Watched question time in the Senate yesterday Monday 14 September 2009.
What a undisciplined lot these politicians are.
It dismays me to realise that these people, who behave like
an unruly group of school-age children, bear ultimate responsibility for this country's future,
which includes improvement of Defence superannuation arrangements.
They can't hold back on their inane comments for more than a few seconds.
Their answers don't bother to address the questions asked.
During an answer to a ministerial question from Senator Lundy (ALP ACT),
one other ALP Senator could be seen to be interjecting while another was talking on the phone.
I would be surprised if any of them had even been a regular member of the Australian Defence Force.

This rabble includes the Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon. John Faulkner,
a former Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Science & Personnel,
whose only standing or experience outside the narrow world of party politics was
for a brief period as a specialist teacher of children with severe disabilities.

He is a politician pure and simple yet under the Adminstrative Arrangements Order
his responsibilities include those Acts of Parliament which determine Defence Superannuation payments namely:

Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Act 1948
Defence Forces Retirement Benefits (Pension Increases) Acts
Defence Forces Special Retirement Benefits Act 1960
Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973,
Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (Pension Increases) Acts
Military Superannuation and Benefits Act 1991

In all these areas his first-hand experience is nil so he invariably must rely on the advice of others.

So what real chance have we to improve and simplify Defence Superannuation for future and existing recipients ?

Kevin Rudd announced today that former Defence Ministers Beasley and Nelson would be recommended to the Governor General for appointment as Australian ambassadors.

Can anyone recall how any of these people have benefited Australian Defence superannuants ?

Rex Crane has generated an inordinate amount of publicity lately after being discovered as a fraud in his claims of war service. In this sad case the press emphasis has been more on the money he received than any support he may have given to the veteran community.
Nothing is ever publicized of the much greater financial fraud and deceit inflicted by politicians on the veteran community. Our present government has turned out as one of the worst in this regard. Stalled Defence superannuation reform, refusal to index current military superannuation and disregard of TPI pensions in the recent aged pension increases have produced reasoned rebuttals from leaders of significant ESOs without any press or opposition comment.
I suppose we can expect no better. The legacy of being established as a former remote penal colony remains alive and well.

Past suggestions to invove the media in our cause have come to nought because they see no interest in the issue. I suggest that ESO's create an issue by not inviting Federal parliamentarians to future commemorations. By attending comemorations, politicians use these opportunities to draw upon the high emotion of a greatful public to enhance their own credibility and profile. On returning to the office they continue the party policy of loathing and contemptuous practices of demeaning those who served their country and paid for a reasonable retirement. This is at the same time they are bloating their own superannuation payments to extraordinary levels. This is both despicable and contemptuous. My suggestion, if implemented, would surely attract media interest. This would then be the catalyst for further interest. Love to see some feedback.