RSL Australia Priorities for the Approaching Election

President’s Newsletter

February was a busy and productive month, marked by significant progress on several key fronts. This newsletter summarises these important developments. I also provide an update on what RSL Australia is asking political candidates to commit to in support of our veterans, ahead of the election.

Veterans' Entitlements and Support Bill Passed

The passage of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 is a positive development, and the RSL is pleased to have contributed to ensuring veterans’ voices were heard. However, we have concerns regarding the late amendment establishing the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission (DVSC) within the Defence Act. While the DVSC represents a step forward, its lack of true independence from the Defence portfolio is an issue. I have already had an informal meeting with the interim head of the DVSC, Michael Manthorpe and I am confident that he will operate with genuine autonomy and represent the views of veterans. I strongly urge the government to commit to open dialogue with the veteran community to ensure that such an approach will continue in the future.

RSL Priorities for the Approaching Election

With an election on the horizon, RSL Australia is calling upon all candidates to demonstrate a shared dedication to the health and wellbeing of our veterans by committing support for these key priorities:

An enduring commitment to implement in full the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
Improved access to quality fee-free advocacy
Improved access to healthcare for veterans and their families
Sustained investment in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to prevent a repeat of the claims backlog
Investment in Defence capability with an increase in Defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, with a view to achieving 3% of GDP in the future.

RSL Australia will seek a commitment from all political parties and advocate strongly on these critical issues in the coming weeks.

RSL's Presentation to the Senate on Awards and Honours

On 7 February, alongside RSL New South Wales Deputy President David McCann, I presented to the Senate’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee regarding the Defence Honours and Awards System. Our submission seeks to enhance the Defence Honours and Awards System to better recognise the service of our Defence personnel who have served and continue to serve our nation with distinction. Among a range of recommendations, the RSL proposed that no medal or citation be pre-emptively stripped from a veteran until all allegations of misconduct are lawfully investigated, substantiated, and the matter concludes.

We also supported the independence of the Defence Honours and Appeals tribunal, proposed wider communication of eligibility criteria for honours and awards through the veteran network, the recognition of physical and mental injury as a result of service, effective consultation when recommendations for awards and commendation are downgraded or overturned, and the automatic awarding of milestone awards to Defence personnel.

MEAO Scoping Study

The MEAO Scoping Study is progressing well. The Research Consortium is reviewing over 19,000 pieces of literature on veterans' and families' mental, physical and Social Health Outcomes, TBI and mTBI, Blast Injury and Moral Injury. They’re also reviewing all existing data assets that have been undertaken on the MEAO cohort to learn from them, identify research gaps and explore opportunities to build on previous findings, avoiding duplication. You can visit our website to learn more about the project and follow our Facebook and LinkedIn channels for updates as the study progresses. The report is due to be published later this year.

Other Advocacy Initiatives

RSL Australia is working with Legacy, Defence Force Welfare Association and Defence Reserves Association on a joint response to the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy Exposure Draft.
RSL Australia participated at the National Aged Care Alliance meeting to ensure the needs of older veterans are understood and met.
We are preparing for the first ESORT meeting for 2025, which will convene later this month.

If there are veterans’ issues you feel the RSL National Veterans’ Affairs Committee should be addressing, I invite you to submit an issue for discussion via our website.

Sincerely,
Greg Melick
RSL Australia National President

Upcoming Commemorations

20 March – Iraq War commenced (2003)

31 March – Formation of Royal Australian Air Force (1921)

2 April – Crash of RAN Sea King helicopter Shark 02 (2005)

10 April – Siege of Tobruk commences, North Africa (1941)

11 April - Battles for Bullecourt (1917)