Copy of Media Release I have issued today - 8th August 2013 Media Release Palmer United Party Offers $640 million Veterans’ Affairs Pension Deal A Palmer United Party government will deliver a $640 million deal to boost the pensions and provide back pay to former defence force members and their families, Candidate for Hotham Sam Porter announced today. Mr Porter said the Palmer United Party was committed to a fairer and more just approach to Veterans’ Affairs after more than two decades of neglect from both Labor and the Coalition. “For than 20 years Australian veterans, ex-military personnel and their families have been betrayed by the major political parties in their fight to be fairly remunerated,” he said. Mr Porter said while civilian aged pensions and politicians’ pensions have been regularly increased in line with the Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE), military pensions have been linked to the CPI. “The CPI is by far the lower socio-economic indicator and in the last 20 years it has plummeted in comparison with MTAWE,” he said. “This has resulted in an injustice for the approximately 319,000 veterans and their families who have struggled under an inferior pension system.” Mr Porter said the Palmer United Party would introduce a fairer indexation of military pensions and superannuation as well as provide back pay. He said Palmer United Party would ensure the Gold Card benefit scheme was expanded to peacekeepers who enlisted and served between 1988 and 2004. “The Palmer United Party will also ensure all Gold Card Veterans’ spouses automatically receive Gold Card medical coverage without having to prove their spouse’s death was ‘war caused’,” Mr Porter said. Mr Porter added that under a Palmer United Party government the Department of Veterans Affair would be led by a standalone minister. “The Veteran Affairs’ Minister in the Rudd government is also responsible for major portfolios such as Defence Science and Personnel as well as Indigenous Health,” he said. “Having a standalone minister will provide the department with leadership to improve its focus and capability to properly address a number of deficiencies.” ENDS For further information contact Sam Porter on 0490 098 514
Posted on: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 23:11:05 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015