By Jordyn Grubisic
Veterans from 10 Returned Services League, RSL, sub-branches based in the McEwen electorate had the opportunity to voice their concerns first-hand to Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh at Mernda on Thursday.
Doreen RSL sub-branch president Wes Wridgway hosted Mr Keogh at a forum at Mernda’s Five Vineyard, which was organised by Member for McEwen Rob Mitchell.
Veterans raised concerns about securing support to help Doreen RSL sub-branch fast-track a permanent site; about rectifying the injustice against many Navy Vietnam veterans who were only granted retrospective war service recognition as an ‘Act of Grace’; and why the ‘long-standing issue’ of the Defence Forces Retirement and Death Benefits fund not been rectified.
There were also questions about why veterans must continue to prove their entitlement eligibility and why assistance is not the same for all veterans receiving help; what steps were being taken to ensure comprehensive mental health support and services; and what benefits available under the Veterans’ Entitlement Act 1986 would transfer to the system under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004.
The McEwen electorate is home to almost 3000 women and men who serve or have served in the Australian Defence Force.
Representatives from RSL branches from Romsey/Lancefield, Wooded, Kilmore/Wallan, Craigieburn and Whittlesea were in attendance, as well as RSL Victoria president Rob Webster, senior vice president Des Callaghan and executive Ange Kenos.
“I think it’s absolutely vital as the Minister for Veteran’s Affairs that I’m out engaging directly with veterans across all the different cohorts… because the type of services is so varied, the experience can be so varied so opportunities like this are very important,” Mr Keogh said.
“Since becoming Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, I’ve been engaging with veterans and families all over the country to hear what works and what doesn’t when it comes to supporting Defence personnel, veterans and families.”
Mr Keogh said he was ‘really happy’ the Department of Veterans Affairs had addressed a backlog of claims that had plagued the department for years.
“There’s a lot more work we need to do there. I’m also proud of responding so quickly to the Royal Commission’s Interim Report recommendations and getting on with the job of tackling legislation reforms that no one has been game to touch for so long,” he said.
“There’s a long way to go still on those things but I’m really glad as a government we are taking those important issues on.”
Mr Mitchell said events like the forum brought veterans together.
“It means you can hear other people’s experiences and we know … there’s a lot of veterans that have had problems going back decades that we’re trying to address,” he said.
“By having veterans come together you start to realise it’s not just a bunch of individuals, it’s a whole group of people impacted and their families too because quite often their families suffer in silence.
“We know a lot of these problems stem back decades but we’re moving to address it.
“We had veterans in our community waiting 1068 days to get their claim heard – not done, just heard – then they waited months and all that carry on before finally getting access.
Mr Mitchell said historical staff cuts to the department had made it difficult to deal with a growing cohort of Middle East veterans returning post-service.
“Obviously you’re going to get backlogs,” he said.
“That’s what we’re trying to address and we’ve nearly got to that promise we made to have those staff in place to assist the process.”
