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CURRENT ISSUES
We are recognized by Government as a major Ex-Service Organisation (ESO) because of our representation of the RAR Family of over 15,000 financial members and access to over 100,000 eligible persons.
An essential element of our aims is to protect the RAR (current and past serving men and their families) Family's rights and entitlements under the various Commonwealth Acts and military covenant recognised by the Parliament of Australia.
We represent our RAR Family direct to Parliament, the Government and its agencies and all political parties, direct and in association with other kindred ESO representative bodies, on matters that only effect our Association's aims.
To add strength in our advocacy role we have joined the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) which comprises the National Presidents of: the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA); the Naval Association of Australia (NAA); the Royal Australian Regiment Corporation (RARC); the Australian Special Air Services Association (ASASA); and the RAAF Association (RAAFA). Its objective is to provide a stronger voice on issues effecting the conditions and wellbeing of current serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force. The Alliance does not preclude individual organisations pursuing individual matters on their own, rather; the Alliance will present a united voice on those major issues affecting their constituents more broadly than individual ESO-specific matters.
The Labor party came to power in 2007 with a promise to fix this veterans pensions injustice. They haven't! but worse than that, on the 16 June 2011, the government voted against a coalition bill that would have provided fair indexation for most retired military families. What to do?
ADSO: UPDATE 4/2011 – 21 SEPTEMBER 2011
Thanks to you all for your support and a welcome to our new supporters. In this report you will read, hear and see that our Direct Action Phase is having an impact both with the public and with the Parliamentarians. And there are more direct actions to come.
DFWA: MONTHLY UPDATE - 15 SEPTEMBER 2011
UPDATE is a monthly news sheet produced by the Defence Force Welfare Association containing current items of interest to the Service and ex-Service community. It is widely distributed to Members of Parliament, media outlets, senior Service and Public Service Officers and DFWA members.
DFWA: MONTHLY UPDATE - 17 AUGUST 2011
UPDATE is a monthly news sheet produced by the Defence Force Welfare Association containing current items of interest to the Service and ex-Service community. It is widely distributed to Members of Parliament, media outlets, senior Service and Public Service Officers and DFWA members.
THE "BATTLE" LINES ARE JOINED
In this exchange you get the story of what we are fighting for:
AVM Peter Criss (retd), an Eden-Monaro resident wrote to Mike Kelly on 8 July about the rejection of the Fair Indexation Bill; Mike Kelly replied on 25 July, and
Peter Criss responded on 3 August.
Ted Chitham
24 Aug 11
'FAIR GO!" CAMPAIGN - SUPPORT STRUCTURE - NEED YOUR HELP
Our campaign's success is heavily reliant on our presence in every federal electorate to promote our causes directly to the voters and the MPs who are very sensitive to issues within their electorate particularly near election time. Our lobbying activities are directed to the sitting MPs, all political parties and through the media. With the national media (TV, radio and press) we are reliant on their decision to print our releases and from our experience to date there is no certainty that they regard our issue as news worthy at the time when other news takes priority. However, at the local level the media are seeking news and that provides us with a distinct opportunity.
Personal contact with the local MPs is vital. It gives us the ability to present our issues at their Electoral Office, discuss them and ensures we get a response. Importantly, these exchanges are reported up the line to their Party leadership. We have State/Territory Action Groups (STAGs) in place with representatives from the Alliance Partners. But we need to expand on those with Local Action Groups (LAGs) ideally in all the 150 federal electorates but essentially and vitally in the 52 marginal electorates. I have asked previously for your Association's help to recruit volunteers to join the Action Groups without success.
What does this entail? Read the details to see how you can help!, including information about: 1. The Appeal, 2. Federal election results 2010, 3. List of Senators, 4. Marginal electorates, and 5. "Fair Go!" Organisation.
Volunteer to help via the ADSO FGC website (scroll towards the bottom of the page)
Ted Chitham
22 Aug 11
ADSO: MEDIA RELEASE - 15 AUGUST 2011
Ian Stenlake, the lead actor in the popular TV series Sea Patrol, has come out fighting in support of a fair system for the indexation of military retirement pensions. Ian said that through the role he played he had come to know some remarkable people who served in the Australian Defence Force, but was surprised to learn how poorly the "hard working Australians who have served their nation" have been treated in their retirement in terms of their superannuation pension and super payments. "The pension isn't even adjusted to keep pace with the real cost of living," Stenlake said. "These military pensions have fallen behind in value for the past 20 years because of inadequate adjustments for cost of living increases". "How fair is that?" he asks. "Australia's retired military veterans want a Fair Go."
