PRIME MINISTER
CH7, CR~ L'GAINST DELIVERY EM~ BARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRhIZ MINISTER
RSL IHATIOM'AL CON~ GRESS
SUR~ FERS PARZADISE 31 AUGUST 1987
Your FVncellency, Sir Walter Campbell,
Sir t ." liam Keys,
Sir cln Hines,
Sir Elbert Abbot,
John Z2-ward,
Diot.,' nuished gueots,
Ladloo and Gentlemen.
Thank~ you for your invitation to addreGS the flSL National
Congrer3i3 again.
on JUIJ 1' ny Governmient wao returned to office following
one cO tho nost di1~ ficult tnd challenging pariodo of
econcu-I. c roIstructu'ricJ thzt iLustraiia hao undergone.
The Ccastrous drop in thc pricor, of our exports during
1905-25% m eant that Auc-ralia hAAd to face tough econozaic
decli:: si1 we were to guarantee a proeporous future.
cald. befo.-e and during the coopaign, and I sty agatn, that
we w rot shirk the hazcd decicione that are escential if
vic a~ c to oneure such a lutuce. it is clear our economic
polc.~ csare tnking oiffct. Auctralia io neeting the
chal: of roconotruct. en. oIut we are far froi finished.
T~ his Goernment iG deterOLZod to fUlfill its electoral
mcndL Qo to contintze ttat task~ of building a moro productive
and cc:: kpetitive Australia.
Doop'*. z the zeotP7oint on Government spending tyhich the
naticnmzl oconomic challenge has in-posed, howeverc, I thin% we
have ocd reason to be piroud of our record in defending and
enha.: c~. ng tho riLghto of Australia's veterano.
Motcl our young people have never e~ zperionced the horrore
of war:. Dut no Auctralian ohould be allowod to forgot the
CCCrifi-c QG code by ox-servicamen and women to encure frecdom3
for futuro cjenoratAonz for without those acicrificaG,
Aucotrolia might not be free today. 00 07O 51'
2.
We have Inc~ eacod appropriationo to the Veterznol Affairs
portfolio fioa $ 2.5 billion in 1982-03 to $ 3.0 billion In
1986-07 mu incicoase in real torrce of 37 pot cent ovor our
time in okgilce. The veterans' allocation now ropresuntc
por cent of tho total Commonwealth Budgut.
In reviowing that record, lot meo takc thiG opo!: tunity to
pay tributo to the fortaor Ilinicter for Vaterano, Afairs,
Senator Arthu.~ r Gietzelt. During the four yeara ho served ac
Iiinistor, Arthur made 1uhat can only be called an outatanding
contribution~ to the veterana of Auatralin.
His achievoaxnt ic not to be moasured solely by ueacuring
the size oC hi dopartment's budget. Arthur concentrated on
the quality~ cG well as the quantity of services provided by
the Goverr. 2,, ot to veterans.
When Arthuar took cn the job, an early priority was to
iisprovo tno otandard of care in repatriation hoGPi talC
throughout nuotralia. Thio waa essential if WO Ore to copO
with tho ohcirp increase in tho numbor of veterano who, as
thoy ago, will need treatmont at thoso hospitals.
Revitalioii g the sin~ major Ropatriation tHospitale led to the
provision of c~ ore than $ 05 million since 1903-34 for now
buildingo.
Another $ 20 oilion was provided for specialiced equipment
at the hoczditalG.
This meano Zirst clase health core continueo to be available
to every voteran who needs it.
We are also trying to improve the ease with which veterans
can gain access to our repatriation services. Several new
information sorvices, such as toll-free telephone lines,
simplifiod information brochures and forms, and a customer
liaison nervice, have been introduced to improve the quality
of contact between veterans and their Department.
A second m~ ajor achievement of the Government undar
Arthur Gictzeltvs administration of this portfolio was the
most comprehensive reform of repatriation legislation in
nearly soven decades. This culminated in the proclamation
of the Veterans' Entitlements Act on 22 may 1936. This Act
simplified what had become an obstacle course that made lifa
unnecessaxily difficult for everyone concerned.
A few other features of the record deserve highlighting.
Aged and r2' tended Care Units have been sot up at all
repatriation general hocpitals to assess patients' needs and
refer then to appropriate treatment and community cervices.
The aim is to ensure that patients can stay in their own
homes as long as possible rather than being forced to call
on institutional care before it is really necessary., 0007532
A nurslaU home leave ccheme and respite care fogr patient
carers haive also been introduced. New arrangements for
dental, Gitomotrical and physoiotherapy treatment have
further , Iproved aervice delivory in those areas.
We are OLIGUzing that funding for the Australian War Memorial
reflect3 The need to maintain an accurate record of
Austras11un-3 at war. Funding has alrmost trebled cince
1983-84, to $ 9 million.
