Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate the TPI veterans living in my electorate in the suburb of Belmore. Because of some earlier decisions by the TPI association they were likely to lose their home in Belmore, a home where a lot of people who have permanent disabilities because of their service defending Australia live. They were to lose their homes and be relocated to country areas throughout Australia. A local campaign was led by the local state member, the Premier, Morris Iemma; and me, as federal member; with the involvement of the CFMEU. We became involved in defending the rights of those veterans to try to make sure that they were treated with decency by the TPI association. I am pleased to note that in the previous week the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs from this House made an offer of a $4 million interest-free loan. Details are still to emerge, but when I was out visiting the veterans in Belmore last week I saw the light on the horizon and the hope that they will be treated with decency. It is a great local victory for which they are justly proud.