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Election 10 Policy Document

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

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Election 10 Policy Document

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs
Alan Griffin MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel

ELECTION 2010

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Election 10 Policy Document

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Table of Contents
Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs Overview What the Federal Labor Government has achieved so far We have restored the value of compensation and entitlements We have increased programs to heal our veterans both physically and mentally We have extended support for the families of veterans We have empowered the ex-service community We have improved the operation of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs We have recognised the courage and sacrifice of our veterans What a Gillard Labor Government would do next Respond to the Review into Military Compensation Arrangements Military Health Outcomes Program (MilHOP) Reviewing the aged care needs of veterans Making community mental health more ‘ex-service friendly’ Improving the transition management process Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Scheme Washington Interpretive Centre - Vietnam Veterans Education Centre Military Superannuation Review of DVA funded ESO Advocacy and Welfare Services The legacy of war - wounded personnel Ensuring the health of our forces The Coalition’s Record 4 6 6 7 8 9 9 10 12 12 12 13 13 13 13 13 14 15 15 16 17

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Election 10 Policy Document

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Overview
There is no greater responsibility for government than the defence of Australia and Australia’s interests, and with that comes the profound responsibility of caring for those who have offered the courage, commitment, and sometimes sacrifice that is required to deliver that protection. The Australian community is proud of our veterans and ex-service men and women. All those who choose a career in the armed services are heirs to a great tradition. Those who choose to serve give a commitment to protect the nation and its interests. We owe it to them to ensure that their service is recognised, the nation’s gratitude is clear, and that they are looked after in their times of need. The 2007 Labor ‘Plan for Veterans’ Affairs’ had a comprehensive package of policies and proposals for Veterans’ Affairs. Once elected, we moved quickly to act on our commitments. We have delivered overwhelmingly on our promises, and in many instances we extended support beyond our election platform. Disability pensioners and war widows benefited from a range of measures, including a fairer indexation system for disability pensions. Since 20 March 2008, all veterans’ compensation pensions have been indexed with reference to both Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). From 20 September 2009, the additional index of Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index (PBLCI) has also been employed - from the basic disability pension rate right through to the TPI pension – to ensure payments maintain their value. Together with an increase in utilities allowance and telephone allowance, the Government also delivered a Carer bonus of up to $1600 and a $500 Seniors bonus. Labor passed legislation extending the Income Support Supplement to younger war widows and widowers as well as automatically granting the war widows pension to partners of deceased TTI and Intermediate rate pensioners and bereavement payments for single TPI and Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) veterans who die in indigent circumstances. We boosted funding for ex-service organisations, with funding well beyond the initial $5 million election promise. The Government undertook an inquiry into the flawed support scheme provided to former F -111 Deseal/Reseal workers by the previous Government and implemented comprehensive and targeted measures to support those whose health has been affected. Responding to some of the recommendations of the Clarke review which were ignored by the previous Government, this Government has ensured service personnel who participated in the British Nuclear Tests now have the long-overdue recognition and support they deserve. Submariners who participated in certain special operations have also had the qualifying nature of that service recognised. The Federal Labor Government has declared Battle for Australia Day and Merchant Navy Day as national days of observance.

