Veterans Comments on Kim Beazley's Plan For Veterans

Below is an email I have sent off to Kim Beazley. I will be meeting the press in Mandurah tomorrow and hopefully will put a few words in on the TPI issue.

A

For Kim Beazley

Dear Kim,

I have read your Veterans Affairs Policy document in detail and also the press release of 16th October 2001 of which a section is shown below and taken from your web site at the following link:

http://www.alp.org.au/media/1001/kbmsvets261001.html

Reviews

Labor will conduct a two-part independent review.

First, there will be a review of the Temporary and Permanent Incapacitated (T&PI) and Extreme Disablement Adjustment (EDA) pensions.

Labor believes that an Independent Review is the most appropriate way to investigate the concerns of veterans.

The review will address, among other issues:

Firstly, I would like to point out the T&PI is Totally and Permanently Incapacitated not 'Temporary' as shown in your press release. Maybe that is why us TPIs believe the politicians are not aware of just who we are i.e. Totally and Permanently Incapacitated war veterans (in most cases). Please amend your site.

Secondly and most importantly just why in the hell do you need a review. The TPI Association has been fighting this issue with the Howard Government over the past years. You as Opposition have been fully aware of this and yet you talk of a review. The RSL and other ESOs have been behind the TPI Association over the erosion of the TPI pension (compensation). Scott's office has agreed that there has been erosion yet you talk of a review.

If Labor has been so caring for us veterans then why did Kim Beazley ignore us TPIs in Canberra where we rallied outside Parliament House. You were no more that 10 metres from us when you addressed the ANSETT Rally and yet you ignored us. When asked to talk to us by our members you said 'No thanks' and walked away.

I had personally asked Graeme Edwards to ask you to come down and talk to us TPIs. Graeme a war veteran and fellow Parliamentarian could not get you to come and talk. So much for your concern for veterans.

Also I was in the gallery in the Senate on 19th September when Senator Len Harris put a motion forward on the TPI issues and the Labor Party, Liberal Party and National Party Senators voted against the motions. You in your Veterans Affairs Policy say you (Labor) support the veterans. If you do, then why did the Senate vote against the motion?

You are quite aware that us war veterans are at the mercy of our government. We have no recourse to go through the court system to get compensation as it is the responsibility of the government to look after its veterans. Well what a lousy job is being done. The compensation that us Totally and Permanently Incapacitated war veterans get is $360.00 per week. You are aware that the TPI Association is asking the TPI pension to be benchmarked at 75% of MTAWE and be indexed to MTAWE or the CPI whichever is the greatest. So why a review. Erosion has taken place, you are aware of that for a fact. TPI have suffered by having their quality of life shattered due to service for their country, many have suffered family separations (divorce), their kids have suffered and in the day on two income families, the TPI has little to live on.

We want to live with some dignity. We are proud to be veterans but we fail to understand why our country is letting us down.

In finality, I ask that if you persist with and independent study (which I consider is not warranted) that you at least give us TPIs and interim increase in the TPI pension eg in line with the RSL proposal of $60.00 per fortnight and introduce indexation to MTAWE or CPI whichever is the higher so that at least we can try and get our heads above water while the review is under way. Both you and I know that if such a review is to be conducted, then it could be a year or two to be concluded. The TPI Association was quite prepared to accept the benchmarking of the TPI pension to 75% of MTAWE to be introduced over two or three budgets.

Awaiting your response.

R

TPI

Mandurah WA

The ALP has NOTHING in their Election Policy for TPIs.

And another.

'No bloody different than the present bunch, I can't believe they think us that stupid, I suppose that's the nature of hope you'd think we were donkeys being offered a carrot so to speak. It just goes to show what they really think of their servicemen, in particular the lads going to war at this very moment. As far as I'm concerned it borders on sedition or whatever.

A pox on the lot of them.'

Have a look at the reply I got back from ALP Campaign HQ. My response to their response is below. Pricks will not listen.

A

For Kim Beazley,

WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

At least you got the site fixed.

