Mr James Macisaac
Director Seniors & Veterans
Department for Victorian Communities
Level 5, 1 Spring Street
Melbourne VIC 3000

30th August 2005

Reference: Proposed Veterans’ Bill – 2005

Acting upon the instructions of the President, Committee and Members of the above Association I am writing to you to express the Association’s concerns with regards to the following aspects of the proposed Veterans’ Bill. As the prime organisation representing former Royal Australian Navy Vietnam Veterans in Victoria we have grave concerns regarding the validity and need for such a proposal.

Firstly, this Association questions the State Government’s right to become involved in matters concerning Veterans and Veterans’ Affairs. When one takes the time to refer to the Australian Constitution, one finds that this very important area is clearly and unambiguously designated as being the overall responsibility of the Australian Federal Government.

Secondly, this Association questions the State Government’s motives in shifting the responsibility for regulating patriotic funds from the Patriotic Funds Council to the Director of Consumer Affairs, without first of all accurately indicating the total amount of funds available in the existing account. Surely common sense dictates that Veterans are entitled to know how much is in the account, and for what reason(s) change has been deemed essential. Many analogous situations of everyday banking practices could be cited here to demonstrate the point that the account holder (the Victorian Veteran Community) has a need-to-know interest in what funding exists in what is essentially their account. To do otherwise is to treat Victorian Veterans with contempt.

Thirdly, this Association questions the State Government’s motives in perpetuating the myth that they have consulted widely with the Veteran community within the State of Victoria, regarding the proposed Veterans’ Bill, when this clearly is not the case. While it is conceded that they may have consulted with a few executive office bearers of several ex-service organisations, they did not consult with the rank and file membership at branch level. In taking this course of action, the State Government has assumed that all wisdom and the right to make decisions rests with a few. Such is not the case in a democratic society. Everyone is entitled to an opinion - and none more so than those that have served their country.

Fourthly, this Association questions the validity of the composition of the proposed Victorian Veterans’ Council. Clearly, seats on this council have already been earmarked. That this facet of the proposal is common knowledge throughout the Victorian Veteran Community does nothing to enhance the free and fair election principles that one might reasonably presume would be involved in this process as a matter of course.

In closing, this Association regrets having to draw the attention of the State Government to the fact that they have NOT consulted widely on this issue; they and their agents have assumed that because a few individuals have expressed guarded approval of the proposed concept of a Victorian Veterans’ Bill, that the bulk of those many others concerned and affected will meekly comply. These are not the democratic principles which one usually associates with free and fairly elected governments, regardless of persuasion. The Victorian Government needs to take heed of the message contained in this correspondence, and not assume that the few speak for the many.

Communication which is based upon the parliamentary draftsman’s hyperbole is not what one would expect from a caring State Government. Given the Premier’s obvious enthusiasm for and support of former and still-serving servicemen and women in the recent past, it comes as some surprise that he and his Ministerial colleague(s) could assume that the ex-service person will simply comply with their wishes without wanting to know much more. This Association hopes to hear further regarding this issue as it makes its way through the democratic processes. We also hope that our justifiable concerns receive due consideration, and are not shelved, merely for the sake of political expediency.

Regards

Dr. J R Carroll PhD EdD MAPsS
Hon. Secretary
HMAS SYDNEY & VLSV ASSOCIATION (inc.VIC)
PO Box 645 Heathmont VIC 3135