To sum ~, therefore, I would reiterate that
Arthur C:, tzelt'n strong record of achievement in this area
over th't last four years reflects the Government's very real
cor t~~ tto veterans.
That cca.-tmant is of course Ghared by the now Minister for
VeterarnsO Affairs, Ben Humphreys.
Many of. : 7oau will know by now that Ben Humphreys is a
QueenalandeLr, the son of a TPI pensioner now doceaaed, and a
m~ ember e~ the Colmnslie RSL branch in Brisbane. E2e is also
Vice ' t~ nof the Queenslrnd Branch of the Totally and
Permane Ay Disabled Soldiers' Association of Australia.
Ben servc, d with the flect air arm in 1953-54 as a national
serv4. ciza-, Go lie bringo a knowledge of the services and
service conditions to his new job.
He [~ Las been~ a very 3iffective Member of rarlia-, imnt oince
1977, 11, a-luding as Government Whip since 1013 Although
thin is Mes firrt portfolio, I know Ben is very well
equippcsc?. " Po take up this now job and to contfnuo the very
close ro.,: tonship that haG been establizhed batwoon'thic
Gove=, nn" and Australiale veterans com~ munity.
LadicB an& Sontlemen,
2n te Liaor Party's policy statement at the recent
oloctie~ t, we clearly stated that under a Lrbor Governnent
vctcEar~ ould be ciuarantood the secure andl digjnified life
they dcezvo.
I or-~ awo-. o that thcro has been a gcat deal of
aprhot. 3on and2 feelingo og Insecurity in the veterans'
comr-unty cince the handinvg down of a Federal Court
ju; Scose111 7hich Loplied thzt the T'P1 pension chould not be
pai~ d ger ho whole og a veteran's life.
Cabinet colsdered c oubf3ission from Ben Hu=. ohreys on thin
issue citweelt and we detorained that this interpretation
of tho ! eZ nuct not be allowod to stand.
Ou-vic-u ic that the TPI penrcion and the intermodiate rate
uZ disLYIty pension arc -1, uot and deserved compensation for
those CL, 2b~ lod an a result of their war servico. The
Govornnz:. tt agroos with the veterans' community that the TPI
and intc.-o2diate rates of disability pensiono should be paid
for Rimco. 000753
Thereforo, my~ Government wil~ l introduce into Prliam~ ent an
amendment to the Veterans' rOntitlementC Act and the Goaraen's
War Penclon and Allowanccr3 Act to ensure that Sp~ ecial that
is, TI and Intermediato irate poncniono, once granted,
continue to be payable indeginitely, except whore thore is
evidence o froud, significant inprovement in health or
rec. unptiotn of employment.
I believe thin decision will be applauded by veterans and
indeed bV the Australian comininity, as a fair one and one
which w~ lenshrine in law the approach that all govarnmentn
have ta: Xcn to these poneioni oinco they were introducod.
The doc~ sion reflactG thiG Government's continuing offorts
to protect and enhance the rights of veterans co they
receivo Ty2iat is due to theoi aG componsation 2or thair
service to the nation.
This Govoe nmant com~ nitmont was manifectod In a nurebor of
SPecifc ProoiGOG to voteravn uhich we nado during the
re-cent oloction cmimpaign.
The firet of these wac the promiec that we would maintain a
separate DJopartsment of veterans' Affairs a promise which
we have icpt ns part of the rmaccive reorganising of our
depairtroz al istructures which I announced after the
clectioci.
we also p : orzlsed to extend full medical end hospital
treitnen2-to all roturnod ex-cervicewomen from the Second
World War., This initiative will bonefit come 93 wonan not
currentl: 7 eligible.
A Departnont of Veterans' Affairs study in 1985 ohowed that
many of these women are living in most difficult financial
circumstances. They were discriminated against In pay and
conditions during their war oervice; they are on average
older than their male counterparts; more than a third of
them have never married; and many of then are now elderly,
alone Pnnd in poor health.
I must cetress, however, that extending this benefit to tho~ e
ex-servicowomen is on the understanding that it reflects
their opocial circumstances. It is not to be taken as a
precedent. by other groups. Indeed the Government has
receivod assurances to this effect from the RSL on behalf of
the ox-ocervice community generally.
A further initiative announced during the election campaign
was tho commitment to provide special compensation to
survivinS Australian ex-servicemen illegally interned in
Nazi concentration campo for protracted periods during the
Second world war.
This would be a personal compensation payment of $ 10,000 per
person, given in recognition of the fact that these POW's
were dotained illegally and subjected to brutal treatment
very much harsher than Q-nything permitted under the terms of
the Geneva Convention. 0 007 54 I
Also anncu~ nced in the election was the Government's plans to
expand the Repatriation Artificial Limb and Appliance Centre
in Albuir, as part of our continuing national improvement
program to ensure that appropriate services are available.
At a diflarent level, I believe that one of the most
significa~ nt events for the vetorans' community in 1987 will
be the Welcome Home March for Vietnam Veterans' in October.
My colleaguos and I have expressed our strong support of
this m~ tch.
in addit ion to a grant we have ziade to assist the
organicers, we will also provide transport for many disabled
and diiiadvantaged Vietnam veterans to give them the
oppoftunity to attend the wolcome home parade.
Many thoucands of Auatralian Vietnam veterans, Including
nursoo0 w~ ill be joined in the w~ arch by their Pmerican and
Now Zead nd comrades.
Mlore thcin 200,000 people attended a similar event for United
Statos V61etnari Veterans in Chicago last year. I urge as
many o2-3,-ou as possible to attend on 3 Octobez, because
recogaition by veterans of other conflicts of the szcrifices
mado byf our Vietnam veterans is integral to wider community
rccogni : ion.
r f~ ro~ y believe that the October parade uil be tho
culmination of a long procoss of reconciliation z~ nd
commun. ty acceptance of itG obligations to the veterana of
Vie taaD.
I belicvo wo' mnust honestly acknowledge that our involvem2ent
in Vietcnom d~ id cause deep divisions in the Auctralian
comnity. But whoteover our individual views on tho marito of
AustaXicn involvement, we mst equally acknowledge the
comr2At2 courage and integrity of our arrned forces who
servead -I Vietnan.
No one cAiould ever have quastioned those charccteristics
nor oheuvd anyone ever have questioned our community
obligntlono to the Vietnam, veterans.
Ladies cnd gontloon,
The Goiznrznt is confident that the excellent relationship
we chcc with the n~ SL and other ex-service organisations
will c , niinuo, for that relationship is a crucial part of
the coo-, u-. ratve 6pirit ue havo fostered within this nation
Ginco r
The ef'-u;: tivenesc of the Government's veterans' affairs
program. in dcpando on our viorking together and siaintaimiing a
mutual ocrhange of information. With Den Humiphrays I look
forward t: o working again with your: N~ ational President and
anecutivze An the yearo ahoad. 0007IL5
Sir William Koye' contributAon to this work of serving the
voterano' com-unity dese. rveo opecial mention. n~ o and I have
built up a cloco working relationship which has certainly
kept me Lt touch with the nooda and opiniona of veterans,
and whichi hao I bolieve kept him abreaot of the thinking of
tho Govoament on issues affecting veteranc.
The Govcrnment hau a great zoopect for your c: portise and
cecperienco. I know that in the future you will not only
continue ko art un to probloe asi they arise, but that you
will comc kortynrd tith constructive ouggestions as to
effectiia oolutions.
That can. call! be of benofit to every veteran.
Ladico c , a gontlomen,
I hava zut dwelt in any detail on the Government~ s new
defence i.; trateigy as articulated In the recent White Paper.
All votczans and others With an interest in defence policy
trill ho acevor recognise that document as the most effective
and uct. fanrsighted Gtrategy over formulated for the
fulacnot og the most fundanental responGIbility of any
Auztralj. a: Government the defence and security of our
nat ion.
it io a 5; ugthor matter of pride for me that my Government
hao a; tAo a -2& rm and conotructive relationship with the
indeed 7, gratified recently during the visit of senior
meabers o tho US Administration to be told by them that th3
allianco Kelationship between our two countries had never
been clor.
At the eaotime, my Government has opened new channels of
conmunicotion with the Soviat Union, laying the foundations
of a bU[ t. 1raesslikc and mutually beneficial relationship,
deGpitO tl~ o profound political differences which will
continuo io separate us.
Within Th c gramework of those relationships, Australia has
concizt(. rily tried to use whatever influence it has to
enoure vii'blc, verifiablo treaty arrangenentc which may
build a vimre stable, more peaceful world.
It is a r. tter of great importance thereforc that the United
StateG cr~ cd the Soviet union appear to be on the verge of an
agreement to reduce their arsenals of Intermediate N~ uclear
Forces. This would be the first time since the nuclear genie was let
loose in "' 945 that two nations have agreed to reduce tho
number oE their weapons. Previous agreements have limited
the rato of increase of offensive nuclear weapons, but not
achieved actuA cuts. 000701)
No one uiderstands better than veterans the true horrors of
war. Perhaps then, no one should welcome more than veterans the
imminent possibility of such an agreement which may allow
the world at last to divert its resources away from the
creatioc of forces of destruction towards the creation of
the moanu to feed, clothe and shelter our fellow human
beings I speakl tIo you therefore as the leader of the Government
committed to a strong and cffective defence, and to the
cause of peaco.
We are a Government which fully recognises the important
contrikti on which veterans have made to the security of our
country in time of conflict and peril.
I wish to assure you today that those convictions will
continue to guide our policies in the period ahead. 0007 57