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Election 10 Policy Document

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

We have provided a major new focus on mental health and suicide prevention, guided by the best professional advice, in both the serving and ex-service community. Ensuring our support for ADF members past and present better meets their needs is a priority of the Federal Labor Government. That includes not only their needs and the problems while in service, but also in transition to civilian life. We established a Special Claims Unit within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) to improve transaction times, significantly reducing processing times for compensation claims. We established an interdepartmental working group to examine avenues to rationalise the administrative burden on veterans and ex-service personnel in dealing with various government agencies after discharge, and make the transition out of the services smoother. We have undertaken a major review and enhancement of our consultative arrangements with the ex-service community. We established two peak consultative bodies, the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council (PMAC) on Ex-Service Matters and the Ex-Service Organisations (ESO) Round Table. This has greatly improved links between Government and the community, and provided a better understanding of what is important to the ex-service and serving communities. However, more needs to be done. As well as building on what we have achieved, with the help of the veteran community, we need to do more. There are more opportunities to provide better, more targeted assistance to veterans and their families, both in uniform and once they leave the military. We need our services to evolve as the needs of veterans evolve. For example:  In 1998, 19 per cent of veterans reported foot and leg problems affecting mobility. By 2006, over 50 per cent did so. Mobility issues make home-based care models much more critical.  An ageing veteran community and the volunteer base that the system relies on to work, as well as the complexity of the legislation mean we need to enhance peer support network arrangements.  Today’s soldiers are much more likely to be struck down by an explosive device detonated from a seemingly invisible source than a bullet fired by a uniformed soldier on a clearly identifiable battleground. Advances in medical care and body armour are contributing to more of them surviving their initial injuries. But we must now make sure they get the help they need when they get home. Our objective is to give those injured in service the best outcome available— rehabilitation to return to active service or, if separating from the forces, transition to a quality and healthy civilian life. We also need to keep cutting red tape and complexity, making better use of the opportunities that technology provides, being more responsive to individual needs, and ensuring fast and fair decisions, with benefits and support delivered in a timely manner.

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Election 10 Policy Document

Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

What the Federal Labor Government has achieved so far
The 2007 Labor ‘Plan for Veterans’ Affairs was a comprehensive package of policies and proposals presenting a broad range of initiatives to meet the needs of veterans. Labor has overwhelmingly met or exceeded the targets that were set. In addition, we have also implemented further initiatives that are worth in excess of $2 billion to the veteran community over our first term. The former Coalition Government refused to index DVA disability pensions with reference to MTAWE for more than a decade. Only following Federal Labor’s commitments to index TPI payments at the time of the May 2007 Budget did the Coalition begin to move on this issue, announcing their decision in September 2007. Legislation was then passed with support from Labor. These changes came into effect in March 2008.

We have restored the value of compensation and entitlements
Fair indexation for all veterans’ compensation pensions From 20 March 2008, all veterans’ compensation pensions have been indexed with reference to both CPI and MTAWE. From 20 September 2009, the additional index of PBLCI has also been employed to ensure payments maintain their value. An increase in the Extreme Disablement Adjustment pension From 20 March 2008, the EDA pension has been increased by $15 per fortnight. Increased non-economic loss compensation payments From 20 March 2008, the General Rate table used to assess payment amounts has been increased by 5 per cent. Improved indexation of and an increase in the War Widow’s Domestic Allowance From 20 March 2008, the domestic allowance component of the widow’s pension has also benefited from the indexation changes outlined above and was increased by $10 per fortnight. National Transport Concessions Millions of Australian seniors will now benefit as a result of the Government investing nearly $50 million to provide concessions for Seniors Card holders who use public transport services outside their home state. All States and Territories are now providing concessions to interstate cardholders.

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Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Provided extra financial support through ‘Making Ends Meet’ From 20 March 2008, the Utilities Allowance for eligible pensioners was increased to $500 per annum, paid in quarterly instalments. The Seniors Concession Allowance was also increased and the Telephone Allowance raised to help meet the cost of a home internet connection. The Secure and Sustainable Pension reforms, which were announced in the 2009-10 Budget, have simplified the complex system of allowances by combining them into a streamlined and more flexible payment now paid fortnightly from 20 September 2009. Secure and Sustainable Pension reforms Over 320,000 service pensioners and war widows are benefiting from pension changes, valued at more than $1.1 billion, announced in the 2009-10 Budget. New payments commenced on 20 September 2009. Single service pensioners and war widows now receive up to $32.49 per week extra, and service pensioners on the couples rate receive up to $10.14 per week extra combined. Those on Disability Pension who also qualify for Service Pension, Age Pension or Disability Support Pension, including over 80 per cent of TPI pensioners, receive the increase in line with their financial circumstances.

