Minister to meet young veterans

YOUNG veterans will be able to raise concerns directly with the federal minister responsible for their support in Townsville today.

Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester will meet with former members of the Australian Defence Force and discuss veterans’ issues.

Mr Chester is expected to attend the Royal Australian Regiment Association Conference, the rededication of Zac’s Place – an emergency accommodation and meeting place for veterans – and a younger veterans roundtable.

The roundtable will be hosted by LNP candidate for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, who said he wanted to fill a “gap” in the usual stakeholder meetings held with government.

“The minister will hear from the younger veterans that are clients from the department with complex injuries,” he said.

“These are people who are missing limbs from operations, people who have been injured that badly overseas they actually died on the battlefield and were revived.”

Mr Thompson said he expected a “robust” discussion between the veterans and Mr Chester.

“The minister has made it clear he does not want to just hear from the same group of people or high up representatives but clients with complex needs,” he said.

Mr Chester said he wanted to hear from young veterans.

“Our Government recognises younger veterans have unique needs and I am committed to ensuring we do all we can to support them,” he said.

Mr Chester said providing mental health support for veterans was a “key priority”.

“Our Government invests more than $ 200 million in mental health support each year and has expanded our free mental health treatment program, Non- Liability Health Care ( NLHC),” he said.

“NLHC is available to any veteran with one day of continuous service in the ADF, and to reservists with domestic or international disaster relief or border protection service, or who have been involved in a serious service- related training accident.”