Rick Barker
Veteran Affairs Spokesperson
7 September 2011
Veterans’- Hurry up and wait
Hurry up and wait is the message that the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs has given to the veteran community, Labour
Veteran Affairs spokesperson Rick Barker says.
“The RNZRSA and its affiliates, put every effort into their submissions to the Law Commission for its report “A New
Support Scheme for Veterans: A Report on the Review of the War Pensions Act 1954” to replace the 1954 War Pensions Act. The Law Commission reported to the
Government in June 2010.
“A year and two months later, the National Government has yet to say one substantive word on what it will or will not
do. The veterans are just expected to wait.
“The Minister in Parliament today refused to give the veteran community any answers on when the Government would respond
to the Law Commission report, what they would do and when they would fix the injustices.
“The Law Commission notes that a veteran will get less support than a civilian in similar circumstances who gets support
from ACC.
“This is not good enough for our veterans.
“It is time for the Minister to front up and respond to our veterans. New Zealand expects our veterans to be
appropriately looked after, this is the Government’s responsibility, it’s time for the Minister to act,” Rick Barker
said.
ENDS