MEDIA RELEASE

PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO CUT PAYMENTS TO CHILDREN OF WAR VETERANS

Prime Minister Tony Abbott must explain why his government is introducing legislation to cut payments to children of ADF veterans who have been killed or injured, including children who have been orphaned.

 

Veteran’s children who receive assistance under the Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme 2004 (MRCAETS) will have an annual payment of $211.20 cut under the government’s legislation to remove the Income Support Bonus.

 

The legislation has been uploaded and the Government intends to introduce it this sitting fortnight.

 

Only around 1,200 children of veterans receive this modest assistance under these programs.  The cost of providing this assistance is only $250,000 a year - less than 0.005 per cent of Tony Abbott’s universally-derided Paid Parental Leave Scheme for millionaires.

 

This is an incredibly callous act from the Abbott Government.

 

The families of our veterans deserve respect and gratitude. Taking away their modest payments is incredibly insulting.

 

Tony Abbott should get his priorities right and stop the cuts to this assistance immediately.


MONDAY, 17 MARCH 2014

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