Page 2530 - Week 08 - Tuesday, 9 August 2016
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in the veterans community about who should be on that board—should it be individual veterans or should it be representatives of various groups—and that is an ongoing debate.
Another thing that I would like to see from the government is further work at the ACT Memorial. Mr Stanhope put that up, and it is good we have our own memorial so that we recognise those from the ACT who have fallen. I have asked that the names of those Canberrans on the honour roll from the War Memorial are put on that ACT honour roll. I know that there is a website with names on it, but I think it would be good to make it clear to Canberrans and visitors that it is a memorial and not just a piece of art, as many mistake it for.
The government have taken a number of initiatives in this area. It was very difficult to get traction on this issue for a while, but someone has turned on the lights and they seem to now see there are issues that need to be addressed within our veterans community. A number of issues are front and centre for the veterans community. I know they are keen to get a facility on the south side, and my understanding is that various conversations are occurring with government. We have had some conversations with members of the community as well, and we will see what plays out in that space. That would be a good initiative to support the veterans community.
The Canberra Liberals have announced we will provide a grant of $400,000 to support veterans groups here in the ACT. It would be a grant system that would then be considered through the Veterans’ Advisory Council to consider the merits of those grants to support the running of veterans organisations, providing particular support for individual veterans or groups and particularly focused on the wellness of our veterans. I hope the government continue, if they should be re-elected, to work hard in this space; certainly we will if we form government.
I close by commending those organisations, and the individuals that belong to organisations, like the RSL, Soldier On, Legacy and all the other organisations doing great work in Canberra supporting defence veterans, widows and families. I hope this is an area where we can put our differences aside and work together as an Assembly to further the interests of our veterans in the ACT.
MR DOSZPOT (Molonglo) (7.38): Once again, in this budget, retirees and Canberra seniors have been hit hard with cuts to concessions and increases in their everyday costs of living. This is, however, what they have come to expect from this government. The government has refused to acknowledge the difficulties that cost of living pressures are having on seniors and continually fails to recognise and support the elderly in our community. This budget is a let-down for our senior community. I am sure Canberra retirees will not be happy with a government that is continually targeting them to find savings yet offering nothing in return. They are feeling overlooked and neglected, and I cannot blame them, especially when you consider the year-on-year rise in rates that is having such a dramatic impact on pensioners and retirees.
In the latest budget announcements the eligibility for a seniors card will now be pushed from 60 years to 65 years of age by 2025. This will result in those aged
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