DFWA: MEDIA RELEASE - 2 MARCH 2011
The Defence Force Welfare Association and its Alliance* partners welcome the coming debate on fair indexation for military superannuants, expected to occur later this month in the Senate with the tabling of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2010. If approved by Parliament the Bill will amend the Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Act 1948 and Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973 so that military superannuation pensions paid under these Acts to retired defence force members over 55 years of age are adjusted bi-annually by the same percentage as other Commonwealth pensions.
NEW WEBSITE: "JUST A FAIR GO"
WELCOME TO THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF OUR NEW WEBSITE – “JUST A FAIR GO”
“Just a Fair Go” website was developed to provide information that would help Veterans in their fight for fair indexation of their “self funded superannuation” and to have it protected against the ever increasing cost of living. Whilst this is the biggest issue on this website currently, there are other issues that will be addressed in the near future. This site was developed to provide a voice for members of the Defence family of our great Nation. Our aim is to collate the evidence and present it logically, to assist everyone gain a better understanding of the complexities and issues surrounding military superannuation. We would encourage you to take an active role, by placing real pressure on all politicians to support the fight for fair indexation for military superannuants. This can be best done by sending registered letters direct to politicians at Parliament House and to your local Member.
NEIL WEEKES : REPORT ON TONY ABBOTT'S FORUM IN TOWNSVILLE ON 24TH JULY, 2011
Last week the House of Representatives expressed its support for fair treatment for members of military superannuation schemes. Today the Senate rejected a Bill which would start the process of removing the discrimination faced by ADF members in their superannuation schemes. This was an act of bastardry by the government following so closely after the PM's words of condolence to the family of the soldier who was our latest Afghanistan casualty.
The Bill was rejected after the voting was even.
Ted Chitham
16 June 2011
ADSO: SENATE TURNS ITS BACK ON THE NATION'S SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN
Today this Parliament revealed its true nature and its attitude towards serving and former members of the Australian Defence Force who it so willingly sends into harm's way. The House of Representatives just last week expressed its support for fair treatment for members of military superannuation schemes and today the Senate rejected a Bill which would start the process of removing the discrimination faced by ADF members in their superannuation schemes. It seems we endure a directionless Parliament bereft of vision and unable to cooperate and agree on measures that will benefit our service men and women.
The Alliance comprises the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA); the Naval Association of Australia (NAA); the Royal Australian Regiment Corporation (RARC); the Australian Special Air Services Association (ASASA); and the RAAF Association (RAAFA).
16 June 2011
PETITION: DFRB/DFRDB AMENDMENT (FAIR INDEXATION) BILL
This petition of concerned Australian citizens draws to the attention of theHouse the need for veterans receiving benefits from the Defence ForcesRetirement Benefits Scheme (DFRB) and the Defence Force Retirement & DeathBenefits Scheme (DFRDB) to have their benefits adequately indexed. We thereforecall on the House to consider and pass the Defence Force Retirement and DeathBenefit Amendment (Fair Indexation) Bill 2010 to ensure that the 'unique natureof military service' is recognised through military superannuationarrangements. Sign the Petition here
ADSO "FAIR GO!" CAMPAIGN PHASE 3 UPDATE 3/2011
Read the third of our Campaign's updates here. Please circulate it widely and encourage others to participate.
Ted Chitham & Kel Ryan
Campaign Directors
13 July 2011
ADSO "FAIR GO!" CAMPAIGN PHASE 2 UPDATE 2/2011
Read the second of our phase 2 Campaign's update here. Please circulate it widely and encourage others to participate.
Ted Chitham & Kel Ryan
Campaign Directors
7 June 2011
ADSO "FAIR GO!" CAMPAIGN PHASE 2 UPDATE 1/2011
Read the first of our phase 2 Campaign's update here. Please circulate it widely and encourage others to participate.
Ted Chitham & Kel Ryan
Campaign Directors
7 May 2011
"FAIR GO!" CAMPAIGN PHASE 2 - FAIR INDEXATION BILL
A letter from the Campaign Directors, Ted Chitham & Kel Ryan, appealing for your support:
"Warriors and families of Warriors, Enough is enough. It's time for us to stand up and support the Fair Indexation Bill in a public display of strength through an active mail campaign directed at opposing Labor Senators as well as Labor's marginal seat MPs and supporting Green and Independent Senators.
