Senator Stephen Parry
Liberal, Tasmania
Deputy President of the Senate
MEDIA RELEASE
23 January, 2012
Veterans grants in Tasmania
Veterans and ex-service people in Tasmania will benefit from Veteran and Community Grants funding, notwithstanding savage cuts to this programme in the 2011-12 Budget, Senator for Tasmania, Stephen Parry said today.
“Across Tasmania eight veterans’ organisations will benefit from $22,657 in Veteran and Community Grants funding.
“Veteran and Community Grants help improve the health and wellbeing of the veteran community by supporting a range of projects where they can learn skills to help them remain independent and active, particularly for the elderly living by themselves.”
“However, the Gillard-Brown Labor Government has cut $8 million in funding from this programme and the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) programme over the next four years.”
“Labor’s cuts will directly impact on the range of assistance provided to veterans and their families in our local community.”
In Tasmania, eight veterans’ organisations will receive funding. They are:
• War Widows’ Guild of Australia Tasmanian Branch
• Ulverstone RSL Sub¬branch
• National Servicemen’s Association of Australia ¬ Mersey Sub¬branch
• War Widows Guild of Australia – St Helens Branch
• National Servicemen’s Association of Australia ¬ Northern Midlands Sub-branch
• Tasmanian R & SLA Bowls Association – North West Section
• National Malaya Borneo Veterans Association of Australia – North and Midlands
• Somerset Wynyard Legacy Widows Club
“I am pleased that these organisations have benefited from this programme, but I am worried that other organisations across Tasmania will not be able to benefit in the future because of the cuts in funding.”
“The Coalition recognises and appreciates the work done by volunteer veteran welfare and pensions officers, advocates and others in the veteran and ex-service community. Cutting vital Commonwealth funding support will only make this work even harder.”
Senator Stephen Parry Liberal, Tasmania Deputy President of the Senate