We have increased programs to heal our veterans both physically and mentally
Increased funding for the Applied Suicide and Intervention Skills Training (ASIST) program An additional $1 million was provided for the ASIST program over four years in the 2008-09 Budget. A comprehensive Australian Defence Force (ADF) mental health ‘Lifecycle’ package The Department of Defence, in collaboration with the Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health (ACPMH) is progressing the first three initiatives of the Lifecycle package, including the longitudinal study of psychological resilience, resilience building programs and models for the annual mental health screen. DVA and ACPMH are progressing the remaining initiatives. The ‘Barriers to Rehabilitation’ project is currently underway and due for completion at the end of September 2010. The ‘Improved Treatment Options for Hard to Engage Clients’, as well as the ‘Transition Mental Health and Family collaborative (Townsville) pilot’ have been completed. Improved mental health support The Independent Study into Suicide in the Ex-service Community and the Review of Mental Health Care in the ADF and Transition through Discharge, both conducted by Professor David Dunt were released with the Government response in May 2009. More than $92 million has been allocated for the implementation of both Reports. Key initiatives such as case coordinators in DVA are now in place, supporting clients with complex needs, while other recommendations are still being implemented.

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Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Extended repeat prescriptions for the chronically ill Almost 290,000 veterans and war widows with a chronic health condition can now get up to 12 months supply on a single prescription for some medication, reducing the number of times they need to see a doctor just to obtain prescriptions. Including young ex-service people with disabilities in the Commonwealth, State and Territory Disability Agreement The National Disability Agreement, which commenced on 1 January 2009, includes a commitment to ensure that younger veterans have access to specialist disability services where DVA programs are not available to provide the care and support they require. Improved Community Care and Support for those with Chronic and Complex Conditions Veterans’ Affairs has begun a new $152.7 million initiative to increase community based support for those with chronic conditions and complex care needs who are at risk of unnecessary hospitalisation. The program includes an additional $28 million to expand the Veterans’ Home Care program to introduce a new service to target older, more frail veterans who are most at risk. An estimated 17,000 veterans and war widows will benefit from this initiative. Providing zero real interest loans for aged care facilities The Government has been delivering its Zero Real Interest Loans initiative since 17 September 2008, supporting the development and expansion of aged care services. This is already producing results with new services supported through the low-cost finance provided under the initiative already providing services to the community. The Government will extend this initiative, providing a further $300 million in loans, to support the development of up to 2,500 aged care places. Improving Veterans’ Health The first Veterans’ Health Week was held in August 2009 with the theme ‘Physical Activity’. Around 5,000 members of the veteran community attended 96 health promotion activities throughout Australia. Veterans’ Health Week 2010 was held in July 2010. This year’s theme was ‘Nutrition’, with more than 130 events held across the country.

We have extended support for the families of veterans
Extending the Income Support Supplement to widows without dependents Payment of the supplement to widows without dependents commenced in July 2008. This involved the abolition of the age restriction on the payment.

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The Vietnam Veterans’ Family Study The first research project in the Family Study has been completed and released. A consultative forum to support the Study has been established and an Independent Scientific Adviser and a Scientific Advisory Committee have been appointed. Individual research organisations have been contracted to manage the various parts of the Study. Several other research components will be completed during 2010. The Study is now due to be fully completed by 2012, 4 years ahead of schedule. Extending bereavement payments for single TPI and EDA veterans who die without sufficient assets to pay for a funeral The extension of bereavement payments for single TPI and EDA veterans who die without sufficient assets to pay for a funeral commenced on 1 July 2008. Automatic granting of War Widow’s Pension to widows of TTI and Intermediate Rate pensioners The automatic granting of War Widow’s Pension to widows of TTI and Intermediate Rate pensioners commenced on 1 July 2008.

We have empowered the ex-service community
Increased financial assistance for Ex-Service Organisations An additional $5 million has been provided, with total funding of $14.9 million to be made available over 4 years. A new consultation framework for the ex-service community The Prime Minister announced the membership of the PMAC in September 2008 and the inaugural meeting was held in October 2008. The Council has now met 8 times and looked at a range of issues including the Clarke Review, the F-111 Deseal/Reseal inquiry and the Dunt report. Other bodies established include the ESO Round Table and a series of issues based committees to advise both the Repatriation Commission and the Government.

We have improved the operation of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Establishing an inter-departmental working group to help deal with multiple agencies The group has reduced the medical reviews a veteran must undertake to access some benefits, improved information sharing between Departments to avoid stressful overpayments, published a handbook for ADF members transitioning out of military service and commenced trials to simplify access to entitlements. These trials include the use of the final Defence medical examination to cover the requirements of a liability claim with DVA or ComSuper. A trial on a single claim form, which allows claimants to lodge a claim under all three acts the Department administers, has been completed and is currently being evaluated.

