PRIME MINISTER
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY EMBARGOED UNTIL DELIVERY
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER
1988 NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE
RETURNED SERVICES LEAGUE
CANBERRA 5 SEPTEMBER 1988
Like its predecessors, this 1988 Bicentennial Congress of
the Returned Services League is a proud and significant
event. It reminds us of the great ANZAC tradition the tradition
of selflessness and courage demonstrated by our servicemen
and women in the past.
And it reminds us of the RSL's tradition of service, both to
veterans and to the community at large.
For these reasons the Government was proud to respond to the
RSL's request for financial assistance to stage this
Congress.
But this Congress is particularly salient given that it is
the last one over which Sir William Keys will preside.
I will be delivering some specific words of thanks to Bill
at his farewell dinner on Thursday, so at this point I will
make the brief, but nonetheless heartfelt, comment that his
leadership, his consultative style, and let's be frank, his
hard bargaining have substantially helped ensure the RSL,
remains the respected national organisation it has always
been. Bill has truly set a high standard of achievement for
his successor.
That combination of hard bargaining and constructive
dialogue is important.
We, in Government, have sought to ensure that veterans get
the support and the services they justly deserve. And we
have worked hard to ensure that the scarce veterans' funds
which we have at our disposal are directed to veterans,
where they should be directed, and not at bureaucrats or
other elements of administration. And we will continue to
do so, in cooperation with the RSL. 17 1971
Because if there is one thing of which the RSL can be sure,
it is this. This Government honours its commitments. This
Government honours our veterans. And this Government is
prepared to work constructively with those prepared to work
constructively with us.
This does not of course mean we agree on every issue. It
means that where we have legitimate differences, as we no
doubt will, we work to resolve them not in a spirit of
confrontation but of cooperation.
It is in this context that I say I trust that the
outstanding record of achievement which is Bill Keys' legacy
will continue to mark the partnership between the Labor
Government and the RSL.
What must impress anyone surveying Australia in its
Bicentennial Year is the very great respect with which the
nation regards its veterans community and its currently
serving members of the armed forces.
This magnificent Defence Force Academy is a case in pointit
has already established a sound reputation for equipping
cadets for the wide range of roles which modern defence
service personnel discharge.
I am impressed too by the continuing willingness in the
community to commemorate publicly the sacrifices and the
achievements of our Defence Forces.
This year the Commonwealth Government has proudly supported
a number of initiatives in this regard.
Next December, the new national memorial to the Australian
Army will be dedicated on Anzac Parade.
The Australian gas industry donated an Eternal Flame to the
Australian War Memorial as a Bicentennial gift to the
nation. This was lit at the 1988 Anzac Day Dawn Service, on
the same day as the Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen
unveiled a new statue of the Gallipoli hero, John Simpson
Kirkpatrick, with his donkey.
The Chapel from the Changi Prisoner of war Camp has been
reconstructed in the Royal military College at Duntroon, and
dedicated as the National Prisoner of War Memorial to honour
all Australian POW's of all services, in all areas.
Such memorials display a new maturity pervading our national
attitude. And most strikingly, this maturity is reflected in the
recognition at last extended to our Vietnam veterans. I
have consistently maintained, that regardless of opinions of
the rights or wrongs of that war one cannot doubt the
courage and integrity of those Australians whose task it was
to fight it.
For this reason I attended with pride the ' Welcome Home'
Parade held in Sydney-last October. For the same reason I
was pleased to see the first national Vietnam Veterans Day
held on 18 August, the 22nd anniversary of the Battle of
Long Tan.
Equally, one cannot fail to be impressed by the way in which
Australians show their preparedness to honour the war dead
of other nations. After the Turkish Government agreed to
the dedication of Anzac Cove in Gallipoli in 1985, the
decision was taken to unveil in Canberra a memorial to Kemal
Ataturk, father of the Turkish nation and our one-time
enemy. Later this month, plaques are to be unveiled at Garden
Island on Sydney Harbour, on the initiative of the Naval
Historical Society. These plaques will recall the memory of
the Japanese crewmen killed in the midget submarine attack
in 1942.
