The Albanese Government has been challenged to deliver a fully independent Defence and Veterans Services Commissioner (DVSC) to win the trust of the veteran community.
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester is supporting calls from RSL Australia and veterans advocates for the DVSC to be established as a Commonwealth statutory agency through purpose-specific legislation, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
“The clear message from the RSL, advocates and the families of veterans is there should be a stand-alone act to build trust and ensure the independence of the commissioner,” Mr Chester said.
“Veterans’ advocates like Julie-Ann Finney and the respected interim head of the DVSC, Michael Manthorpe, told the Senate inquiry into the issue that it would be highly desirable to create a stand-alone act.
“The government needs to listen for a change.
“The RSL has said, “Australian veterans who have made unique sacrifices in service of our nation deserve to know their interests are being protected by an oversight body that will act without fear or favour”.
“The RSL says the commissioner should be established under a separate Act of Parliament as an independent body, and the Coalition agrees.
“In Opposition, the Prime Minister liked to play politics with veterans… he even accused the Coalition of ignoring grieving parents like Julie-Ann Finney.
“So I ask the Prime Minister, why is your government now ignoring the pleas of Ms Finney and the RSL for a fully independent commissioner when we know that true independence is the key to establishing the trust and confidence of the veteran community?”
Speaking in Parliament today, Mr Chester challenged the Prime Minister to support the submissions made to the Senate inquiry.
“Prime Minister, why won’t your government listen to veterans, listen to their families, listen to veterans’ advocates, listen to mental health experts, and listen to the Coalition, and give our veterans a fully independent commissioner,” Mr Chester told Parliament.
