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Monday, 20 June 2011
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Once a person leaves the military, without the support of their mates, life can change dramatically.
It may be that the person was injured and can no longer function as they once did, or, it may just be a lack of companionship.

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Last Updated ( Monday, 20 June 2011 )
 

RED FRIDAY'S

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday.
The reason; Australians who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority.'
We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers.
We are not organised, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Australians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to
recognise that the vast majority of Australians supports our troops. Our
idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and
respect starts this Friday and continues each and every Friday until
the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every
red-blooded Australian who supports our men and women afar, will wear
something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make Australia every Friday a
sea of red much like an AFL Grand final game in the MCG Stands. If
every one of us who loves this country will share this with
acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long
before Australia is covered in RED and it will let our troops know
the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly
more than the media lets on. Don't let this be like it was for our poor Vietnam Vets

The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make
things better for you?' is 'We need your support and your prayers.'
Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and
wear something red every Friday.

TPI Carbon Worries

12 June 2011

The Hon Julia Gillard    
Prime Minister
Parliament House
Canberra

Dear Prime Minister,
I am writing to you to express the concerns of the TPI Federation regarding the introduction of a price on carbon. Those concerns are shared by many disabled veterans and their families.
It has been reported by ABC News Online that as a result of the introduction of a price on carbon the Federal Government will permanently boost payments to pensioners including up-front cash compensation and plans to increase pensions by 2.5%.
Climate Change Minister Greg Combet is reported to have said the Government wants to assist pensioners when he said “We will make sure that pensioners have got more money right from the start of the carbon price and the assistance that we provide will be permanent.”
Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan is reported to have said it is important to assist pensioners. He stated “What we’ve said is we will provide assistance to pensioners over and above their normal indexation”.
Previously veterans who receive a disability pension under the Veterans’ Entitlements Act were assured they would be included in the Harmer Review. Treasurer Swan said publicly that veterans’ disability pensions would be included as part of the Harmer Review. Our understanding that veterans’ disability pensions would be part of the review was reinforced by comments such as those from the Treasurer who in an interview on Brisbane Radio said:
CALLER:
What will the Minister be doing to rectify the TPI pension and let alone the veterans on lesser payments?
TREASURER:
Well certainly we’re including in our review all those on pensions, unlike Dr Nelson whose just singled out age pensioners.  We’ve got to look at all of them.  And of course the Vietnam Veterans have issued a very tough statement about this a couple of days ago.  My father actually was a TPI pensioner when he died.  I understand how veterans feel, and that’s why they’re part of the comprehensive review.  You can’t just snap your fingers and think you can fix one problem when there are so many other problems in the system.  And that’s what we’re doing.
           http://ministers.treasury.gov.au/DisplayDocs.aspx?doc=transcripts/2008/127

Based on this assurance from a senior government Minister we expected that veterans’ disability pensions would be included in the review so that the veteran community would have an opportunity, as did the other affected groups, to inform and advise your Government of the pressures faced by veterans and their families in the very difficult economic climate of the time.  
We consistently advised the Minister and the Repatriation Commission that we expected veterans’ disability pensions to be increased in line with the other pensions so that they would maintain their relativity and at no time did anybody from Government or the Department indicate that the Government intended to do otherwise.
One-off legislation was introduced to by-pass the existing legislation with the result that whilst Old Age, Service, War Widows’ and Centrelink disability pensions were increased as a result of the Harmer Review, veterans’ disability pensions were not. We see this as a disgraceful betrayal of the veteran community by the government you now lead.
Prime Minister, you will understand why we are sceptical when we hear what Treasurer Swan and Minister Combet have to say concerning the Carbon Tax compensation for pensioners. Will these increases be extended to veteran disability recipients and their families or will further legislation be introduced to bypass disabled veterans as was done with your Government’s response to the Harmer Review?
What we seek is an unequivocal guarantee that with the introduction of a price on carbon, veteran disability pensioners will be fully and properly compensated to ensure their disability pensions will maintain their relative value to other government pensions.
The TPI Federation is available to discuss this issue with your office in person as they are of great concern to members of the Federation and the ex-service community at large.
Yours sincerely,
John (Blue) Ryan OAM
National President

