23 May 2019

Guy Barnett MP

2019-20 Budget: Supporting Tasmanian Veterans

The Hodgman Liberal Government is supporting Tasmania’s veterans and ex-service personnel in the 2019-20 State Budget.

Today, Tasmania has more than 10,500 veterans and ex-serving personnel. Their service and sacrifice deserves to be acknowledged.

This year’s Budget sees the continued roll-out of our record $750,000 election package to support veterans, ex-service personnel and their families.

This package includes:

• The provision of peak body status to the RSL (Tasmania Branch) which will see an increase in core annual funding to $110,000 to provide assistance and advocacy, with indexation to apply;
• The provision of $50,000 per year for three years to RSL (Tasmania Branch) to undertake projects that improve service delivery to ex-serving men and women in Tasmania;
• Delivering the Teddy Sheean Grants Program of $100, 000 a year for three years for repairs and maintenance to RSLs and other veterans’ organisations as well as war memorial construction and repairs; and
• Continuing the development of a $225,000 partnership with the Parks and Wildlife Service to enable participation in an active recreation and adventure program for veterans in Tasmania’s National Parks.

As a long-time advocate for veteran’s rights and recognising their service, I was honoured to present the case for Ordinary Seaman Edward ‘Teddy’ Sheean to receive a Victoria Cross at the Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal during the March public hearings in Hobart.

As our economy continues to grow, the Budget supports and encourages growth that benefits all Tasmanians by delivering unprecedented infrastructure spending, and the State’s largest ever budget for health and education.