Veterans' Affairs
Australian Defence Force — increase in maximum funeral benefits
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 0.1 | .. | .. | .. |
The Government will increase the maximum funeral benefits for Australian Defence Force personnel payable under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and the Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988, at a cost of $0.2 million over four years. This measure will increase the maximum funeral benefits payable to $9,000, aligning the funeral benefits for Defence personnel with the benefits for Australian Government employees.
See also the related measure Worker's compensation — changes for Australian Government employees in the Employment and Workplace Relations portfolio.
Australian Defence Force — reclassification of service in Rwanda
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.7 |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | -0.8 | -0.9 | -1.0 | -1.1 |
| Total | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 |
The Government will reclassify the service of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel who served in Operation Tamar, as part of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda during 1994-1995, to recognise their service as warlike, at a cost of $2.0 million over five years (including $0.2 million in 2005-06).
The change in status will provide greater recognition and enhanced ongoing support for those veterans. This will allow ADF personnel who served in Operation Tamar to gain access to the range of income and health support measures provided under the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986.
Further information can be found in the media release of 13 February 2006 issued by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs.
Commemorations programme — Australian interpretive material in Zonnebeke, Belgium
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 0.3 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $0.3 million in 2006-07 to place material related to Australia's involvement in the Third Battle of Ypres in an interpretive centre to be established in Zonnebeke, Belgium. The Zonnebeke District Authorities intend to build the interpretive centre, as well as establish a walking track linking Tyne Cot cemetery and the town of Zonnebeke, in time for the 90th anniversary of the World War I battles that occurred in the area in 1917.
Commemorations programme — enhancement of interpretative material on the Australian involvement in Western Front battles
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
The Government will provide $2.0 million over four years to assist visitors from all nationalities to better understand Australia's contribution on the Western Front in World War I. This measure includes the installation of bi-lingual panels at Australian official memorials on the Western Front, which will commemorate and describe the efforts of Australians who served in this area during World War I.
Commemorations programme — reconstruction of the Australian Corps Memorial, France
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 3.3 | 3.6 | 0.9 | - |
The Government will provide $7.9 million over three years for the redesign, demolition and reconstruction of the Australian Corps Memorial at Le Hamel in France. The memorial commemorates the service of the Australian Imperial Force during the battle at Le Hamel during 1918. The reconstructed memorial will be completed in 2007-08 and rededicated in 2008-09.
Commemorations programme — strategic and design study for an interpretive centre on the Western Front
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 0.3 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $0.3 million in 2006-07 to further define the concept of an interpretive centre on the Western Front in France. The centre will provide explanation and information on Australia's involvement in the battles on the Western Front in World War I.
The study will focus on defining the purpose and potential cost of the centre, as well as considering the most appropriate location, before a final decision is made.
Commemorations programme — Vietnam Veterans' 2006 Package
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 3.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
The Government will provide $4.5 million over four years to commemorate the contribution of Vietnam veterans and the 40th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan on 18 August 2006.
This package provides for greater community awareness of the Vietnam veterans' service, enduring commemoration and support for reunions.
This measure includes an expansion of the current Long Tan bursary scheme. The number of bursaries awarded each year will increase from 30 to 50 and the total value of the bursaries will increase from $6,000 to $9,000. The measure also provides funding for an online Vietnam War nominal roll and for the establishment of a website covering Australia's involvement in Vietnam and South East Asian conflicts.
Community nursing for veterans — fee increase
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 4.4 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 7.4 |
The Government will provide a 5.7 per cent increase to the community nursing schedule fee and exceptional case fee paid by the Government to contracted providers, at a cost of $24.4 million over four years. This will help ensure that eligible veterans, war widows and widowers retain access to high quality community nursing services. This is in addition to existing funding of $433.8 million over four years already provided under the Community Nursing programme.
Veterans' mental health care — improving access for younger veterans
| 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | 2009-10 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 7.3 | 7.5 | 2.4 | 2.6 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Veterans' Affairs | 0.2 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $19.9 million over four years (including $0.2 million in capital funding) to improve access to preventative and community-oriented mental health care for the veteran community. This assistance will be focused on younger veterans.
This measure will promote and increase awareness of mental health issues among veterans through training programmes, internet based online assistance, seminars and advertising.