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President/Secretary's Review
The report of the Clarke Committee's Review of Veterans' Entitlements was released on 13 February 2003. The report made 109 recommendations, drawing on more than 3 000 submissions from veteran organisations, individuals and interested parties. The Government is considering the Report's recommendations. On 27 June 2003, the draft Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Bill was released. When finalised, the legislation will have far-reaching implications for the Commission and the Department. The proposed scheme will rest in the Veterans' Affairs portfolio, administered by a Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission with administrative support from DVA, reflecting the traditional Australian role for a dedicated portfolio to oversee the repatriation system. All serving and former Australian Defence Force members who suffer an injury, illness or death related to service on or after the commencement date of the new Act will be provided with treatment, rehabilitation and compensation, with rehabilitation a primary focus. Those who are entitled to compensation will be given a choice between a lump sum or regular pension payments for permanent impairment. Links between the new scheme and the Veterans' Entitlements Act mean that new veterans with operational and qualifying service will still have access to existing repatriation benefits such as the Gold Card at age 70 and the service pension at age 60. Administering the new scheme will see the Commission and the Department continue to strengthen their links with the Department of Defence and extend our services to take in all service men and women. September 2002 saw the passing of legislation to index the income support supplement for war widows by the same percentage as the service pension, reflecting increases in the Consumer Price Index and Male Total Average Weekly Earnings. The World War II Nominal Roll web site was officially launched in November 2002, enabling the public to access details of one million men and women who served in Australia's armed forces and merchant navy from 1939–45. This innovative web site has been extremely popular, with 642 690 visits recorded to 30 June 2003. The 2003–04 Federal Budget increased departmental funding to cover a new agreement with Local Medical Officers. As part of this agreement, from 1 July 2003, a veteran access payment of $3 per service item will be paid to registered LMOs who treat Gold Card and White Card holders. This is on top of the higher rate already paid to LMOs for veterans' health services. Additional funding was also made available for hospital services, the Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and Veterans' Home Care to meet the increasing demand as the veteran community ages. The Office of Australian War Graves also received additional funding of $6.8 million over four years for the maintenance of overseas memorials including the construction of new memorials in Malaysia and New Zealand. The Department continues to work with the Department of Defence through the Links Project Review Board on a range of issues to improve the level of service delivery for serving and discharged ADF personnel and veterans. Projects currently under way include the transfer of personnel and health records management responsibility for ex-serving personnel records to DVA. Further strengthening our links with the Department of Defence, DVA successfully transferred accounts payable services to a specialised Defence business unit, Queensland Clerical Solutions. The Commission supported a number of health studies during 2002–03, including completing the Australian Gulf War Veterans' Health Study and preparing for a possible study of the Health of Korean War veterans and a repeat mortality study of Vietnam veterans. Rehabilitation is being given a strong emphasis in our health programs. This year, the Alcohol Management Project has proved popular with its emphasis on alerting people to the misuse of alcohol. The Men's Health Peer Education Project goes from strength to strength and the Rehabilitation Appliances Program is streamlining procurement and supply arrangements to assist both providers and veterans. The Veterans' Home Care program is one of the more important initiatives undertaken in recent years. This program provides services to veterans to assist them to manage in their own homes and is being kept under close review to ensure services are appropriate to the task. As at 30 June 2003, 65 148 veterans and war widows/widowers had been assessed for Veterans' Home Care services to help them continue living at home. In August 2002, DVA extended its IT contract with IBM Global Services Australia for a period of three years. The extension incorporates substantial changes to the old contract and to how services will be provided to us by IBM GSA. Work has commenced on the management framework in the new IT infrastructure to be provided under the contract and implemented during the course of 2003–04. The new infrastructure will adopt a 'thin client' orientation, which will improve the speed and reliability of desktop PCs and systems and will have a flow-on effect on delivery of services to the veteran community. On a fiscal front, the Department continues to improve its financial management through strengthening its financial governance processes and output reporting capability. The Commonwealth equity in DVA increased by $2.9m and the Department recorded an operating surplus of $1.1m (before the Capital Use Charge). The financial statements 2002–03, detailed in this report, again received an unqualified audit report from the Australian National Audit Office. Planning is well under way to implement the Government's recommendations from the Budget Estimates Framework Review, including an upgrade of the Financial Management Information System. In June this year, we farewelled our most recent Canadian exchange officer after some 18 months with DVA. This staff exchange program between Veterans Affairs Canada and DVA, which has been running for over ten years, is an excellent arrangement and provides opportunities for staff development and work experience between the two organisations. The devastating Canberra bush fires in January 2003 posed challenges for the Department. Staff in the Canberra Veterans' Affairs Network office provided exceptional service to affected members of the veteran community, answering more than 600 telephone and counter enquiries during January and February. Staff of Defence Service Homes Insurance also put in an extraordinary effort in processing claims relating to the fires. Sadly, five DVA staff members lost their homes during the fires and it was pleasing to see the level of support that was offered by their fellow staff. We were also saddened this year by the passing of seven of our World War I veterans. Two of these men, Eric Abraham from Queensland and Albert Whitmore from SA, were honoured with State Funerals. Commemorating the service of Australians in wars, conflicts and peace operations continues to be a high priority for the Department. A new commemorations program, Saluting Their Service, was launched in August 2002 and will continue to encourage the Australian community to honour the service of our veterans. For their continued support throughout the year, I would like to thank the Deputy President, Ian Campbell, and the Commissioner, Major General Paul Stevens. My thanks also to the staff of the Department who provide services either directly or indirectly to the veteran community.
President, Repatriation Commission
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2002–03 was both challenging and rewarding for the
Repatriation Commission and the Department of Veterans'
Affairs, with key developments that will play an important
role in shaping the portfolio's future.