1st August, 2007
To all members of the veteran community who have supported COVVHS.
It is with great sadness, that I write this report. When COVVHS was formed in 2003, we honestly believed we had a reasonable request. In 2004, we asked the government a simple question:
Is there a higher incidence of chronic health conditions in the sons and daughters of Vietnam veterans than their peers?
If so what can be done to help these young members of society. And what can be done to stop this continuing in the children of younger veterans?
The former Minister for veteran Affairs, Mrs. Dana Vale instigated the feasibility study in 2004. Since that time, thousands of veterans and their children have informed COVVHS of their calamitous health problems and are waiting for some action.
An eminent panel of scientists, appointed by the government, has recommended that such a study was feasible and was worthy of doing. They reported to the Minister for Veteran Affairs, Bruce Billson in September 2006.
Instead of following the recommendations the Minister took another line. He formed another panel of experts to readdress the issue.
One he said would deliver quicker results!
If you read the Ministers speech to the 92nd State Congress of the RSL Victoria branch 4th July 2007. On page 6 he talks of the health issues and reasons surrounding his decisions. He puts a reasonable case. But is it really true?
The Minister chooses his words carefully and takes parts of the original scientists report, out of context. Had he accepted their recommendation we would be well along the way to knowing the health status of our children.
The minister talks of caring and compassion. He has not responded to any of us…other than one phone call to the COVVHS Chairperson to complain vigorously that we were clogging up his Fax machines!!
When we started this journey, I really believed that we lived in a true and just society.
What a naive individual I was!!
When governments can play with words to their own justification, what hope do we have?
When a Minister can sit in front of a group of women and agree to do something and then completely ignore that offer and not even have the courtesy to reply to them as to why he has reneged. (I refer to the meeting with members of the PVA in April, this year)
We are being treated with utter contempt by the Government and Ministry for Veteran Affairs.
I can only hope the “pen is mightier than the sword” when the Election comes.
I can only hope the next government will have more understanding of what is right and follow through on issues that are ethically and morally correct.
What hope have we as a community when the government spends literally hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight one World War 2 widow who only wants a war widow’s pension??
To all of the veteran community whose hopes I have raised and once again we have been let down, I humbly apologise.
Early in this venture, I received an a-mail from someone who wished me luck, but said she doubted we would get anywhere as it has been tried in the past and failed. I would hate to think she proves to be right!
Our men, and now women, who are sent to fight for their wonderful Australia are still just “canon fodder” and so are their families.
I make no apologies for any of this message. It just saddens me greatly that this government throws a pittance of dollars for projects to keep “the veterans” quiet and millions of dollars for “cold hard monuments”.
Surely something really productive could be done for the health of our warm breathing innocent children and their families.
I guess honest caring groups of people will continue to be overpowered by the “wordsmiths” of Parliament!
Sincerely
Sue Parker, National Spokesperson of Partners of Veterans Association
Mother
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