John to Dana

----- Original Message -----

From: To: Danna Vale

Sent: Sunday, February 10, 2002 11:26 AM

Subject: Travelling Allowance Claims

Dear Ms Vale

Attached is a further letter in the above matter as the previous reply failed to answer the question and furthermore appears to be incorrect in its content and fact.

It would be appreciated if this matter could again be revisited and a reply in accordance with the request, be supplied.

xxx

Dear Minister

On 21 Dec 2001, I forwarded a letter requesting an answer as to why Veterans are time limited in claiming for traveling allowance. I realise Parliament has been in recession, there has been Xmas/New Year holidays, you are new to the job and you have new staff, but it is now 01 Feb 2002, and well beyond the DVA Charter for reply.

I have attached the letter again for reference and request that a reply be supplied expeditiously, or at least an acknowledgment that it was received back in Dec 2001. I would also request a reply to this email. An email reply will suffice as it is quick and expeditious and costs less.

Yours faithfully

Xxx

21 December 2001

 

 

 

Ms Danna Vale, MHR

Minister for Veterans Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence

House of Representatives

Parliament House

CANBERRA ACT 2600

Dear Minister

Re: Mileage Allowance - Veterans Visits to Medical Practitioners

The veteran community may claim a vehicle mileage allowance, whenever they visit a Medical Practitioner for an accepted disability or if they are T&PI or EDA.

The claim must be submitted within three months of the visit. Recently I was tardy and failed to submit within the three month time period and as such I became ineligible for the mileage allowance.

In this case, my concern here is that irrespective of time, I still visited the medical practitioner, still incurred the running costs of the visit to the medical practitioner and yet I am penalized because the claim was not submitted with the three month time period.

To me, time is immaterial to the claim. What is material is the fact that the veteran uses his own transport, visits the medical practitioner and has the visit verified on the claim form.

I would like an explanation as to why the three month time penalty applies, which as a result denies myself and other veterans, the ability to claim for legitimate vehicle running costs, to reach the medical practitioner.

Yours faithfully

xxx