VEA Review
-----Original Message-----
From: Robert & Dianne [mailto:rfmay@bigpond.com]
Sent: Thursday, 14 March 2002 11:17 PM
To: every Federal politician, veterans lists and some news media
Subject: VEA Review
I am forwarding you a copy of a mail I have just dispatched to the Minister of Veterans Affairs. I am asking you help with this matter.
----- Original Message ----- From:
Robert & DianneTo:
The Hon Danna Vale Member for Hughes Minister for Veterans AffairsSent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 10:40 PM
Subject: VEA Review
Minister
HOW DARE YOU
HOW DARE YOU
If I may quote to you your words from and interview with Marilyn from Beyond the Fences
Now I have to wait and see what the recommendations are, and I can’t pre-empt that, and I have to wait, when I do get those recommendations, even then, I’m going to have to consider how I have to respond to them
Marilyn, I can’t do it for this next budget, gotta be honest with you. We have a review that’s not going to come in until November.
No, not this budget.. there isn’t… No Way, because this is what the review’s looking at. I mean, you might as well not have a review. This is not just the only thing the review’s looking at.
SO YOU WOULD DARE TO BLATANTLY LIE
You will do Nothing for Service personnel who have are TPI that is TOTALLY AND PERMANENTLY INCAPACITATED. But you will hand out Gold cards to anyone with qualifying service over the age of 70 from 1 July 2002 just because they are 70 and may have no war caused injuries and illnesses. (Your press release VA17 Thursday 14 March 2002)
Yet on the 6th of March, EIGHT DAYS BEFORE THIS, you stated that NOTHING relating to the VEA would change until after the review.
Well that didn't last long. VERY quick review.
Your department has costed the extensions of the Gold Card at
$72 MILLION OVER 3 YEARS
($24 MILLION A YEAR)
Your Department has costed the indexing of TPI to MTAWE or CPI whichever is the greater at
$44 MILLION OVER 4 YEARS
($11 MILLION A YEAR)
Your Department has costed the removal of the disability payments from being counted as income by Centrelink at
$27 MILLION A YEAR
so if you take the choice of assisting veterans with health problems it would cost $38 million a year
BUT NO
YOU WOULD DARE
to take the choice of helping aged veterans who are not ill at a cost of $24 million a year
I am sorry MINISTER but you have just lost faith BIG time with the veteran community.
Just one last question MINISTER
Do the Veterans receiving the Gold Card KNOW that they are receiving this at the cost of their TPI comrades.
I BET THEY DON'T
Minister this mail will be widely circulated.
Robert May
TPI
PO Box 363 Kingscote 5223
27 Hawthorn Ave Emu Bay 5223
08/85535239
0418820641
Veterans' Association of Australia
'Enjoy today, it was paid for by a veteran'
'43%er and proud of it - not happy with it - but proud of it')