Maz to Dana
Mrs Vale…
YOU DISAPPOINT ME!
YOU DISAPPOINT EVERY LIVING VETERAN IN THIS COUNTRY!
YOU ARE FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF YOUR INGLORIOUS, INSINCERE & VERY `EX' PREDECESSOR!
You were invited to attend the Bribie Is RSL on the 12th. February for an Open Forum on Veteran's Entitlements, in particular, the TPI Special Payment.
Blue Ryan, who you have yet to meet, (but with whom you will be required to work closely on TPI issues), will be joined by the (much `used' by your predecessor) `National Treasure', Keith Payne VC. They will be speaking to the people to whom YOU owe your office, your prestige & your phenomenal salary!
These men & women are owed a debt of gratitude by this country, and are desperate. Many of them live well below the poverty line. Many of them are young enough to be your children! They wanted to hear you speak to them.
I excused your absence (& publicly defended you) on the grounds of the fact that you would be in Parliament, setting the terms of reference for the Independent Inquiry promised by your government (the one we all voted for). They accepted my line of thought, recognising the fact that ALL veterans, not just TPI's stood to benefit from the Independent Inquiry being got under way asap!
Mick Ryan OAM, President RAE Assn. WA assured me that you are a person of integrity. He said that you had helped, and were continuing to be of assistance to the RAE in that State.
I believed him. He is a friend. But, Mrs. Vale, could it be, that being the Centenary Year of the Royal Australian Engineers, you can see political mileage in helping them? They are, after all, erecting a monument this year which will be dedicated in August 2002. (Do you have your name down to dedicate it? Will Gen. Philips be at your side on that occasion also?).
Are you going to at least come up the $130,000 shortfall in funding that faces them to do the job properly?
No window dressing, Mrs. Vale! The Veteran's of Australia have had enough of that sort of thing, and please believe me when I say that YOU PERSONALLY, are under a microscope! They are currently expecting more of the same, (so that they will not be disappointed, AGAIN!).
Your predecessor became known as `The Minister for Visiting Battle Fields & Opening Monuments… if morning tea is served'!
Watch who you take advice from Mrs. Vale. You have people in your office who `stuffed up' with the previous Minister. The Minister & one of them have gone, one is still there.
If you do not believe me, please feel free to go to the TPI website www.tpivets.com and click onto `Eddie's Forum'.
Don't listen to me. Listen to a Vet… listen to them ALL!
REMEMBER… YOU REMAIN, ALWAYS, THEIR GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVENT!
My taxes may pay your wages, but their blood, sweat, tears & sanity created your job!
I expect an answer to this communication by Wednesday of next week 30th. January, 2002. If it is not forthcoming, I will publish this letter in my own newspaper, and circulate it WIDELY in the Australian media. This is not a threat, Mrs. Vale. This is a heartfelt promise & I keep my promises, unlike your department.
Disgustedly
Marilyn Masters
5498 1024.