Bruce Billson (Dunkley, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

This is another example of where the collaborative nature of the claims processing pathway is something not well understood by the opposition. With 32,000 claims a year coming through, some of which actually relate back to military service more than 60 years ago, with a cursory glance, anybody with even a passing interest in the veterans area would know that those claims can be very complex. They can involve a large number of separate ailments. They do require a proactive compilation of information. That is the collaboration in our system and it is a shame that people seem to attack it for base political motives. There is no mention of the enormous improvement and reduction in the long outstanding claims that I am sure would have been of interest to the veterans community—but the opposition seems to overlook that—as well as improvements in the claims processing pathway.

The issues regarding the Vietnam Veterans Health Study have been well canvassed. As the member for Cowan would know, I have discussed the views of the Vietnam Veterans Federation. They recognise that they had not seen the whole media press event, where four volumes were introduced, nor did they recognise that I did say the most compelling of that work was the national servicemen’s study as it neutralised the healthy soldier effect. (Time expired)

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

Ordered that the bill be reported to the House without amendment.

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