Defence force members!

[PMC]

Media Release

Senator the Hon Michael Ronaldson
Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader of the Opposition on the Centenary of ANZAC

Friday 6 September 2013

Labor snubs veterans

Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party have snubbed veterans and their families by failing to release a policy for Veterans’ Affairs less than 24 hours before the election.

Labor’s policy free zone comes just weeks after it was revealed the Prime Minister allegedly threatened veterans, saying: “Don’t bag us. Because if you bag us, we’ll pull up the drawbridge and you’ll get nothing.”

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, said after ignoring veterans for the past three years, Labor had failed to deliver a formal policy not just for veterans and their families, but also for Defence.

“Labor has effectively abandoned 300,000 ex-service men and women and tens of thousands of current serving personnel, and their families,” Senator Ronaldson said.

Senator Ronaldson said Kevin Rudd, Warren Snowdon and Labor had no vision and no plan for veterans or for Defence.

“Labor doesn’t deserve to be re-elected if the best they can offer veterans is a half-baked and unfair indexation policy for DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 65 and over,” Mr Ronaldson said.

“Only the Coalition has a fair indexation policy for DFRB and DFRDB military superannuants aged 55 – a policy that includes indexation by MTAWE is fully funded and fully costed.

“Only the Coalition has a fully-costed Defence plan for the future.

“Only the Coalition is prepared to restore veterans’ advocacy and welfare funding to support the work of volunteer veterans in the community.

“Only the Coalition has a plan to better recognise the partners and carers of veterans, and we are the only Party with a comprehensive plan to properly honour and commemorate the Centenary of Anzac.

“Not only has Labor failed to release policies for the Veterans Affairs and Defence portfolios, but both Ministers have been missing in action this campaign.

“The Labor Party should be ashamed for this appalling snub to veterans, serving personnel and their families,” Senator Ronaldson said.

Media Contact: Robert Hardie 0418 432 909

[NP99]

Today is payback for them. I can hardly wait for the good news tonight. I'm guessing it will be called early

[Parksy]

As a member of defence I can't make any public political views, but why would I need to with a fine example of a pm we have ATM? Looking forward to tonight!

[NP99]

Vote today and vote often

[NissanGQ4.2]

Vote today and vote often

or just don't vote at all

Labour farks people over, Liberal farks people over, regardless of who is in power they will promise you one thing and screw you over once there in

I don't care and that is my right

[P4trol]

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about who gets in.

To complain there is no suitable candidate, but then not care enough to encourage/be a better option, is not helping anyone.

I received a letter or three from the local Labor member explaining all the things that defence benefitted from. (why did I get it?) The connection that was not explicitly stated, but the one people were supposed to make was that Labor had done all these things.

It didn't mention the budget cuts though.

[NissanGQ4.2]

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about who gets in.

To complain there is no suitable candidate, but then not care enough to encourage/be a better option, is not helping anyone.

I wasn't complaining just making a point that they will all screw you over

And voting doesn't help anyone either

[P4trol]

It's called 'politics' for a reason...

But by voting, you get a chance to 'keep the bastards honest'. It is really our best way to have a say. They're all afraid of getting voted out.

A big company I know has someone to monitor phone bills for 'non work use' (sms to enter competitions etc). That is the sole job for one person. The other year $30,000 was recovered. Probably less than this persons' wage. The point is, the amount of non work calls would be a humongous amount higher without this one person.

Yes they screw us over, but not as much as if no one threatened to vote them out.

Plenty of reason to vote for the party you best see able to lead Australia.

[Woof]

Let's all get off the politics please, forum policy remember

[NP99]

It's called 'politics' for a reason...

But by voting, you get a chance to 'keep the bastards honest'. It is really our best way to have a say. They're all afraid of getting voted out.

A big company I know has someone to monitor phone bills for 'non work use' (sms to enter competitions etc). That is the sole job for one person. The other year $30,000 was recovered. Probably less than this persons' wage. The point is, the amount of non work calls would be a humongous amount higher without this one person.

Yes they screw us over, but not as much as if no one threatened to vote them out.

Plenty of reason to vote for the party you best see able to lead Australia.

Getting voted out screws their pension......
Lets see if promises are kept for our pensions this time!