I understand this decision has upset some people, including
RSL members. Let me point out that the decision to erect
the memorial was not taken by the Government. However I
think the plaques attest to our capacity our maturity
not just to honour those who fought but also to let time
heal the wounds of war so we can concentrate on the new
demands of peace.
Side by side with this new maturity, Australians are
continuing to demonstrate their compassion and their
capacity to care for their fellow citizens who have served
in time of war a capacity the Australian community has
displayed at least since the establishment of the
Repatriation System seventy years ago.
Just as importantly, Australians are continuing to show
their capacity to respond to the changing needs of veterans.
My Government has good reason to be proud of its
achievements in delivering new and improved services to
Australia's veteran community.
In the last election campaign. I promised that we would not
abolish the Department of Veteran's Affairs but would retain
it as a separate ministry to cater for the special needs of
the veterans' community.
AS you know, we are retaining the ministry and an
independent department and I believe that under the capableadministration
of my colleague Ben Humphreys it continues to
perform a valuable service.
In the last election I also promised two specific
initiatives requested by the RSL.
These were first, to extend full medical and hospital
treatment to all returned servicewomen of the Second world
war; and second, to provide special compensation to
surviving Australian servicement illegally interned in
German concentration camps for a protracted period during
World War II.
Both commitments were honoured in our first post-election
budget. Also in the last election, I promised to refer to the VEA
Monitoring Committee the question of higher compensation for
full General Rate pensioners whose disabilities have
worsened after age 65 or retirement.
we not only referred, we have acted.
Last month's Budget introduced a new category of benefit
the. Extreme Disablement Adjustment, which will be paid as a
supplement to the General Rate of pension.
The combined payments will be at 150 per cent of the General
Rate for many veterans over the age of 65 who do not receive
a T and PI pension but who are severely incapacitated as a
result of active service.
It is yet another demonstration, and an important one, of
this Government's commitment to protecting the legitimate
interests of the Australian veterans' community.
I was particularly pleased that we could introduce this new
measure while Bill was still President of the RSL, as he has
been championing this personally for many years.
More generally the Government is giving full and sympathetic
consideration to the other 57 recommendations of the VEA
Monitoring Committee. The Government has taken decisions on
all but 20 of those recommendations. Those 20 are still
under examination. But of the 38 considered to date only
four recommendations have not been accepted a fair batting
average for any report!
These initiatives build upon a substantial record of
achievement, not least in respect of veterans health
services.
A major public works program over the past five years, at a
cost of more than $ 92 million, has continued the expansion
and modernisation of Repatriation hospitals.
Aged and Extended Care units have been established in all
States to assess patients and refer them to the most
appropriate form of treatment or care.
we have also joined with the South Australian Government and
Flinders University to locate the world's first Chair of
Palliative Care at Daw Park Repatriation General Hospital in
Adelaide.
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Another initiative in which I take particular interest is
the Joint Ventures scheme an innovative program which
helps veterans and war widows stay in their homes, while
maintaining their independence.
The number of projects approved under this scheme hit the
200 mark in June this year a measure of its great success.
But now we need to go further to ensure that the
Repatriation system continues to deliver the care that
veterans deserve.
As the number of veterans over the age of 75 and the number
of war widows rises, their need for medical and hospital
services will inevitably rise.
In looking to the future we will ensure that their need for
effective, easily accessible, high-quality hospital and
health care is met.
And it is important to appreciate that even now those
services are delivered not just by repatriation hospitals
alone: over half our veterans receive hospital care in
community rather than repatriation hospitals.
This is hardly surprising.
over 70 per cent of veterans in the three Eastern States
live more than 15 kilometres away from their nearest
Repatriation Hospital. In Tasmania it is 60 per cent; in
South Australia and Western Australia, 45 per cent
respectively.
