Document Index Budget Paper 2

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will continue the Community Care Seeding Grants programme. This programme will improve the independence and quality of life of veterans, war widows and widowers living in the community by increasing access to community care services and residential and community-based respite care. The programme will also target preventative health.

This measure will ensure that veterans will be provided with opportunities for community aged care and greater social, home and community support.

This measure continues funding which was due to lapse on 30 June 1999.

Improve Claims Management Process

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will increase funding for ex-service organisations to train advocates, through the Training and Information Programme (TIP) and to replace the lapsing Claims Assistance Grants Scheme (CAGS) with a new support programme called Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST), to assist veterans, war widows and widowers to lodge claims.

This measure will provide ex-service organisations with assistance for necessary training and resources to help veterans, war widows and widowers with the preparation of their claims and reduce the rate of appeals. The measure will improve access to entitlements by veterans, war widows and widowers, especially those living in rural and remote areas. The proposal will be implemented from 1 July 1999.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in Saluting their Service.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will fund the production of a documentary series, Australians at War, for the Centenary of Federation, as a means of focussing attention on the contributions made by Australia’s veterans in serving their country.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in Saluting their Service.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will increase funding to the Regional War Memorials Project, which will enable many more communities to restore, renovate or create new memorials as the focus for local commemorative activities.

This measure is currently underway and the additional funds will be expended over the four years to 2002-03.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in Saluting their Service.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will establish an ANZAC commemorative site at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey, in conjunction with the New Zealand Government. The commemorative site will serve both as a venue for the annual Anzac Day Dawn Service held in Gallipoli and to inform visitors throughout the year of the Gallipoli campaign in World War I. Subject to Turkish Government approval, it is planned the new site will open on Anzac Day 2000.

This measure delivers on the Government’s election commitment in Saluting their Service.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will build on current initiatives to improve delivery of services to the veteran community in rural and remote areas. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) will continue to expand its service network by developing strategic partnerships with Commonwealth, State and local agencies, while better targeting its Outreach Programme.

Further Information

More than 70 agency agreements are already in place, widely extending the scope of DVA services throughout country areas. The improved level of service is being funded from available Departmental resources.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will extend provision of Veterans’ Children Education Scheme (VCES) assistance to the children of extreme disablement adjustment (EDA) pensioners.

This measure will remedy an anomaly where school-age children of living veterans who receive an EDA pension do not receive VCES assistance, whereas children of deceased EDA veterans are eligible. Specialist academic counselling and financial assistance under the VCES will be available to the school-age children of veterans receiving an EDA pension and they will now have access to the same level of education assistance as the children of special rate veterans.

This measure will be implemented from 1 January 2000, subject to passage of enabling legislation.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding support to the Australian Service Nurses’ National Memorial and the Australian National Korean War Memorial.

Both Memorials are to be constructed during the 1999-2000 financial year on Anzac Parade, Canberra.

Managing Health Care expenditure

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will develop a computer system to allow for more effective management of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA) Health Care expenses of over $2.5 billion a year.

This measure will help ensure that the health care services paid for are both appropriate for veterans and represent value for money. The initial phase of development will commence on 1 July 1999 and will be funded out of the Department’s ongoing budget provision for information technology development. Further funding will depend on evaluation of the outcome of the system, which will be based on data warehousing technology.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government is enhancing systems to allow improvements to debt recovery. The current administrative charge on outstanding debt will be replaced by a penalty interest charge on debts for which there is no recovery agreement. The impact of this measure will be to ensure that debts owed to the Commonwealth are recovered more cost effectively. The measure will be implemented by 1 July 2000.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will extend the HomeFront initiative to veterans with specific treatment entitlements (known as White Card holders). The HomeFront initiative provides a free home assessment to identify hazards in and around the home which may cause falls or accidents. The initiative covers the provision and installation of minor home modifications or aids and appliances up to an annual limit of $150. HomeFront will assist veterans, war widows and widowers to live independently in their own homes, thereby reducing medical and hospital costs.

In addition, a new Home Support Loan (under Defence Service Homes scheme) will be introduced to assist eligible veterans, war widows and widowers with the cost of home maintenance and modifications to their own homes. This scheme will allow them to borrow up to $10,000 for this purpose.

Expense ($m)

Explanation

To facilitate implementation of A New Tax System, the Government will fund changes necessary to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA) systems. Provision is mainly made for changes to DVA’s pension systems and procedures to reflect the provisions of the new tax system, including payment of the aged person’s savings bonus.

Align Invalidity Service Pension Assessments

Expense ($m)

Explanation

The Government will apply a more consistent and equitable approach to the assessment of the eligibility criteria for invalidity service pensions within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. This will align the measurement of permanent incapacity for an invalidity service pension with the measurement applied in disability compensation assessment. Those affected by this measure will retain access to Commonwealth income support provided through the Department of Family and Community Services and related health care assistance provided through the Department of Health and Aged Care.

This will ensure a more objective and soundly based method for the determination of the invalidity service pension assessment.

Questions? Comments? Problems? Past Last Updated: Tuesday 11th May, 7:30 pm AEST