It is an insightful exhibition into what was a truly daunting time for our young country.

 

Based on files from the National Archives of Australia and funded by a grant from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Shell Shocked is on a national tour and will be on display at the Shrine until 26 July, covering the 90th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Versailles on 28 June 1919

[Keith]

VA049 Saturday, 6 June 2009

AUSTRALIAN VICTORY AT BINH BA REMEMBERED 40 YEARS ON

Veterans of one of Australia's most comprehensive victories of the
Vietnam War will be honoured today at commemorations marking the 40th
anniversary of the Battle of Binh Ba.

The Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Alan Griffin, will attend the
commemorations at the Australian Vietnam Forces National Memorial in
Canberra, to pay tribute to the bravery and discipline of some 330
Australians who were involved in the battle.

"Forty years ago today, on 6 June 1969, a ready reaction force was
deployed from Nui Dat to deal with rocket fire coming from Binh Ba
village directed against an Australian tank.  The force comprised D
Company of the 5th Battalion mounted in armoured personnel carriers from
the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and supported by tanks from the 1st Armoured
Regiment.  The village was less than 10 kilometres from Nui Dat," Mr
Griffin said.

"Within hours the force was engaged in fighting of an intensity rarely
matched in Australia's experience of the Vietnam War.  It was quickly
apparent that the enemy force comprised both main force elements of the
North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong guerrillas.

"The two-day battle involved several sweeps through the village and some
vicious close quarter fighting.  Additional troops from the 5th
Battalion were called in as cut-off parties. Helicopter, artillery and
engineer support was utilised in a powerful and disciplined combined
arms attack to drive the enemy from the village.  One Australian,
Private Wayne Teeling, was killed and 11 were wounded. More than 100
North Vietnamese and Viet Cong perished in the battle, with many more
wounded."

Mr Griffin said battle honours were awarded to the Royal Australian
Regiment, the 1st Armoured Regiment and the 3rd Cavalry Regiment for
Binh Ba.

"Despite 40 years passing since the end of the Vietnam War, the Battle
of Binh Ba is still not widely known by those outside military and
historical circles, however it was a significant victory for Australian
forces," Mr Griffin said.

"I am pleased the Australian Government was able to support today's
commemorations with $50,000 in funding to ensure the service and
sacrifice of all those involved in the Battle of Binh Ba is
appropriately honoured."

Some 60,000 Australians served in the Vietnam War.  Of those, some 520
were killed and more than 3000 wounded.  Australia remembers and
commemorates their service each year on Vietnam Veterans' Day, 18
August.

Media inquiries: Sasha Nimmo 0437 863 109

The VVCS - Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service can be
contacted 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 1800 011 046. To receive
the Minister's media releases automatically by email subscribe at
minister.dva.gov.au/subscribe.htm