Taking aim at VEP

Labor fires broadside at program over lack of job targets

THE Federal Opposition has criticised the Veterans’ Employment Program for not having any targets of increased job opportunities for veterans and ex- service personnel.

Launched in November, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the VEP was a commitment to “better recognise the value of veterans” after their ADF service ended.

But when Department of Veterans’ Affairs officials were questioned at last week’s Sen- ate Estimates hearing about specific jobs and key performance targets, their answer was there was none “at this stage”.

The response angered Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole who said yesterday it was crucial all government- funded programs had key performance indicators and targets.

“It’s very important to know what we’re working towards and then we need to be able to prove with evidence how the government programs are working and why they work,” she said.

“( The VEP) is an absolutely great initiative to work with the private sector because a number of our Defence men and women have good and transferable skills.

“We have people here working … locally every day who are developing their own targets they want to achieve, but they shouldn’t be doing the Government’s job for them.”

Federal Labor’s Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel spokeswoman Amanda Rishworth said without set targets there was no way to measure the success of the program.

“Labor will always be supportive of measures which provide greater support for our veterans, however, the Government needs to deliver outcomes,” she said.

Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Dan Tehan said when the VEP was launched last year Mr Turnbull was clear that the Government would never instruct business to hire veterans.

“The Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program is about improving the understanding of business people of the skills and attributes that former ADF personnel can bring to a job in the private sector,” he said.

“We have established an Industry Advisory Committee of leading business people because we believe the private sector is best- placed to drive this program …”

In this year’s Federal Budget, the Government provided $ 2.7 million to support the Industry Advisory Committee, create an Ex- Service Organisation Industry partnership register and develop and manage the annual Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards.

So far, 73 businesses, including two from North Queensland, have expressed their interest in the program.

THEY SHOULDN’T BE DOING THE GOVERNMENT’S JOB FOR THEM HERBERT MP CATHY O’TOOLE