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Forming a Special Claims Unit that has cut processing times The Special Claims Unit was established in December 2007. A comparison of average times taken to process claims for the financial years 2006-2007 through 2008-2009 shows reductions of 22.5 per cent in Veterans’ Entitlements Act claims, 35.5 per cent for Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act initial liability claims and 24 per cent for Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act initial liability claims. Revisiting the recommendations of the Clarke Review The Government revisited the recommendations of the Clarke Review of Veterans’ Entitlements not implemented or agreed by the former Government, with a $36 million package of reforms. The changes include access for pensions and health care under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act to former ADF British Nuclear Test participants under the more generous ‘reasonable hypothesis’ standard of proof. Other measures include reclassifying the service of personnel on certain submarine special operations from peacetime to qualifying service. A number of other recommendations were referred to the Review of Military Compensation Arrangements that is expected to report by the end of the year. Establishing a DVA hotline to assist ex-service officials The hotline started taking calls nationally in November 2008. Between 1 November 2008 and 30 July 2010, a total of 4,154 calls have been made to the hotline. Maintaining a separate and properly funded Department of Veterans’ Affairs The 2010-11 Veterans’ Affairs Budget provides funding of $12.1 billion, an increase of $1.3 billion on the last year of the former Coalition Government. This includes $6.9 billion for compensation and income support, and a record $5.2 billion for health and health services. The Government remains committed to maintaining DVA as a separate, properly funded Department to meet the needs of our veteran community.

We have recognised the courage and sacrifice of our veterans
Establishing an Independent Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal The Tribunal was established by the Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, on 23 July 2008. The Government has implemented all of the Tribunal’s recommendations, including the review into the Long Tan Gallantry Citations, eligibility criteria for the Australian Defence Medal and recognition of service with 4th Battalion RAR in Malaysia in 1966-67. Other matters are still being considered by the Tribunal. Free Australian flags for families of veterans Following the death of a veteran, their family can now receive an Australian flag at no cost from their local MP or Senator, to honour that veteran.

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Battle for Australia Day On 19 June 2008, the Governor-General signed the proclamation for Battle for Australia Day on the first Wednesday in September each year to pay tribute to the men and women who served in the defence of Australia in 1942 and 1943. Merchant Navy Day On 24 June 2008, the Governor-General signed the proclamation to declare Merchant Navy Day for 3 September each year, to remember the service and sacrifice of merchant mariners in times of war. Implementing Post-Armistice Korean Service Review recommendations The Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Support, the Hon Dr Mike Kelly AM MP, announced on 6 April 2009 that the Government would start issuing the Australian General Service Medal – Korea from early 2010 as well as the Returned from Active Service Badge to eligible ex-servicemen and women. Consistent with the recommendations of the review, those who completed 30 days in South Korea during the post-Armistice period, from 28 July 1953 to 19 April 1956, will receive the medals. Action has now been taken on all recommendations that can be implemented. Declaring the Ballarat Prisoner of War Memorial to be a National Memorial The Ballarat Prisoner of War Memorial was the first to be declared as a national memorial under new legislation on 29 September 2008. $160,000 over four years was provided for maintenance. $10 million for an Interpretive Trail on the Western Front Nearly 300,000 Australians who fought on the Western Front will be better commemorated through enhanced explanation of their contribution. The Government is working with local authorities at Australian battle sites in France and Belgium to improve local museums, improve links to regional battlefield trails and establish interpretive facilities at some significant battlefields.

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What a Gillard Labor Government would do next
The 2010-11 Veterans’ Affairs Budget is the largest ever, providing funding of $12.1 billion, including $6.9 billion for compensation and income support, and a record $5.2 billion for health and health services. This is $1.3 billion more that the last Coalition budget. Over the same period, DVA’s client numbers have decreased from around 440,000 to less than 380,000. In Federal Labor’s first term of Government, many longstanding grievances were addressed and important steps have been taken to make the system more responsive to the needs of veterans. Improved consultative mechanisms and ongoing reforms like the Interdepartmental Working Group will continue to bring forward new initiatives to make the administration of the repatriation system more veteran friendly, and more capable of delivering more timely, professional support and assistance. But there is more that can and must be done. The program for the next term is to build on these substantial improvements and take the further steps required to ensure the portfolio responds to the emerging needs of the military and ex-service communities.

