Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I won't detain the House for long but I want to follow on from the shadow minister for veterans affairs and say that we have a bill before us in this place. We treat the bills on their own judgement and this is a good piece of legislation based on evidence, which is, of course, important. The practical support that comes for veterans out of this bill is welcome and that's why we want to get it through. We want to get it done. I just want to take a moment to say that we have to do a lot better by our veterans in this country. We have had six ministers for veterans affairs over nine years. That's an incredible turnover. In any other workplace, you might think that there were some significant problems, considering that this important portfolio has been handed around so often by those opposite. It shouldn't be a prize for factional battles. It should be of the utmost importance because it has real-world effects, including in my electorate, where there is still no proper wellbeing centre after I committed to one six years ago. Successive governments have failed to make sure that it was up and running, as promised, on time. We need to do a lot better, and I look forward to seeing a Labor government to make sure that that comes to pass.

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