We can be a vital force in influencing this Bill being passed in the Senate.
We need you to ACT NOW in large numbers to voice your concern.
The Background
Phase 1 of our campaign was successful in gaining the Coalition, the Greens and Independents' support, but unsuccessful with the Labor Government. However, we were successful in having many voters support us at the ballot box.
The minority Labor Government and the Labor Party across the country continues to deny us fair indexation. Now in Phase 2 we seek to influence the Parliament (Senate & House of Representatives) to legislate for a fair indexation.
The Coalition true to its commitment has introduced the Fair Indexation Bill into the Senate where it has been referred to a Senate Enquiry Committee for consideration and report back to the Senate by the 10th May.
As an ADSO (DFWA, RAAFA, NAA, RARC and ASASA) partner we have made a submission to that Senate Enquiry. The Finance Department's submission supports the Matthews' Report recommendation that CPI is the right indexation formula and states that the costs of any change are against the Government's fiscal responsibility to return the budget to surplus by 2012-2013. Our submission challenges their costing.
Here's how you can help
Of the three sample letters select any one, or compose your own letter to post or hand deliver to your State Labor, Green and Independent Senators and to your Labor MP's marginal electoral address before the 10th May 2011. Their addresses are shown here and below.
Write or type your letter. Be courteous and factual especially highlighting your own circumstances and ask for a reply. Keep a copy and advise your Association of the posting/hand delivery details (date and addressee) and the reply received. This allows us to monitor the matter.
Do not email the letter as emails are easily ignored or deleted. Under existing parliamentary protocol a letter to a politician must be logged and answered. Senators and MPs, especially those in marginal electorates do take notice of a large number of letters on a particular issue.
Encourage your family, mates and friends to write.
Do it for yourself if you are, or were, a contributor to the Superannuation Fund: act now or see your pension continually eroded every year. If you are not a DFRDB recipient then please act to support our broader defence family.
Spend 60c on yours or their future and post a letter.
Over to you and thanks for your support."
View the sample letters here.
Address Lists of Senators and Marginal Seats (ex Coalition)
Ted Chitham & Kel Ryan
Campaign Directors
5 May 2011
ADSO SUBMISSION TO SENATE INQUIRY - FAIR INDEXATION BILL
The Alliance of Defence Service Organisations’ (ADSO) Senate Inquiry Fair Indexation Bill submission has been publicly released and distributed.
Ted Chitham, MC OAM
Secretary
The Royal Australian Regiment Corporation
19 April 2011
MONTHLY UPDATE #258 – 15 MARCH 2011
UPDATE is a monthly news sheet produced by the Defence Force Welfare Association containing current items of interest to the Service and ex-Service community. It is widely distributed to Members of Parliament, media outlets, senior Service and Public Service Officers and DFWA members.
DFWA: MONTHLY UPDATE - 15 OCTOBER 2010
We decided not to endorse DFWA's comments in this case above: see comments here by National President, Major General ‘Hori’ Howard AO MC ESM (Retd).
ESOs ISSUES PAPER - DECEMBER 2010
This is the latest Major Issues Paper co-ordinated and compiled by the DFWA. It outlines the coordinated and agreed positions of the ESOs, whose logos appear on the cover page, on the major issues facing the Ex Service Community. It has been presented to Government.
GOVERNANCE OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SUPERANNUATION SCHEMES BILL 2010
I, on behalf of the “Alliance of Defence Service Organisations” (DFWA, Naval Association of Australia, RAAF Association, Royal Australian Regiment Association & Australian Special Air Service Association as well as AAAA, DRA, DFA VVFA1 write to you about the above bill which we understand to be on the agenda for passage through the Parliament in its next session.
David K Jamison, AM
National President, DFWA
14 October 2010
CAMPAIGN DONATIONS UPDATE AS AT 16 NOVEMBER (UPDATED 11/01/11)
To date our Association’s appeal for donations “Dig Deep Diggers” has been encouraging with $28,319.70 received. That added to the donations being received by our Campaign partners is looking good. However, we do need more to be able to fund the campaign’s promotion material and media costs of about $80K.
Donate Now - Dig Deep Diggers!
UPDATED BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS:
Royal Australian Regiment Corporation
Bank: Commonwealth, Stafford
BSB: 064 127
Account Number: 1030 4915
Ted Chitham
16 November 2010
If you have any matter you believe threatens your entitlements, please let us know.
Updated: 5 January 2012
