The Alliance of Defence Service Organisation (ADSO) welcomes the opportunity to announce its core Policy Objectives as a timely reminder to those seeking election to the 46th Parliament of Australia.

A significant portion of the veterans’ community, speaking largely with a single voice, continues to seek redress of a series of key issues, many of which have been outstanding for too long.
Some issues have been the subject of unfulfilled promises, not the least of which includes providing Australia’s most disabled Veterans and their families with an adequate standard of living.

In commenting on the Objectives and encouraging all sides of politics to find legislative ways to redress each issue in turn, ADSO’s National Spokesman, Kel Ryan, wished to acknowledge that the Government, with the Labor Opposition’s support, had taken action on a long-held key Objective, namely to legislate an Australian Military (Veterans) Covenant that gives formal recognition to the Unique Nature of Military Service. The Covenant will be an early item of business for Senators in the next parliament to debate and give effect to it in law.

ADSO also wished to acknowledge the recent veterans’ policy announcements made by both the Government and the Opposition. The bi-partisan approach to an independent inquiry into the administration of the DFRDB commutation arrangements is particularly welcomed. As the Commonwealth Ombudsman will chair the inquiry, we recommend that as many of the issues as possible plaguing the DFRDB scheme from its outset be addressed by the Ombudsman, irrespective of the restrictive Terms of Reference. Those affected by the scheme have long-held the view that, while fair indexation was an abiding issue that must be fixed, there were equally other aspects of the scheme that should be remedied. The illogical and inappropriate use of out-of-date 1962-vintage life tables is but one.

Glaringly omitted from the policy statements by both the Government and the Opposition is recognition of the immensity of the advocacy and welfare work, and the vital role the wider ex-service community plays in support of veterans and their families. That includes the 18-member strong ADSO entity that speaks with one voice, Without exception, they are all not only volunteer-based but lack completely any financial help beyond the meagre amounts available to each Association separately under the DVA Grant-in Aid scheme. And yet ADSO with its vast veterans membership base, missed completely any mention in policy announcements that it too would be supported along with other service providers.
ADSO calls on both sides of politics to acknowledge the contribution of ADSO by funding it for the work it performs on behalf of Government and DVA, and the broad Australian veterans community.

29th April 2019