An Affair that must end

The National Servicemen of the second scheme (1965-72) were called up by Menzies for service in Vietnam. They did not ask to be called up, but for the vast majority, on finding themselves in the Army, they put their shoulder to the wheel and proved to be every bit as good as the regular soldiers.

A little respect for their service might be shown by Vet Affairs in at least considering whatever claims they put forward in a positive and reasonable manner.

In my opinion Vet Affairs should be made to concentrate solely on the welfare of surviving vets and ex-service personnel. They should be forced to abandon their proselytizing and promotion of the Anzac legend. As far as government expenditure on recording and honouring the history of Australian involvement in war I believe that should be the sole preserve of the Australian War Memorial (AWM).

A Department charged with the welfare of former servicemen and women should not be also running events, at great cost, and flying (how many?) let's say at least dozens of senior officers around the world for weeks at a time. The events branches of the Department of Veterans Affairs should be split off from the department and given to the more highly skilled and sober AWM. Vet Affairs should also cease the interpretation of our military history. At the moment they are providing the sugar coated version.

The Minister of Veterans Affairs, Warren Snowdon, should provide a list of his officers who attended Anzac Day Ceremonies in Turkey, France, Belgium and elsewhere around the globe and the cost to the Australian tax payer.