Respond to the Review into Military Compensation Arrangements
Our comprehensive Review of Military Compensation Arrangements is the Federal Labor Government’s response to a commitment to examine the current military rehabilitation and compensation system. Due to be completed later this year, it is expected to identify a range of opportunities to provide better, more targeted assistance to veterans and their families, both before and after they leave the service. Labor is committed to taking all appropriate action in response to the review to ensure services and support for veterans and serving members evolves with their needs.

Military Health Outcomes Program (MilHOP)
MilHOP is the brand name for the Military Health Outcomes Program which consists of three studies on the Middle East Area of Operations and one study in response to the 2009 Dunt Review to establish a baseline for mental health prevalence in the ADF. Costing $12 million over five years, the four MilHOP studies include the Prospective Study, Census Study, the Health and Wellbeing Study and a Mortality and Cancer Incidence Study. In addition to personnel who will be deploying as part of current operations in the Middle East in 2010 and 2011, more than 25,000 veterans will be invited to participate in the study. MilHOP will provide the information and insight needed to support current and future evidence-based policy development and targeted health programs. These programs will support ADF members and their families in coping with the impact of operational deployments when they are deployed, as they return, and into the future.

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Reviewing the aged care needs of veterans
The Government is working with the aged care sector on the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Australia’s aged care system. This Inquiry will examine how well the mainstream service system is meeting the needs of specific groups, including veterans, and will report by April 2011. This Inquiry builds on the Federal Labor Government’s reforms to take full policy and funding responsibility for aged care (except in Western Australia and Victoria) and to create a national aged care system that provides better support and better care for older Australians. Over the next four years, the Gillard Labor Government will provide more than $47 billion for aged and community care.

Making community mental health more ‘ex-service friendly’
A project developed by the Australian Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health to improve the training and competency of secondary mental health workers, commenced in 2009 and will continue nationally until mid 2011. This is in addition to the $145 million spent on veterans’ mental health annually, including the $92 million over four years committed to implement the recommendations of the Dunt reports.

Improving the transition management process
A focus of Professor Dunt’s reports was the issues surrounding the transition from the ADF to civilian life. Professor Dunt made five recommendations about transition procedures and the Government has accepted all these recommendations. The Federal Labor Government is committed to continue with the implementation of that report.

Pharmaceutical Reimbursement Scheme
To fulfil the previous election commitment to address the cost of pharmaceuticals for war caused disabilities, a consultation process was initiated to explore the issues involved and how the commitment might be met. The public consultation process showed a strong preference for a single retrospective annual reimbursement to affected veterans, and Labor will meet that preferred approach. The annual reimbursement will be calculated on the basis of the gap between prescription co-payment costs covered by the Pharmaceutical Allowance and co-payment costs for pharmaceuticals incurred before the safety net is reached. Reimbursement will be based on individual usage and will apply on a calendar year basis from 2012, with payments occurring in the following year. Federal Labor has allocated $18.2 million over the period of the Forward Estimates for this initiative.

Washington Interpretive Centre - Vietnam Veterans Education Centre
Federal Labor will provide $3.3 million for Australian interpretive material at the Vietnam Veterans Education Center in Washington to ensure that the Australian contribution to the Vietnam War is included in the Center - the first time any foreign country will have significant interpretive material at a US memorial. It will be of enormous significance to Australian veterans and provide a concrete symbol in support of the alliance.

