Veterans budget initiatives
The 2007-08 Federal Budget has provided a range of funding and service benefits for Australia’s 400,000 strong veteran community.
They include a $143 million initiative to pay a one-off $500 bonus to veterans and war widows over pension age, which will benefit 286,000 veterans and war widows.
Fortnightly pension payments to Special Rate pensioners will rise by $50 and Intermediate Rate pensioners by $25 benefiting 29,000 veterans with a disability.
Other Budget measures include $21 million over four years to ensure Gold and White card holders access community-based health care and support services after being discharged from hospital; a $57.2 million commitment to provide a $25,000 ex gratia payment to Australia’s European Prisoners of War, benefiting some 2200 veterans and their widows.
