Page 2588 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 23 August 2006
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whom, in latter years, in the late 1970s and during the 1980s, I had the honour to serve with as well.
It was a fantastic series of events, culminating in a magnificent ceremony at 10 o’clock on Anzac Parade. There were further events over the weekend. It meant a lot to the veterans, especially, for the government to formally acknowledge that they had not been treated well. I am delighted that, whilst there are many people in Australia now who have grave concerns about whether we should be in Iraq or not, the diggers returning from Iraq will never have the same problems from the community as those returning from Vietnam did. And that is as it should be.
Service men and women go overseas to fight for their country. They go overseas because they are told to. They go overseas because it is a civilian government who orders them to do that. It is not their choice whether they go to war or not but, in the finest tradition of Australian service men and women—the finest tradition of the Australian army, air force and navy—the diggers who went to Vietnam did us proud. Long Tan was just one battle where they did that absolutely magnificently. The diggers have continued to do us proud since then, wherever they serve around the world. They continue to do us proud now by their feats in Iraq and Afghanistan, regardless of whether people think they should be there or not.
There are some outstanding issues, which I commend to the government to have a look at. The Vietnam vets are keen to set up, and possibly go in with a local charity, another small office somewhere in the south of Canberra. I will certainly be talking to them further about that and be liasing with the relevant government ministers as they develop that proposal.
I also point that they are having some problems at present in paying reasonably significant rent for the old depot at Page where they now have a Vietnam vets facility. It used to be, I think, part of the MBA’s ITAB training area. Before that, it was a parks and gardens depot. It has been turned into an excellent facility for Vietnam vets, but they are paying a fairly significant rent. They have very little by way of money. They are after about $13,000 a year. Again, I will take that up with the relevant government ministers.
If any group in our community deserves special consideration, it is a group that represents ex-soldiers—men and women who have put their bodies on the line for their country. In many instances, they have come back wounded, with a number of problems, and a lot of stress as a result of their service for their nation. There can be no greater calling and no greater sacrifice made than to put your body on the line for your country, as a member of the Australian armed services. We should do anything we can to help. I do not think they are asking for much at all.
I will certainly be making some representations on their behalf. They will be making representations. I commend those representations to the government. I hope those representations will be considered favourably. They do not want something for nothing. Because they are having some problems, I hope that the government can see their way clear, despite the significant financial problems the territory has, to offer them some assistance.
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