DEAR News Of The Area,

Reading through the Coalition’s 2025 election campaign plan ‘Priorities of a Dutton Government’ released online last month, one would expect that in consideration of the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide there would have been a committed objective detailing what intentions the Dutton government have regarding veterans’ issues.

However, in the 44-page document there were only two statements directly relating to veterans, with one of the statements making a pledge of ‘Delivering nothing but the best for our veterans whose service to the nation deserves nothing less’.

I queried what this bold undertaking meant in real terms regarding policy and engagement, but after weeks of no response from several Coalition representatives I was disappointed but not surprised to find that the online document has now recently been edited, and the above statement has quietly been removed in its entirety as if it never existed.

Unfortunately, this reflects the broader contemptuous behaviour of politicians in relation to veterans including the systematic failure of our government in its handling of criminal allegations against our Afghanistan veterans and the concerning level of suicide rates and homelessness experienced by ex-service men and women.

The question that must now be asked is does the Coalition not intend to deliver the best for our veterans, or does it believe that it does not have the ability to do so?

To provide the answer would be simply to release the related policy so that the public can make an informed decision.

But here lies the bigger question, does the Coalition have a policy for veterans?

The only other reference directly relating to veterans remains in the current edited online version of the Coalition’s plan, which states: ‘Veterans should be recognised for their incredible sacrifices, with their specific health and employment challenges prioritised and addressed’.

This statement falls far short of any commitment as defined by the word ‘should’ and stands out as the usual rhetorical platitudes pushed by politicians regarding veterans’ issues.

At a critical time when the Defence Force is facing a recruitment challenge, when veterans and their families are experiencing homelessness, and when the suicide rate amongst ex-service personnel is far higher than the national average, it beggars belief that rather than stand by their convictions the Coalition would instead suppress a declaration and uncourageously step back from a commitment that our country so desperately needs.

Regards,
Adam FULLER,
Former peacekeeper and veterans advocate.