July 3, 2012
Gillard Government plans to strip East Sale RAAF personnel of the opportunity to fly home to their families has been criticised by Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester.
Mr Chester said the Coalition has introduced a disallowance motion to block the cuts which were presented in the May Budget.
The cuts affect recreation leave travel for approximately 22,000 single Australian Defence Force members aged 21 years and over.
Mr Chester said it was disappointing that the Gillard Government would no longer support Defence personnel to travel home to see their families but would spend $36 million on carbon tax advertising this financial year.
“This is a government with a warped sense of priorities,” Mr Chester said.
“It would rather spend $36 million on carbon tax propaganda than help our armed services personnel stay in contact with loved ones.
“Men and women based at the East Sale RAAF Base and personnel throughout Australia will be adversely affected by this plan.
“When you take into account the role that our Defence personnel play in protecting the interests of our nation, it’s not a big ask to support them when they head home to visit their families.”
Shadow Minister for Defence Science, Technology and Personnel, Stuart Robert, introduced the disallowance motion on behalf of the Coalition in the House of Representatives last week.
Mr Robert said ADF personnel were having their conditions of service undermined by the Gillard Government.
“The disallowance motion aims to stop this policy and ensure single Defence personnel aged 21 and over keep their entitlement to travel home to see their family,” Mr Robert said.
“It is still an expensive proposition for many young members of our Defence Force to travel the breadth of the country to see their families or their children.”