Effective integration of the Repatriation and State hospital
systems will not simply allow best use to be made of the
increasingly complex hospitals infrastructure. It will also
give veterans better choice, better service, greater
convenience. We have approached State Premiers about this issue,
stressing the Government's concern to obtain priority
hospital access for veterans and war widows, and to maintain
the high quality health care they require.
We are aiming to integrate repatriation hospitals with State
health systems by 1 July 1995, or earlier if satisfactory
arrangements can be made sooner.
But let me repeat here in this Congress the assurances that
I have already given the RSL in writing that the Government
will not proceed if the Returned Services League has
reasonable cause for dissatisfaction with the arrangements
that are proposed. This is a commitment on which you can
rely. And to back that commitment we have arranged that
there be the fullest consultations with the veterans
community, led by the RSL, as-we enter the necessary
negotiations with the States. 1801
Ladies and gentlemen,
There is another outstanding matter of concern to the RSL on
which a decision is imminent.
We have announced our intention to transfer the mortgage
portfolio of the Defence Service Homes Corporation to the
private sector.
The negotiations are now well advanced and I want to tell
you, today, that the deal we are cutting is a good one for
veterans. No major benefits will be lost for those currently eligible
or serving out their qualifying period. Indeed there will
be significant enhancements.
For new mortgages, the ten month wait for funds will go and
you will have access to commercial top up funds from the
financial institution involved without additional fees and
charges. This is in addition to the improvements of last
year which ensure that when you move you can transfer your
DSH mortgage to the new property.
As you know the Government also has had under review the
question of home ownership assistance arrangements for
recruits to the forces after Miay 1985.
We expect to be able to announce decisions shortly.
Ladies and gentlemen,
I have concentrated today mostly on matters of direct
relevance to the veterans' community. But I know you have a
continuing interest in broader matters of Government policy.
I an proud that in a time of very great international
economic and political change, and not least change in our
own region, Australia is successfully adapting to meet the
new challenges of the l~ ate twentieth century.
Australia plays a full and active role in the diplomacy of
the region. we are building our defence self-reliance to
boost our capacity to protect the broad strategic interest
of the West.
We are modernising our defence forces through, for
example, building new submarines and frigates here in
Australia. And we are working hard to increase our defence
cooperation with our regional friends.
There is not the time to develop any of these themes in
detail. But I do want to highlight with pride one aspect of our
defence activities our contribution to the United Nations
Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group.
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The 350-strong peacekeeping force, drawn from 23 countries,
will observe and report any breaches of the ceasefire
agreement without becoming involved in any armed conflict.
Australia has an excellent record of involvement in
peacekeeping forces around the world. We are showing our
capacity to bolster and to defend peace. Our contribution
in Iran-Iraq is a credit to us as a nation and to
Australia's defence forces.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As all of you know, Members of Parliament are already
occupying their new and permanent Parliament House on
Capital Hill.
You probably don't know that one of the very first
ceremonial functions performed in the House of
Representatives and Senate Chambers related to the RSL.
I had the pleasure of moving a motion, which was passed
unanimously by the House, expressing the thanks of
Parliament to all those organisations, within Australia and
overseas, which provided gifts now adorning the new
building. one of the most striking of those gifts is the RSL's the
polished granite fountain surmounted by the symbolic image
of four military caps the army slouch hat, the flat topped
navy hat, the airforce forage cap and the veil of the
nursing corps.
Inscribed on this fountain are the words: " Look around you.
These are the things they believed in". As the visitor
looks around he or she will see our great national
institutions of democracy, justice, art and learning truly
the things Australia's servicemen and women believed in, and
for which many of them died.
Seeing that Parliament has unanimously expressed its thanks
for this and the other gifts, it is a pleasure to be able to
pass on those thanks to you personally and to assure you
that its striking message will not be forgotten in
Parliament House.
I wish you well in your Congress deliberations. I sincerely
hope that the process of consultation and discussion that
has been so carefully fostered by Sir William Keys will
continue it has been of great benefit to all veterans
since the Labor Government took office. It is in the
interests of veterans and the community at large that we
build on these most recent achievements into the next
quarter of a century. 1803: