A MAJORITY LIBERAL GOVERNMENT WILL:
- Invest an additional $1.4 million to support Tasmania’s veterans and ex-service personnel.
- Provide peak body funding with annual indexation to RSL Tasmania, as well as special projects funding of $50,000 per annum.
- Provide $100,000 per annum to the Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program.
- Provide $30,000 to the Tasmanian Headstone Project to enable the program to extend to regional Tasmania.
- Provide $100,000 for a training centre and additional facilities at the Dago Point Veterans Retreat, and make Health and Wellbeing Vouchers available to veterans for gym or sporting club membership.
- Create a Veterans Employment Strategy with targets for public sector employment.
- Continue funding the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize.
Tasmania has a long and distinguished military history. In fact, 15 of Australia’s 101 Victoria Cross recipients hail from our State, including the nation’s most recent VC recipient, Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean.
Today, Tasmania is home to more than 10,500 veterans and ex-serving personnel with many families having a personal connection to our Anzac heritage.
Increasing community attendance at Anzac Day services shows that the service and sacrifice of our veterans is honoured by Tasmanians as much now as in years gone by.
Provide peak body funding with annual indexation to RSL Tasmania, as well as special projects funding of $50,000 per annum
RSL Tasmania provides a pivotal role in supporting the veterans and ex-serviceman community and their families.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will continue our annual support of RSL Tasmania with funding per annum of approximately $110,000, indexed over the next four years. In addition, we will provide $50,000 per annum for four years to RSL Tasmania to undertake special projects which support Tasmania’s veterans and ex-serving personnel.
Provide $100,000 per annum to the Teddy Sheean VC Memorial Grants Program
The Grants Program was established as a tribute to the bravery and sacrifice made by Tasmanian sailor Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean VC, who gave his life for his country and fellow shipmates during a battle in 1942 off the coast of East Timor.
The Grants Program also honours all of the Tasmanians who selflessly gave their lives in the defence of this country.
A re-elected Majority Liberal Government will provide an ongoing commitment of a further $100,000 per annum for four years to this successful initiative to support our RSL clubs, sub-branches and ex-service organisations.
Provide $30,000 to the Tasmanian Headstone Project to enable the program to extend to regional Tasmania
The Headstone Project is playing a valuable role in ensuring that all Tasmanian First World War veterans are recognised and that their last resting place is honoured with a headstone.
Adding to the $40,000 already invested to support this important project, a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will invest a further $30,000 to extend this project into regional Tasmania.
Provide $100,000 for a training centre and additional facilities at the Dago Point Veterans Retreat, and make Health and Wellbeing vouchers available to veterans for gym or sporting club membership
In recent weeks, the health and wellbeing of our returned service personnel has been an area of national focus.
While the Federal Government has primary responsibility for this area, a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will play its part to support our veterans, including:
- $100,000 for a training centre and additional facilities at the Dago Point Veterans Retreat, which will build on the $100,000 already provided by the Liberal Government to establish a veterans’ retreat.
- $200,000 for Health and Wellbeing Vouchers to provide veterans and ex-service personnel with vouchers to invest into sporting club and gym memberships for their mental health and wellbeing.
Create a Veterans Employment Strategy with targets for public sector employment
Working with the local veterans’ community and public sector agencies, a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will develop a Veterans Employment Strategy to support our veterans and ex-service personnel to transition their careers and employment pathways – with the aim being to identify employment opportunities within the public state service.
Continue funding the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize
To educate young Tasmanians on the service and sacrifice of our Tasmanian diggers, a re-elected Majority Liberal Government will continue our commitment to funding the annual Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize.
Targeted at predominantly Year 9 students, the prize allows winners to join a study tour that honours Australia’s participation in the Great War and subsequent wars.
Our record in Government:
- Played a key role in securing a Victoria Cross for Tasmanian war hero Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean.
- Creation of a new Veterans Reference Group to provide advice to Government, chaired by Brigadier John Withers.
- $500,000 Supporting Our Veterans COVID grants program for RSLs and Ex-Service Organisations.
- Peak body funding for the first time to RSL (Tasmania Branch).
- $50,000 to RSL (Tasmania Branch) for Centenary of Armistice events in 2018.
- $15,000 per annum for three years to Defence Force Veterans Time-out Workshop and drop-in centre at Dowsings Point.
- $40,000 for the Tasmanian Headstone Project.
- $135,000 continued funding for the Frank MacDonald Memorial Prize.
- $580,000 for projects at RSL sub-branches, community clubs and local government for new premises, facility upgrades, priority infrastructure repairs and memorial upgrades across Tasmania.
- $225,000 Active Recreation Program for veterans and ex-serving personnel.
- $300,000 towards the Teddy Sheean Memorial grants program.
- $100,000 to Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, Tasmania division towards renovation of Dago Point shack as a retreat for veterans and their families.
- $60,000 for a joint Federal/State feasibility study into a Veterans Wellbeing Centre in Tasmania.
- $40,000 per annum increased funding to Hobart and Launceston Legacy.
- Up to $50,000 for a statue of Teddy Sheean in Latrobe.
Costings:
This policy cost $1.4 million over four years.