MESSAGE FROM BRIGADIER NEIL WEEKES, AM, MC (RETIRED)
During the last meeting of the VVAA in Townsville, I asked those in attendance to indicate who had served in the ADF for 20 years or more.
I was surprised when the vast majority put up a hand. My purpose in doing this was to emphasise that those members would be receiving a
military superannuation "pension" which was being indexed against the Consumer Price Index (CPI). We all know that the Australian Bureau of
Statistics has stated that the CPI is not a true indication of the rises in the costs of living. Last year, for example, those members
receiving a military superannuation pension did not receive any increase for one six month period because, apparently, there had been no
increase in the CPI!!
This ignored the fact that here in Townsville, for example, there had been a significant increase in rates. This has been compounded
this year with another rate increase, an increase in the cost of vehicle registrations, a huge electricity cost increase and the cancellation
of the eight cent fuel subsidy, to name just a few increases.
I reminded all in attendance that there will be a Federal election coming up soon and, if we wanted to force the Government to reconsider its
decision to accept the Matthews Review recommendation to retain the CPI, then we must write individually to our local Federal Member to voice
our strong objection to that decision. After all, there had been several similar reviews some of which had recommended that military
superannuation pensions be indexed against the Male Total Average Weekly Earnings (MTAWE). Unfortunately all of these recommendations had
been rejected by previous Governments.
So, if you want to change your pension, now is the time to do it. Write an individual letter to your Federal Member. A draft letter is attached,or you can use your own words. Remember, when writing be factual and courteous. Do not send emails as they, do not require a response and in many cases are simply "DELETED".
There is also a draft letter attached for surviving spouses of deceased ADF members who are receiving a residual military superannuation pension.
The Government will not even consider changing its decision unless the majority of the veteran and ex-ADF communities voice their concerns.
Over to you. Act now or see your pension continually eroded every year - but don't complain because you failed to act.
LEAD, FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY