Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In the many years before I came to this place, I served for 15 as an officer in the Army and, before that, for the better part of two years within the Australian Federal Police. So I felt this was a good opportunity today to come here and speak on the Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (International Agreements and Other Measures) Bill 2008. I do think that my background is unique in this place and, because this bill covers the circumstances of defence veterans and former members of the AFP and what we used to call the COMPOL, or Commonwealth Police, I felt this was a good opportunity.

Like the last couple of speakers, during this week I did a bit of thinking about this bill and looked forward to the debate, both sides of which looked like they were going to add a great deal of value. But in sitting here and listening I have become greatly concerned about some of the changes, which we have found out about through various means, that are delaying access to pensions by partners of veterans for 8½ years. That part of this bill only surfaced through the release of a document that we managed to come in contact with.

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