Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson
Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
M E D I A R E L E A S E
Tuesday, 29 May 2012
Snowdons half-truths avoid facts about fairness
Warren Snowdons weasel-words on carbon tax compensation show how out of touch he and the Government are on the issues confronting the veteran and ex-service community.
Shadow Minister for Veterans Affairs, Senator the Hon. Michael Ronaldson, said the two most important things Warren Snowdon could do for veterans would be to drop the carbon tax and support Fair Indexation for military superannuants.
“Warren Snowdons attempts to smear the Coalition in the House of Representatives today shows that he is out of touch with the needs of the veteran community”, Senator Ronaldson said.
“Everywhere I go and every veteran I speak to asks me two things – when will we get rid of the carbon tax and provide a fair go for veterans. Unlike Minister Snowdon, I can give a positive response to both these questions.”
“A Coalition Government will repeal the toxic carbon tax based on a lie. We will also legislate for fair, just and equitable indexation for 57,000 military superannuants and their families.”
“These are the two biggest and most important issues affecting the veteran and ex-service community and the Coalition has a positive plan to address them. In contrast, Labor does not.”
“Providing fair indexation to 57,000 military superannuants, and their families, is a core Coalition pledge that will directly assist veterans with the cost of living. It will address the erosion of pensions which exists because of unfair, unjust and inequitable indexation.”
“If Labor was really serious about helping veterans with the cost of living, then they would drop the carbon tax and support our Fair Indexation legislation to give our veterans a fair go.”
Senator Ronaldson said Labor had enacted policies which were sending more and more veterans and their families knocking on Centrelinks door, a decision marking the thin end of the wedge for services to veterans.
“Warren Snowdon should stop attacking the Coalitions positive plans and start addressing his own Governments plans to reduce service delivery for veterans. The Coalition will maintain a stand-alone Department of Veterans Affairs for the dedicated provision of services and assistance to veterans and their families.”
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