Jane Prentice (Ryan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak on the Defence Force Retirement Benefits Legislation Amendment Bill 2014, noting that unlike those on the other side of the chamber, the coalition government is honouring its election commitment and following through on our pledge to support the brave men and women who have served our country and fought for our country. They have been prepared to sacrifice their lives for our freedom.

The previous Labor government promised back in 2007 to give a fair deal to ex-service men and women and subsequently had six years in which to deliver a fair go for our veterans. But yet again they simply chose to break their promise—refusing to repay the loyalty that veterans have given to all Australians. The coalition took to the 2010 election, and again to the 2013 election, a policy that would see the fair indexation of DFRDB and DFRB.

I have spoken several times in this place about the importance of fair indexation of Defence Forces Retirement Benefits and the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits military superannuation pensions. My office has been contacted by many members of the veteran community asking what the coalition is doing for military superannuants. In my electorate I represent many groups, including the Returned Services League with sub-branches at Gaythorne, Kenmore-Moggill, The Gap, Toowong, Bardon, and Indooroopilly-Sherwood, as well as the Australian Army Aviation Service Australia and the Veterans' Support Advocacy Service Toowong branch, the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam Association, and many members of the Australian Defence Force at Gallipoli Barracks in Enoggera.

The defence community and the veteran community want fair indexation, and I was honoured to be one of the many coalition members to sign the pledge in 2012 that says, 'The coalition will ensure DFRB and DFRDB military superannuation pensions are indexed in the same way as age and service pensions.' All DFRB and DFRDB superannuants aged 55 and over will benefit. I am proud to stand on this side of the chamber with my coalition colleagues, who understand and value the contribution by veterans to our great nation. We have pledged our commitment to the fair indexation of military superannuation.

Under the coalition government's policy for fair indexation, 57,000 military superannuants and their families will be better off. This is set to be delivered and funded in the government's first budget, with the new measures to be effective from 1 July 2014. In June 2012, veterans received the news that military superannuation pensions would increase by just 0.1 percent, as opposed to the 0.9 percent increase announced in March 2012 for age and service pensions. Many veterans received an increase of less than $1 a fortnight—a shameful action as the cost of living increased and Labor introduced an economy-wide carbon tax. Sadly, Labor ignored the veteran community when they introduced the carbon tax. They provided a household assistance package to pensioners, low-income individuals and families and students; however, veterans—men and women who fought for our country—did not receive one single cent of assistance. How disgraceful is that?

As all Australians know, the coalition government is committed to the repeal of the carbon tax, having already introduced a bill—only to have it blocked by the Labor and Greens alliance. It is obvious that Labor and the Greens do not care about the high cost of living for Australian families and for Australia's veterans; otherwise they would respect the mandate the Australian people gave to the coalition government at the last election and support the repeal of the carbon tax.

The coalition government is determined to repeal the carbon tax, which will reduce the cost of living pressures for all Australians, veterans in particular. We are also committed to fairly indexing veterans' DFRB and DFRDB pensions, because that is the right and just thing to do. It is just and right because of the enormous contribution that these brave Australians have made. It is just and right because when a nation asks its service personnel to go to war, to put themselves in harm's way, we as a nation have an overwhelming obligation to provide proper support on their return. It is just and right because it is the Australian way.

I am proud of the commitment this government has made to our veterans. I am proud of our veterans—heroes all—who put themselves at serious risk in the defence of Australia and the freedom we all enjoy. We must never begrudge this support and never forget their sacrifice.

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