From: (Original Message) Sent: 27/10/2001 4:35 AM

The Australian Democrats continue to acknowledge the special obligation owed to veterans who served the nation in conflict. They went where they were sent. They were healthy when they enlisted. Australia must honour the debt.

The Australian Democrats continue to acknowledge the special obligation owed to veterans who served the nation in conflict. They went where they were sent. They were healthy when they enlisted. Australia must honour the debt.

The Australian Democrats:

Recognise the obligation to veterans and their special needs by retaining the administration of benefits under one piece of legislation and one separate, sufficiently funded, Veteran's Affairs Department with a specialist Veteran's Review Board.

Support extending eligibility for the Gold Card, to all service persons who served during World War II including BCOF members who served in Japan after 1945. All Korean and Vietnam War veterans should receive the Gold Card once they reach the age of 70 years. The Australian Democrats recognise that veterans were healthy when they enlisted and they went where they were sent. If veterans need medical care now, we have an obligation to provide it.

Support increased funding for community services for veterans and their families including health care, counselling and home care services, as well as increasing the number of nursing home beds made available for veterans and their spouses. The Australian Democrat support further funding for the Vietnam Veterans' Counselling Service (which provides services to veterans of other conflicts as well as the families of veterans) for the provision of improved services, including outreach services in regional areas where there are high populations of Vietnam veterans.

Oppose veterans' disability pensions being subject to the income test by Social Security. The Democrats have raised this issue over a number of years and have moved amendments to the Social Security Act to have this anomaly corrected, however we were voted down by the Coalition.

Are concerned at the erosion in the worth of many veteran's pensions and support indexation of those payments, particularly the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) and Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA). The Democrats support the indexation of veterans' pensions and compensatory payments to male total average weekly earnings or CPI (whichever is greater), as we do with regard to social security pensions. We have long argued that all pensions, including the war widows pension and the service pension, should be indexed quarterly rather than six monthly.

Support increasing and indexing the Income Support Supplement for war widows frozen since 1986. The widows who qualify for the income support supplement are often amongst the neediest in our community. The Democrats welcomed the restoration of entitlements to war widows who remarried before 1984.

Recognise the emerging needs of younger veterans. The Australian Democrats support further investigation of the appropriate packages for veterans of the Gulf War, the East Timor conflict and peace-keeping operations.

Support assistance to the victims of exposure to nuclear, chemical and biological harm. This includes and Vietnam and Gulf War veterans and those exposed to experimental vaccines and drugs. The Democrats recognise that such harm may manifest itself in not only the veteran exposed but also their offspring who should be considered victims of such exposure. The Democrats support appropriate compensation and medical care for Australians effected by British nuclear tests in the 1950s and 1960s and for those who served in the British Commonwealth Occupying Forces (BCOF) in Japan from 1945.

Support the ongoing service available to veterans via the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

Support adequate legal aid funding being provided to veterans to appeal decisions of the Repatriations Commission, the Veterans' Review Board or the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.

Support ongoing funding for appropriate memorial and commemorative programs including education programs to be conducted in schools.

oppose the introduction of fees at the Australian War Memorial.

have long advocated further recognition of service personnel such as those who served in the Far East Strategic Reserve (FESR), and welcomed the recommendations of the Mohr Review of the Service Entitlement Anomalies in Respect of South East Asian Service 1955-75. The Democrats have supported ongoing efforts to have the Australian Civilian Surgical and Medical Teams in Vietnam recognised for repatriation benefits, as recommended in the Mohr Review. This was defeated by the Coalition but the Democrats will continue to raise this issue.

The Australian Democrats will continue to identify and address issues of importance to veterans in consultation with veterans' organisations.#

Well they are looking good. So far the only ones with a positive line except for indeependants.

I haven't yet got a copy in full of One nations Policy but according to Advisers Post they are quite specific in at least one area.,

I will post the full copy as soon as possible.

regards,

E

Quote(part) from General Board by Adviser

"Len passed on One Nations Veteran's Affairs policy to me and item 5 reads:

I don't think you can be more specific than that.