However, you are still missing the point on the TPI Issue. Us TPI veterans belong to other Ex-service organizations such as the RSL, Vietnam Veterans Group etc. When it comes to the issue on compensation for TPIs, us war veterans look to the TPI Association to push this issue not other ESOs. Granted they may have some input but the TPI Association looks after TPI matters, that is why we are members.

Kim Beazley does not need a review. The RSL are behind the TPI Association and Kim Beazley will find many other ESOs joining behind the TPI Association to push it case. The past Minister for Veterans Affairs - Scott was trying to divide and conquer the TPI Association by playing up to other ESOs to try and show disunity. We are aware of the game he played and Kim Beazley is about to find out that the TPI community is getting stronger and stronger each day with the pushing of benchmarking and indexation of the TPI Pension (compensation). All the facts have been put on the table in the past couple of years in Canberra, so Kim Beazley knows just what they are and does NOT need another review.

Please answer my questions that I put to him. There are over 3,000 veterans in the Brand electorate and many are TPI. Kim Beazley needs to talk to us now, before the election and gets things right. We are not prepared to wait another three or four years while the government pussy foots around.

This issue is now being canvassed right around the country within the TPI community and the veteran community, it will not go away and Kim Beazley needs to understand that fact. All we want is a fair go. Another review is not the way for Labor to go. One Nation, Democrats, Greens and the Independents are backing us fully with their policies but the major parties are still playing cat and mouse. Get real, bite the bullet and do what you are supposed to be doing. Look after your war veterans.

R

TPI

MANDURAH WA

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

From: Natsect Information

To:

Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 12:10 PM

Subject: RE: Labor's Veterans Affairs Policy

We apologize for the mistake in the Press Release regarding the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Veterans. Unfortunately errors can be made when transferring statements to the website and we do apologize, the situation has now been rectified.

The ALP decided to undertake a review of the situation as we have received numerous submissions and ideas from not only TPI Associations but also from many other ex-service organisations. Therefore we believe a review is the best method to reach an equitable solution. (WRONG AGAIN. The TPI Association is supported by the RSL - the country biggest ESO. Other ex-service organisations are falling in with the TPI Assocaition's proposal because they now understand that matters concerning TPIs are better left with the TPI Association to look after. Kim you are beginning to sound like Scott by trying to fragment veterans. Proposals put forward by other ESOs are old news not current. As I said, ESOs are with the TPI Association proposal, so get it right. We do not need another REVIEW.)

Yours sincerely,

Information Unit

ALP Campaign Headquarters

Agreed.

C

t.

Totaly agree with you.

S

L wrote:

New Message on TPIvets

Kim Beazley's Plan for Veterans

Reply

Reply to SenderRecommend Message 7 in Discussion

From: L

Agreed.C

From: Sent: 11/10/2001 11:08 AM

SITREP on Beazley's Electorate of Brand.

G'day blokes,

It is amazing just what a couple of weeks of campaigning can do for your cause. Here in the electorate of Brand there has been plenty of action going on in highlighting the plight of us TPIs.

We have had Jim Dalton - Independent running for the Senate visiting and talking to us, Keith Woollard - Independent Liberal for Forests giving us his full support.

Well Keith sent a flier out through the electorate and it was all to do with our TPI issue, on top of this he left his final comments before the election and guess what? they were on the TPI issue.

Kim Beazley must have taken notice of a few emails and Keith's flier because he sent one out to the veterans in Brand supporting the TPI issue.

Yes, a couple of weeks in politics is a long time. Imagine if we could do this all over the country. Well we might have to if the pollies do not come through with their promises, so bear it in mind. We had little opportunity to get our act together for this election but if we get screwed again, then I suggest we are ready for the next.

This country has a vast quantity of veterans, or families of veterans. They all know the impact of having their loved ones sent away to fight. Unfortunately, some of us veterans end up TPI but you can bet your bottom dollar that other veterans will come to our assistance once they are aware of our plight. So mates keep up the good fight for a 'Fair Go'. Tonight election's result will give us a bit of an insight into just where we go from here.

Being in WA we will be the last lot to vote as those on the Eastern seaboard will already have cast votes. Fingers crossed that we get a couple of pollies with balls enough to fight for us.

take care and Persevere

A