Aspiring Qld Deputy Premier receives Disability Pension

Prospector said:

...because allocation of the war service pension is granted to some people, and not to others, then there is obviosuly some subjectivity in the decision making process. And when that happens it opens the wider debate as to why some people who need it cant get it, and others who apparently dont need it can get it.

My father had to retire early because of his cancers (plural) and hearing disability, had limited super, didnt own his own home etc. He needed AND DESERVED to receive a pension as he incurred these disabilities as a result of war service.

And that doesnt appear to be the case with the person mentioned, not that I can find out much about him but obviously he seems quite fit and healty and independently wealthy and able to go about his life, unlike my father. Not emotion and perception, but cold hard facts for me!

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Yep I agree there are many inconsistencies in the way war service pensions are handed down. Personally I'd prefer that they erred on the generous side.

When it comes to the point about "people who dont need it etc" as long as you are talking about them being healthy I agree, but (reluctantly) I wouldn't knock them back because they are wealthy - gets tricky (I concede) when you include the question of "financial need" as well as "deservedness". But again I would err on the generous side.

What really irks me is the bureaucratic resistance to genuine compensation claims. How long before the govt made any compensation (let alone proper compensation) for those exposed to agent Orange in Vietnam, or the Gulf War syndrome. Vietnam vets who had kids with multiple disabilities etc, etc - sheesh. What price that? The Aust Govt seem little better than James Hardie in stretching out these matters - denying culpability every step of the way.

Here I have to be candid - I have a couple of sons - one of whom contemplated going into the army. At the same time, the Govt were giving the returned servicemen from the gulf war a hard time about compensation. I had no compunction in advising him not "to go there" (as if I have any influence lol - but in the end he didnt go there). Yet I was in the Army - and enjoyed it. I'm certainly not a pacifist, assuming Australia is being threatened, that is. But I would hate to give my son to a system that pays lip service - shallow insincere spin-doctored lip service - to any compensation that he might be subsequently entitled to.

My last post was about war heroes - and here I would include everyone who has served in any front line anywhere.

You could even consider enlarging this topic - what about the set of "Aussie values" that they want new citizens to swear to. Does that include fighting for the country in time of war? Under dubious circumstances? Or whenever they are conscripted? Against a moslem or buddhist or whatever opponent perhaps?

The thing about war, or enlisting etc - you have to get kids at a young enough age when they are ready to treat it as an adventure. If they don't have a family of their own, then they figure the electorate will come to terms with it. BUT then the young fathers get dragged in - and then it ends in tragedy.