•A Tim Nicholls LNP government will deliver Queensland’s first Veterans’ Affairs Policy
•The LNP plan will improve services and provide more opportunities for our retired military personnel and include Queensland’s first dedicated Veterans’ Affairs Minister
•By Honouring Our Veterans, the LNP will Build a Better Queensland by creating more jobs, building stronger families and providing liveable communities
A future Liberal National Party government will provide improved services, more opportunities and stronger representation for our retired servicemen and servicewomen as part of our plan to Build a Better Queensland.
LNP Deputy Leader Deb Frecklington said the comprehensive plan to assist ex-ADF personnel transitioning back into civilian life was a Queensland first.
“Queensland is home to almost 45,000 veterans and I believe they deserve a state-based policy that provides better services and more opportunities for them,” Ms Frecklington said.
“If an LNP Government is elected at the next state election, Queensland will lead Australia in the recognition of, and the help we provide to, former ADF Members.”
Ms Frecklington said the LNP’s comprehensive plan would build better services and better communities by helping veterans in four key ways.
“We will appoint a Minister for Veterans’ Affairs responsible for leading strategies aimed at ensuring that State Government services are better targeted to this group,” she said.
“We will commit to a target of increasing the number of ex-ADF personnel working in the public service – providing proper recognition of their military training and how that fits into roles within the Queensland Government.
“This will see more veterans working in the public service, with their extensive skills, training and experience ensuring we deliver better government.”
Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett said the region was home to a number of ADF personnel, some who had struggled to transition back into civilian life and another career after leaving the Defence Force.
Mr Bennett said the LNP’s comprehensive plan would build better services and better
communities by helping veterans in Burnett in five key ways.
“We will appoint a Minister for Veterans responsible for leading strategies aimed at ensuring that State Government services are better targeted to this group,” Mr Bennett said.
This could include initiatives such as delivering a veterans’ homelessness strategy.
“We will commit to a public service veterans target to increase the number of ex-ADF personnel working in the public service and provide proper recognition of their military training and how that fits into roles within the Queensland Government.
“This will see more veterans working in the Queensland public service, with their extensive skills, training and experience ensuring we deliver better government.
“We will appoint a senior representative in the public service as the Veterans’ Champion to mentor and establish a network of veterans in the public service.
“We will also make sure Queensland Government job websites are updated to provide more information to ex-ADF personnel about the jobs that best link to their skill set.
“We will create a $2 million Veterans Transition Grants Program, for ex-service and defence welfare organisations to access and fund programs that help veterans to transition back into civilian life and another career after leaving the Defence Force.
“We will also make the Queensland Veterans’ Advisory Council a permanent fixture of a future LNP Government.
Mr Bennett said veterans had a unique skill-set to make them ideal employees.
“Veterans work well in a team, have a sense of duty, they’re organised and disciplined, adaptable, problem solvers and have a strong work ethic and that is why it is great the LNP has developed this policy to help veterans transition from military to civilian life,” he said.
“There is no question the transition from military to civilian life can be challenging especially when it comes to employment.”