Veterans and Aged Care

Hon Clayton Cosgrove shares his opinion with Liam Butler on how Veterans affairs can be better protected within our aged care and retirement sector.

Hon Clayton Cosgrove:

I have huge respect for our veterans. They have served in the highest capacity and many paid a high price through injuries, both mental and physical, and lost lifelong mates.

New Zealand has been involved in many conflicts in this and the last century, ranging from peacekeeping to the battles of the Italian Peninsula and the Desert War in WWII. Our army, navy and air force have always served to the highest calibre.

Those who survive must be treated with respect and dignity for fighting for us to have the freedoms we have today. We owe them that. They shouldn’t have to beg for help.

Labour has historically acknowledged our veterans. The Clark Government made 2006 the Year of the Veteran and resolved outstanding issues for Vietnam veterans in 2008.

Last year Labour was fully behind the Centenary commemorations of Gallipoli. Our Leader Andrew Little not only went to the Dardanelles, he was entrusted by the family of Gallipoli veteran Private Kurei Papuni to take his posthumous Gallipoli medallion to the event. Private Papuni’s great-niece was due to speak at the event but didn’t get the medal before she left. Andrew waited at the airport for the medal to arrive and ensured it arrived safely.

When the Veteran’s Support Act was being debated two years ago, Labour called on the Government to extend the Veterans’ Pension to all veterans who have served in overseas operational deployments. This was ignored. It shouldn’t have been. Troops who serve now should have the same respect as those who served in the past.

Labour knows that many veterans from that selfless era are worried about the costs of funeral expenses being passed onto their families. The Law Commission recommended those costs be made available in a lump sum and Labour campaigned strongly for that to happen alongside the RSA.

Sadly National ignored that in 2014, just days out from the 100th Anniversary of World War One and despite it costing very little.

Our 2014 election policy included funeral lump sum payments for all veterans.

While the ranks of those who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Malaya are in decline it is doubly important that we have modern and appropriate provisions for those who have served since the 1970s and who continue to serve.

The Returned and Services Association does a magnificent job, both of supporting our veterans and ensuring their service is not forgotten. It is bolstered by wonderful volunteers who donate time and money to honouring our troops. The RSA deserves our support.

The passing of time means many of our veterans are now in aged care. It is a government’s duty to work with the RSA and Greypower, among others to make sure they are treated with dignity and respect. Their mates who passed away long ago would expect nothing less. It’s what we all owe them.

Hon Clayton Cosgrove
Member of Parliament
Labour Spokesperson for Veterans’ Affairs
7 July 2016

ENDS

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