Concerns over Veterans’ Affairs Minister ‘revolving door’

VETERANS will be looking for leadership from their seventh Minister for Veterans’ Affairs in just five years after another Cabinet reshuffle, prompting an angry blast from a Townsville leader.

New Leader of the National Party and Deputy PM Michael McCormack and his family at Government House in Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith

VETERANS will be looking for leadership from their seventh Veterans’ Affairs Minister in five years following the promotion of Michael McCormack to Deputy Prime Minister.

Mr McCormack was yesterday elected Nationals leader.

The promotion comes after he was sworn in as Minister for Defence Personnel, Veterans’ Affairs, and Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of Anzac on December 20 last year.

Dan Tehan previously held those three portfolios for 22 months.

During a brief visit to Townsville last Thursday, Mr McCormack responded to criticism from the veteran community regarding the number of DVA ministers in recent years, six since 2013.

“People, I think, understand that politics like anything these days is fairly fluid,” he said. “You don’t always get the same case manager if you’re a veteran. People do change their jobs and they move into different fields and they get promotions and that’s just the way of the world.

“But that doesn’t take away from the fact that no matter who is the Veterans’ Affairs Minister they are going to throw everything into it.”

Mr McCormack at the time said he had committed to hosting veteran forums.

“I don’t deny it’s a big portfolio, there are lots of challenges,” he said.

“There are also lots of opportunities to get out there and to listen and I have made the pledge that I will.”

Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said it was not fair veterans were required to put their concerns on hold while the Government “sorts out its Cabinet”.

“It is unacceptable that the Turnbull Government has a revolving door of ministers for Veterans Affairs,” she said.

“I am concerned the constant change in the Veteran Affairs ministers will mean that the recommendations from the Inquiry into Veterans’ Suicide will not be appropriately managed to the standard that veterans deserve.”

It’s understood Mr McCormack, who is now also Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, will transition out of Defence-related portfolios later this week before a new minister is appointed.

Originally published as Concerns over Veterans’ Affairs Minister ‘revolving door’