Tweed election: Labor promises $5 million veteran wellbeing hub
Federal Labor has promised a one-stop shop for veterans and their families to help them transition back into regular community life.
Tweed Heads
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tweed Heads. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An RSL president says a $5 million promise to build a veterans wellbeing hub will not only benefit returned service personnel but the families around them.
On Tuesday Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Shayne Neumann, joined the member for Richmond Justine Elliot, and the candidate for McPherson Carl Ungerer, in Tweed Heads to make the announcement.
Mr Neumann said the proposed hub would be a one-stop shop for veterans and their families to access a range of services, including transition, wellbeing support, advocacy, employment, housing assistance and social connection.
The move follows a round table with local RSL representatives and the ongoing Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
“We listened and we got the feedback of the need to improve not just the Department of Veterans Affairs, which Labor will do, but also the need for a wellbeing hub in the Tweed region that will serve the North coast of NSW and enter the Gold Coast as well,” Mr Neumann said.
“The border between Queensland and NSW here is pretty amorphous and people live and work and play and recreate across those borders.
“So it’s really important for not just for the Tweed region, but also the North Coast as well as the Gold Coast.”
He said the area was chosen for the 3000 veterans and families who live in Northern NSW, however additional hubs will be considered for places including Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Queanbeyan.
Mr Neumann expected the hub would be a place not just for older veterans, but for young families to feel comfortable to connect to each other.
“That building and retention of community is really critical,” he said.
Far North Coast District Council RSL president Kevin Tibbett welcomed the commitment after 18 months of lobbying.
“I think it's going to benefit a lot of veterans now, this side of the border and across the street,” he said.
Mr Tibbett hoped the hub would help address the issues veterans were facing when it came to making claims, and support them to transition into the community after service.
He said it was important the centres also help veterans’ families including widows of returned service people.
“They need help too,” he said.
“It’s also for people of all ages. You know, they don‘t get much mentioned with the younger veterans issues, but they still have issues with DVA.”
The specifics of the hub including exact location will be decided after consultation if the ALP is elected at the May 21 Federal Election.
Richmond Nationals Candidate Kimberley Hone said the current government had supported more than 3000 veterans in the Tweed, Byron and Ballina and increased funding for veterans by $369 million in the recent Budget.
“Veteran Wellbeing Centres were a Liberal and Nationals Government of the 2019 Budget and are being progressively rolled out across the country,” Ms Hone said.
More Coverage
Originally published as Tweed election: Labor promises $5 million veteran wellbeing hub
Ground ‘covered in junkie needles’ ahead of kids sporting event
Several syringes have been found strewn across the grass near a major international sports stadium in the lead-up to one of the state’s biggest junior sporting events of the year.
Named: Man accused of bludgeoning grandfather to death
A homeless 66-year-old man who allegedly bludgeoned a beloved Coffs grandfather to death with a steel pole has faced court, as police try to track down a murder weapon. See the video.