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Military Superannuation
Labor is committed to ensuring that military superannuation properly reflects the unique character of military service, and our respect for our servicemen and women. The Federal Labor Government acted to protect the interests of members of the Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme (MSBS). The Government increased the age used to calculate Death and Disability Benefits for MSBS members to align it with the increase of the compulsory retirement age to 60, delivering greater benefits for members and their families. Labor also sought to enhance the governance arrangements for military superannuation, but the Coalition blocked these changes. The changes would have delivered substantial benefits to members, including better run schemes, without in any way undermining the member’s benefits or rights. For ADF members in MSBS, independent actuarial modelling estimated the changes could have produced better returns - by as much as $20,000 to $50,000 for some members. A re-elected Labor government will continue to pursue these reforms. Labor recognises that there are ongoing demands for significant enhancements in military superannuation, and is committed to continuing consideration of reforms in this area. On coming into Government, Federal Labor acted on its promise and released the Podger Review into Military Superannuation Arrangements. Written before the financial crisis, the Report proposed a change in indexation for some members of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) scheme. But the Report also recognised the significant cost of the proposal, and saw it as a low priority. As part of the consultation process, 103 submissions were received which included submissions from the ex-Service community who rejected Podger. After consultations on the Report, the Government decided not to follow the Podger proposals as a way forward for military superannuation. Labor fulfilled its promise to have an independent review of the indexation methods used to adjust public sector superannuation. The resulting Matthews Review recommended against changing current indexation methods, and the Government has accepted this recommendation. As responsible economic managers, given the very significant costs involved, Labor believes that now is not the time for a change in superannuation indexation. Through a decade of budget surpluses the Howard Government refused to do anything about military superannuation, other than commission the Podger Report, which it then refused to release before the 2007 election. Now, in opposition, the Coalition is proposing an unfair change in indexation, affecting some military superannuation scheme members, but not all of them. Having failed to make changes when the economic situation was much more favourable, the Coalition’s current proposals lack both fairness and credibility.

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Review of DVA funded ESO Advocacy and Welfare Services
The current review into advocacy and welfare support is crucial to ensure that ex-service organisations are able to meet the needs of the veteran community in the years ahead. This will need to be done in an environment involving a series of challenges including the ageing of the veteran community as well as the volunteer workforce that is a central part of service and support delivery. Other challenges include the complexity of the different Acts that are in place and the emerging issues facing the generation of newer veterans who are now serving. The Government is committed to make sure the review delivers effective, innovative and appropriate reforms to build on the excellent work ESOs currently do and will seek to do, in future.

The legacy of war - wounded personnel
A Gillard Labor Government will introduce a new program of enhanced support and services for wounded ADF members, the Simpson Program, named after the Gallipoli hero John Simpson Kirkpatrick. The program will cost $21.2 million over four years. The men and women of Australia’s Defence Forces face significant danger in the defence of our nation and our national interests. When they are wounded or suffer illness as a result of their service, they deserve the best possible care and support. The program will include protections for wounded personnel returning to Australia to minimise financial disadvantage, provide housing assistance, develop a comprehensive training and re-skilling program, and ensure access to specialist rehabilitation. Defence will also develop new forms of recognition for our wounded personnel. Federal Labor 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;  $83 million to implement improvements in mental health;  new rehabilitation policies, with more emphasis on retaining injured personnel where possible, and extending rehabilitation; and  a new partnership program with the Australian Paralympic Committee, providing valuable rehabilitation opportunities.

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Ensuring the health of our forces
Federal Labor recognises the significant sacrifices made by members of our Defence Force and their families in the service of our nation, and is committed to the medical care of our troops, their health and that of their families. Federal Labor will examine the results of the ADF Family Healthcare Trial, which provides access to a range of medical services to ADF families. Over 3,800 ADF dependants are already registered and benefiting from the trial. 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 at Brisbane hospital, 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, Federal Labor 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. Federal Labor is also committed to ensuring ADF personnel have access to the specialist medical care which is required to provide the best quality care for our troops. A Gillard Labor Government 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 cost of these new programs to look after our wounded and the health of ADF personnel will be absorbed within Defence’s $30 billion annual budget, as the commitments represent substantially less than a tenth of one per cent of the Defence budget over the forward estimates. These commitments will be met without an increase in Defence’s appropriation or any impact on Defence program outcomes.

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The Coalition’s Record
The history of the Coalition Government’s treatment of veterans is a history of grand claims and poor performance - praising the sacrifice and courage of our armed forces while ignoring the real needs of those who have to live with the consequences of their service. Misleading statistics were used to claim that our veterans had never been better off, but they don’t tell the real story at all….

