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Leader's LetterJuly 2005
Time to Support Our VeteransMy visit to Dunedin's Montecillo Veteran home and hospital last month was a heart rending experience. I met with a number of retired servicemen who were once strapping, vibrant young men, who made huge sacrifices to fight for our country, and are now not only struggling with ill health, but with funding shortfalls that could jeorpardise the health care services they need. These people who helped shape the country we live in today, are being ignored by a government that promised to look after its veterans. The government is refusing to provide two million dollars in funding to rebuild Dunedin's Montecillo war veterans home and hospital, which could compromise the provision of health services to veterans in Otago and Southland. It seems that Montecillo is the first victim of the next round of restrictions on social services spending and the situation is only going to get worse unless the government reassesses its priorities and efforts in taking care of our war veterans. Two million dollars invested in a home and hospital will never ever cover the costs that our veterans paid to keep our freedom. The agent orange saga showed just how willing successive National and Labour governments were to keep passing the buck over the shabby treatment of Vietnam veterans. The soldiers who came into contact with agent orange have been caught in no-man's land, continually denied compensation by successive governments which have refused to look closely at what happened during the time of the Vietnam war. The government must accept the nation has a special obligation to our veterans, particularly if they have suffered as a result of their service. This is why New Zealand First has made repeated calls to the government to actively work towards a resolution for Vietnam Veterans and their children who have been affected by Agent Orange with the aim of taking positive action for those in need of medical assistance. Labour hasn't honoured its commitment to taking care of our veterans. New Zealand First wants to see resources for aged care expanded urgently so that we can provide our veterans with better living conditions, improved health care services and a higher pension than they currently receive. Close consultation with the Defence Force, the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association (RNZRSA) and other veterans' associations should also be untertaken to ensure that our veterans are properly recognised for their special contribution to New Zealand's security and that their pensions maintain relativity plus an additional amount of 10% in recognition of their sacrifice. It is the very least we can do to honour these brave and selfless people who fought for us. They shaped the character and destiny of this country for future generations, and now its time for the generations they fought for to thank them. Bill Gudgeon MP
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