It’s a crucial time for veteran advocacy…Last Tuesday, the Government delivered the Federal Budget. There were some wins in the Budget for the veteran community, particularly in sustained funding for resourcing DVA, but the RSL would have liked to have seen funding for all the critical veteran issues that we outlined in our pre-budget submission. First and foremost, we had asked for a commitment to funding the full implementation of the Royal Commission’s 122 recommendations. We also asked for improved access to healthcare, improved access to quality fee-free advocacy, sustained investment in DVA and increased funding to enhance Defence capability, recruitment and retention. On Thursday, the Opposition responded to the Budget, promising to maintain veteran services and boost Defence funding. We will be seeking details and confirmation of these pledges during the election campaign. Overall, we believe veterans need and deserve more. This was a key opportunity for leaders to commit to tackling the urgent issue of Defence and Veteran Suicide. Along with the issues outlined in our pre-budget submission, we demand an increase in investment in Australia’s Defence capability to 3% of GDP and additional funding for DVA to enhance its IT infrastructure to improve integration with Defence and better support veterans. Now, the nation is preparing to elect its next Government. The RSL is calling upon all candidates to demonstrate a shared dedication to our veterans by committing their support to addressing these issues.
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