DEBUS WELCOMES FAIRER PENSION PAYMENTS FOR VETERANS
September 10, 2007

Labor Candidate for Macquarie Bob Debus has welcomed today’s announcement that a Rudd Labor Government would increase benefits for all disabled war veterans and war widows.

Mr Debus said veterans and their widows in the Oberon area were suffering from cost of living increases including high mortgages, rents, petrol and grocery costs.

“Oberon veterans have sacrificed so much for our nation and they deserve more than having this Government tell them they have never been better off,” said Mr Debus.

A Rudd Labor Government will ensure that all disability and war widows’ compensation payments administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs are indexed to movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings, whichever is greater. Currently general rate disability pensioners have their payments indexed only to CPI. The war widows' domestic component is currently not indexed.

“This announcement is a further step by Labor on the road to ensuring veterans and their widows receive the compensation that they so richly deserve,” said Mr Debus.

“It builds on our earlier commitment this year for fairer indexation for our most severely disabled war veterans.

“It’s shameful that the Howard Government and Minister Bruce Billson opposed that announcement.”

It is estimated that this announcement, combined with Labor’s announcement earlier this year, will benefit nearly 140,000 disabled war veterans, including 819 from Macquarie, and more than 110,000 war widows, including 636 from Macquarie.

“For the most disabled veterans this will grow to be worth up to $30 per fortnight over four years,” said Mr Debus.

“The Howard Government has had 11 long years in office to fix this problem and failed. I am extremely pleased that Kevin Rudd has shown leadership on this issue.”

Labor’s announcements will take place in the first Budget set by a Rudd Labor Government. The first day of indexation will be September 20, 2008. The announcement will affect war veterans who fought in conflicts including World War 2, Korea, Malaya, Vietnam, the Gulf War, East Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan.