Cassidy, Laureen (SEN)
From:	Robert & Dianne [rfmay@bigpond.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, 6 June 2001 3:47 PM
To:	fadt.sen@aph.gov.au
Subject:	RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF ADF PERSONNEL 
Sir
I would like to submit the following to be considered by this inquiry when it sits.
TPI Payment (COMPENSATION)

As can be seen by this chart, the value of the compensation paid to ex service members including those who were discharge as medically unfit has been seriously eroded over a period of time.
 
Recently the Government has sort to preserve the jobs of reserve personal by the payment of $750.00 to employers. This equates to an annual income in the vicinity of $39000.00. With the current rate of compensation paid to a TPI of $ this is approximately 3% of the above. It is a very simple equation when you consider that the young soldiers of today see and read these amounts and a lot of them are related to exservicemen and women, so there knowledge of this type of treatment of veterans in the areas of compensation is very good.
 
Would you a fit and healthy young person, fitter and healthier than the general public, want to consider the economics should you become a statistic and have to rely on the above stated compensation for the rest of your life?
 
I personally know of a young soldier, a corporal, medically discharge and a TPI due to service in . He is not yet 30 years of age, is married with four children. His comrades will know these facts and will find out how much compensation he is getting. Would you consider discharge if you were one of this lads comrades?
 
One might argue that a young soldier does not consider that he will be the one, it will always be someone else. This is in fact probably true to a degree, but this is bought on the fact that this soldier "believes" his family will be looked after. What if this belief is shattered by the example above? Were does his confidence and the morale of his unit go? 
 
What has the Minister for Veterans affairs done about the decline in the compensation paid to veterans? NOTHING
 
 What should he do? REPAIR THIS DECLINE
 
In 1920 when the compensation act was first brought into law the TPI COMPENSATION PAYMENT was 94% of average weekly earnings. What is it today % of MTAWE.
 
The TPI Federation has placed a submission asking that the TPI COMPENSATION RATE be benchmarked to  75% MTAWE. What has the Minister done?
 
I believe that the following quotes should be borne in mind while the committee conducts this enquiry.
 
Quote from Major General W.T. Bridges in his advise to government on 8 Aug 1914. (Official History of Australia in the War 1914-18 Volume XI page 206)
" that pensions should be guaranteed to enlisted men, and to their dependants in case of death, and compensation in case of disablement through wounds."
 
Quote by Senator G.F. Pearce who in the second reading speech in the senate on 17 Dec 1914 said (War Pensions Act of 1914, Hansard Vol 53 page 2098)
"One of the saddest spectacles of the past has been to see men who have been willing to risk their lives in the defence of the country left destitute and the dependants of men who have laid down their lives for their country having to live on charity."
Quote from Senator E.D. Millen on the introduction of the Australian Soldiers Repatriation Act 1920 

"Repatriation" he said "was an attempt to indicate Australia's obligation to those who on its behalf have gone onto the Valley of the Shadow of Death ....."

Quote from PM Billy Hughes who said 

".. We have to them, you go and fight and when you come back we will look after your welfare" and

"We have entered into a bargain with the soldier and we must keep it ..."

Thanking you for hearing this information

Your 

Robert F May

Vietnam Veteran

Member of TPI