Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

The opposition might be interested to know this, because it is very important to veterans. I am not so sure the opposition are interested to know this, but others are. I note that the Leader of the Opposition was quick to support this initiative. In fact, compared with Labor’s proposals for disabled veterans, announced in May this year, the coalition’s 2007 budget initiatives go further by ensuring that these veterans will be $5,800 better off by September 2012. That is because the Howard government announced, in the 2007 budget, increases in the special rate and intermediate rate pension payments of $50 and $25 per fortnight. These increases took effect in July 2007, benefiting 29,000 veterans. That is something the opposition need to listen to very carefully. Rather than interjecting, they should listen carefully to these benefits which are now being delivered to Australia’s veterans.