Andrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I feel a bit like a proud dad, even though the member for Menzies is not my son; although, he is probably young enough to be my son. It reminds me of the time post World War II when this place had substantial numbers of members who were veterans of World War II. We all look back on history with hindsight vision but I want to say that, by and large, with some exceptions—which I will not name so as not to embarrass them—the debate on this motion has been exemplary. It gives me a scintilla of hope that in this place we can reach across the aisle and work together for the betterment of this country.

They were outstanding speeches from the members for Spence, Menzies and Braddon. I can't match them and will not pretend to. I have never served in uniform. I have not experienced what you great gentlemen have and I will not even pretend to. What Australians should take some comfort from is that members from across the political divide in this place, particularly those members who have served—I'm not saying exclusively by any stretch—that it gives me great hope that that spirit of service you employed while you were in uniform, you will carry that through into your service into this place. I'm particularly referring to a members for Menzies and Spence because they are newbies in this place and, hopefully, my alerting them to these issues will go some way to warding off the shards of partisanship which will no doubt be instilled upon them in this place if they are here long enough. But it's those sort of contributions that you've just made that make this country a better place. And it's those sorts of contributions which will no doubt, hopefully, lead to a better system for our veterans. I've been sitting there listening dutifully to these great contributions, by and large, with some exceptions which I won't mention as I don't want to embarrass those speakers. We need to do better for our veterans. We have to do better for our veterans. The member for Braddon's just entered the chamber—I've given you a bit of a rap, but don't get a swelled head, Member for Braddon!

This country, led by governments across the political divide, has let our veterans down. I want to say at the outset, at the risk of perpetuating the myth—and it is a myth—that veterans are all broken people, that it is not true. I want to send a message out there to employers that the best thing you can do today is employ a veteran. Only a small number of veterans, who have served the country with great distinction, have trouble transitioning to the point that they are having great difficulty in transitioning to civilian life. If you want an example of the character of the individual that the ADF turns out, just look in this place. Look no further. If you want an outstanding individual with loyalty, smarts and resourcefulness working for you, look no further than an ADF veteran.

On those ADF veterans who are experiencing problems in transitioning, the member for Braddon spoke so eloquently about that sense of tribe that is lost when they leave the ADF. I have grown to have a much greater awareness of that loss and that grieving. The member for Menzies spoke about that so well too. In just the smallest concept of the idea, I remember sitting at AMAB with all of the veterans that were leaving and we got a briefing from the CO. He was talking about how they would go back to their families and how their families were not going to understand what they had just experienced over the last six or nine months or so. I remember flying back home. I was in a coffee shop in Mooloolaba and I heard a couple at the table next to me complaining about the temperature of their coffee. I didn't say anything, but I just thought, 'You know what? It's really not a big issue.'

We have had men and women serving this country for many, many years, putting themselves in harm's way. I think that we, as civilians who have never served, don't understand. That 10 days that I experienced with the ADF over there just gave me a glimmer of an experience of what you guys face when you come home. My hat's off to you. My hat's off to all men and women who have served, whether they've deployed or not. If they make that decision to go and join the Army, the Air Force or the Navy, they make the decision to one day perhaps put themselves in harm's way. The very least this country can do is to look after them and to look after their families. We have failed as politicians in the past. That is in the past. I want to thank the commissioners—Commissioner Kaldas, Commissioner Douglas and Commissioner Brown—for the work that they're doing. It is incredibly important work. That work will go on for another 18 months or so, but when that final report is handed down, that's when we as a parliament need to knuckle down and really examine that final report and provide the support to the veterans that have served us so well. I look forward to the report. I look forward to working with those opposite. This issue, perhaps like no other issue, is not an issue for partisan politics. This issue is about how we as politicians have been given a great responsibility to be in this place. We have a responsibility to our veterans.

I was listening to the radio in the gym this morning, and they read an excerpt of the Ukrainian President's maiden speech at his inauguration. He said: 'I want you to go and take those photos of the previous president down. Don't replace them with my photo; replace them with the photos of your children, and then, every decision you make, look at the photos of your children. Look them in the eyes and say, "How can I make this a better place?"' That's what we should be doing in this place.

Debate adjourned.

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