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National Disability Insurance Scheme

"I have been advised that there will be implications for DVA clients in that benefits and services under the proposed and the existing schemes will overlap. The Government will need to decide on the extent to which benefits will continue under the new and existing schemes, as well as access arrangements for those who are eligible under existing schemes". DVA 13.12.2011
http://www.smh.com.au/national/politicians-unite-to-hurry-disability-insurance-scheme-20111206-1oh93.html

All Ranks.

I urge you to take the NDIS matter very serious as there is potential in the negotiation and draft stages leading to legislation that may have implications on our DVA Disability Pensions including the Special Rate.

The situation needs to be clarified at every stage of drafting before it is ready to be presented as a Bill as then it will be too late for protestations as the matter has the support of both Labor and Coalition.

The NDIS is an issue long overdue to be addressed if Australia considers itself an enlightened society the mark of which is how well we treat and looks after the needs of those unable to care or need help in caring for themselves.

However we should not be foolish enough to think that Veterans entitlements are quarantined from the effects of change such a national scheme will bring. Indicated in the heading paragraph from DVA.

If our entitlements with their current defects can be considered best practice then our civilian disabled colleagues should be raised to that standard. Not the converse which governments have a tendency to do and shift standards to the lowest common denominator.

On the positive side progress could be made to enhance the lot of both civilian and ADF disabled while maintaining revenue neutrality. I refer to the impost on workplace participation by the spouse of a disabled that the current income test to the disabled pension incurs.

Where the impost was removed it would encourage workplace participation by the spouse leading to improved productivity in utilising an already skilled worker. There would also be less need to imported labour with the inherent expense thereof while at the same time contribution to the raising an Australian impoverished family’s finances out of welfare. The government coffers would also gain by removing the income test impost through the contributions of the working spouse to income tax, superannuation and medicare. Thus paying for their own health and age costs.

I urge you all to keep a close watch on the development of the NDIS and to participate actively and thoughtfully in the process.

NB Concerning the politicians with portfolio responsability for DVA, Warren Snowdon (ALP) and Michael Ronaldson (Liberal) neither chose to respond to my prior enquiry on the NDIS which may indicate nefarious undertones.

I enclose the response from the Department of Veterans' Affairs as directed by Secretary Ian Campbell.

Jock O'Neill
PO Box 698
Applecross
WA 6953

08 9364 2067



----- Original Message -----
From: McCurdy, Fiona (DVA)
To: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Cc: Campbell, Ian
Sent: Tuesday, December 13, 2011 2:43 PM
Subject: RE: Politicians unite to hurry disability insurance scheme [TOBECLASSIFIED] [SEC=UNCLASSIFIED]

Good afternoon Mr O'Neill

Thank you for your email to the Secretary in regards to whether the forthcoming National Disability Insurance Scheme will impact on any part of the Department's client base. The Secretary has asked that I reply on his behalf.

I have been advised that there will be implications for DVA clients in that benefits and services under the proposed and the existing schemes will overlap. The Government will need to decide on the extent to which benefits will continue under the new and existing schemes, as well as access arrangements for those who are eligible under existing schemes.

Veterans, embers of the ADF and their dependants will continue to have access to compensation and services under legislation administered by DVA. We are continuing to monitor developments and are consulting with all relevant agencies and authorities in the lead up to the 2013 introduction of the proposed scheme.

Kind regards,

Fiona McCurdy

Executive Officer | Repatriation Commission
GPO Box 9998, CANBERRA ACT 2601
P: 02 6289 4832 | F: 02 6289 6257 | M: 0424 588 009

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