Cathy O'Toole (Herbert, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes:

(a) the immeasurable commitment and sacrifices that our Australian Defence Force (ADF) members make to serve our nation;

(b) that ADF families play a pivotal role in supporting our current serving ADF men, women, ex-serving personnel and veterans; and

(c) that Australia has a proud military history, and as such we have an obligation to all of those who have served in the name of our nation for our freedom;

(2) acknowledges Labor's commitments to veterans, ex-serving personnel and their families, which includes:

(a) Australia's first Military Covenant that will establish a formal agreement to ensure the nation's ADF personnel are fully supported during and after their service, and will legislate regular reporting to the parliament on how Australia is supporting military personnel;

(b) a $121 million investment for a comprehensive Veterans' Employment Policy to provide greater support to our defence personnel as they transition to civilian life;

(c) the development of a Family Engagement and Support Strategy for Defence Personnel and Veterans to provide greater support for military families; and

(d) supporting ex-service organisations' calls for the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation to be included in the terms of reference for the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry; and

(3) calls on the Government to support veterans, ex-service personnel and their families by matching Labor's commitments.

Today, I am proud to represent the largest garrisoned city in the country and to move this motion in this place. I have made it known in this place that I am proud to represent the veterans and serving and ex-serving personnel and their families in my community. The electorate of Herbert is well aware of, and is grateful for, the significant contribution that these men and women and their families make to both the social and economic fabric of our community.

I have stood up in this place and fought for veterans and their families in every single debate since I was elected. I believe that the men and women who have served or are serving this great nation deserve nothing less than a strong representative fighting in their corner. It is right and just that, when our men and women have put their lives on the line and their families have made sacrifices at home, they get a fair deal from the country they served to protect. When a man or woman undertakes to serve his or her country, we must in turn undertake a commitment to support them and their loved ones in their time of need. If we are being honest in this place, can the Morrison government say that what it is doing by our current serving and ex-serving personnel, veterans and their families is good enough? Are the veterans who are transitioning from the ADF to civilian life—500 annually in Townsville alone—taken care of and supported after they leave? When I speak with defence personnel in my electorate, veterans and their families are telling me this government does not appear to be on their side.

Independent reports have shown that unemployment in the veteran community transitioning from the ADF is around 30 per cent. This is not good enough. The AIHW report found that the suicide rate for ex-serving men is 14 per cent higher than that of men in the general population. This is not good enough. Labor's commitments are important, and it is so incredibly important that they have bipartisan support. Our current serving and ex-serving personnel, veterans and their families deserve bipartisanship.

The military covenant's principles and standards will be enshrined in legislation and forward government departments will be required to report progress on an annual basis in order to prove that the covenant is working and delivering in the best interests of our serving and ex-serving personnel, veterans and their families. The military covenant will not just be a collection of nice words; it will have reportable actions attached.

Properly targeted funding is also critical in order to address the high rate of unemployment. Labor's $121 million veterans' employment policy commitment will provide the assistance needed and will certainly go much further than the Morrison government's $8.3 million employment commitment. Labor's family engagement and support strategy and the inclusion of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation into the banking royal commission must be supported by the Morrison government. Veterans and their families have every right to know that their superannuation fund is performing in their best interests. And it needs to be supported right now, because it is the right thing to do.

I call on the Morrison government to support our ADF, ex-serving personnel, veterans and their families to match Labor's commitments. Families play a huge role in supporting serving, ex-serving personnel and veterans and, as such, they too deserve to be treated well and supported.

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