Gold Card Funding
The former Coalition Government told veterans that they had never had it so good, with world-class repatriation and mental health systems. And yet, they chronically under-funded the Gold Card until 388 specialists wrote to the Department indicating they might withdraw their treatment for veterans. Over a decade of the former Coalition Government, other than an increase for anaesthetists in 2005, there had been no adjustment of fee scales for any medical specialists at all. Only when the system was in crisis did the Howard Government act. Federal Labor has been constantly reviewing the services available under the Gold Card to ensure that veterans are getting the best treatment, including emerging treatments such as robotic prostatectomy.

The Saga of the Clarke Review
The Howard Government consistently ignored and failed to properly consult with the exservice community. It refused to act on a number of recommendations from its own independent reviews - most importantly the Clarke Review. As a result of pressure by the veterans’ community, the former Coalition Government commissioned the Clarke Review into Veterans’ Entitlements before the 2001 election. In January 2003 the Report was delivered, making 109 recommendations. More than a year later, the Coalition finally responded, agreeing to only five recommendations that called for any change. Following a public furore over the proposed response, a backbench revolt led to a slightly revised package released In March 2004. Of the 109 recommendations:  all 46 recommendations that no change be made were accepted by the government;  of the 58 recommendations proposing change, only 8 were accepted; and  the other 5 recommendations were for further review Labor has revisited the un-actioned Clarke review recommendations and provided further benefits and recognition to a number of veteran groups, including nuclear test participants and submariners involved in covert operations.

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Former F-111 Deseal/Reseal workers
In the lead up to the 2007 election, ex-service organisations raised unanswered concerns about the health and compensation of F-111 Deseal/Reseal workers, asking for a parliamentary inquiry to examine the issues. Although the former Coalition Government refused an inquiry, Labor committed to hold an inquiry which has now taken place. The inquiry report into F-111 Deseal/Reseal workers and their families was tabled in Parliament on 25 June 2009. The report made 18 recommendations to Government. As part of the 2010-11 Budget, the Government accepted 14 of the Inquiry’s recommendations. Some recommendations were accepted in modified form, one partially accepted, and some accepted with enhancements. Labor provided $55 million over four years to expand the benefits and services available to an estimated 2,400 additional workers.

Military Superannuation
Through a decade of budget surpluses the Howard Government refused to do anything about military superannuation, other than call for a report which it then refused to release in the months before the 2007 election. Now, in opposition, the Liberals are saying they will change the indexation system for some military superannuation scheme members, but they’ve excluded nearly 80 per cent of those affected, including all MSBS members and DFRDB members under 55 years of age. If they refused to do it when the economic situation was much more favourable, how can anyone really expect them to do it in the aftermath of the Global Financial Crisis?

Mismanagement of the department
The Coalition Government presided over blow-outs in claims processing times during its 11 years in office. In February 2007, there were 4,570 overdue claims and claims processing times had blown out by up to 400 per cent in some cases. Despite admitting that they had known about the increasing problem with claims processing for nearly five years the Liberal Government forced DVA to cut 12.5 per cent of staff allocated to compensation claims over their last two financial years. Tony Abbott now says he will partly pay for his policy initiatives by freezing public service recruitment for two years. This could seriously impact DVA’s capacity to provide the support needed for the veteran community. The Liberal Government made no real progress on streamlining or reducing the difficulties faced by veterans, ex service personnel and their families in obtaining entitlements, compensation or income support. These agencies include DVA, Centrelink, the Defence Force's Retirement and Death Benefits Authority, Comsuper and Defence.

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Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs

Suicide in the Ex-Service Community and Mental Health
Despite requests from ex-service representatives for an inquiry into suicide in the ex-service community, the Howard Government never acted. Only when Labor was elected was Professor David Dunt commissioned to conduct this review in concert with the review into mental health services in the ADF. These reviews were the catalyst for more than $92 million to be committed across DVA and Defence to improve mental health services for our serving personnel and our veterans. The Coalition’s record on Veterans’ issues can be summed up as a decade of inaction, reviews that were dismissed unless they recommended no changes, longstanding grievances ignored, and action only taken when they had no alternative but to act.

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