a message for all serving and ex military members

Would interested people please vote;

STOP PRESS - THE PM SAYS POST AND VOTE - SITREP


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SITUATION REPORT at 2200 hrs 17 July 2012
We have 2,885 votes. We need over 10,000 votes to make the top 3 before voting closes at 1700 hrs on Thursday 19 July
Register and vote for this question NOW. Use ALL your SEVEN votes.
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« Back to the Hangout with the Prime Minister forum.

“Prime Minister, you discriminate against Defence Force men and women when you say the country can afford fair indexation that protects pension purchasing power for over 3 million age pensioners but cannot afford to protect the purchasing power for 65,000 military superannuation pensioners (around $20M in the first year). You compound your discrimination when you add that the country can also afford the latest indexation increase for superannuated MPs, a massive 30 times greater than that for military superannuation pensioners. Given that fair indexation was an employment condition upon enlistment and given that it is clearly affordable, why won't you index military superannuation pensions fairly?”

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Military Superannuation – Legislative History

Written by Super User | https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
The Legislative History

Trace the Legislative history of military superannuation in this table and see the event, the dates and the Government in power at the decision time.

LEGISLATION / UNDERTAKINGRESPONSIBLE PARTYALPCoalition1909. Commonwealth (Central Staffs) Public Service Association proposed a superannuation scheme for PS, could apply to Naval and Military Forces.PROT
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1922. Scheme introduced into Parliament under the Defence Act for Army and Air Force personnel + civilian officers of the Commonwealth. Separate benefits for Navy.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
NAT/CP1924. Compulsory contributory superannuation scheme designed to provide half of the member’s salary at retirement. Same as PS two years earlier.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
NAT/CP1935-36. Compulsory retirement ages redefined – popular move.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
UAP/CPJuly 1947. Revised common pay scales and closer alignment of retirement ages for the three services.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/1948. The DFRB Act – 15,300 contributors and 107 pensioners; pension geared to the conditions of service, surrender values equal to contributions without reduction, available for officers at retiring age or 20 years, OR on completion of engagement after 20years, generally higher pension than PS, 3 classes of invalidity benefits and commutation options for a lump sum in certain circumstance.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/1959. Contributors total 39,330 with 3110 pensioners. Reduction in compulsory retiring age from 60 to 47 (officers) 55 (OR) creates tension. No compensation paid – virtual breach of contract. Death benefits questioned; widows left with pension. Pensioners not represented on DFRB Board. The fund made bigger profit than expected; surplus returned (eventually) to members.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CP30 June 1959. Regular Defence Forces Welfare Association (RDFWA) formed to fight inequities in the DFRB scheme.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CP14 December 1959. New retirement pension schedules and a new method of financing the scheme became effective. 5% of salary adopted.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CPNovember 1960. RDFWA pension rights, Repatriation Services, War Service homes, the Canteens Trust Fund, Social Services, welfare for dependants of deceased personnel supported by responsible Minister and Treasury.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CP1960-63. RDFWA active and successful in obtaining additional reforms. Salary increases addressed. Each remedy created new problems – the Act became very complex to interpret. By 1970 the gov’t had to act.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CPSep 70 – May 72 Jess Committee sat and reported. DFRB Act incomprehensible. Recommended compulsory contributions, 5.5% rate, retired pay or invalidity pay not pension, retired and invalidity pay to be expressed as a percentage of final pay, adjusted annually to ensure relativity with average weekly earnings, scheme not funded, payable to Commonwealth and Government guarantees the benefits, after 20 years service, commutation up to 4 years of retired pay. Bitterly opposed by the PS.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CP1 October 1972. The DFRB Scheme closed to new members.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / CP2 December 1972. The new Government opted for CPI indexation. However, the CPI became a central plank in the centralised wage fixing system over this period and so effectively a condition of employment became a superannuation system with a cost of living index that maintained real purchasing power. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
(Post Dec 1972)1973. Defence Forces Retirement and Death Benefits Act (1973). The May 72 Jess report was fundamentally adopted except provision for relativity with average weekly earnings omitted. Some teething problems, especially relating to ‘No Detriment’ provisions. Jess recommendation for automatic annual adjustment of retired invalidity pay and widows pensions to maintain relativity with average weekly earnings rejected. Nov 73 Defence Minister promised amendment for ‘Notional’ years of service. Nothing happened until Nov 77.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/Circa 1973. $126 million in accumulated DFRDB /DFRB superannuation funds reallocated into consolidated revenue. Funds declared untaxed. (The DFRB fund had approximately $160M as at 30 June 1972 but adjustments were required) The final balance of $126M was actually transferred into Consolidated Revenue in 1975 by the Whitlam Government.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/1976. New Government in 1976 did not rescind the move into consolidated revenue. A new Commonwealth Superannuation Act for PS. Indexation to CPI changes introduced, along with contributions at 5% and widows to receive 67% of pension – better conditions/provisions than DFRDB.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NCPFebruary 1977. DFRDB act amended to reflect some PS entitlements including CPI provisions but with 5.5% contributions remaining, many complex provisions and still with detriment, especially to widows. Most of these inequalities still exist today.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NCP1986. The Veterans’ Entitlement Act (VEA) under which all entitlements for veterans are administered enacted. The VEA Act excluded the principles of equity (fairness and natural justice) from the administration of all veterans’ entitlements, pensions and otherwise. (Federal Court of Australia ruling).https://www.aulro.com/afvb/23 October 1986. Indexation unilaterally and arbitrarily cut by 2.0% from military pensions below the CPI percentage that then applied.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/1989. Government accepted and adopted the new international standard for the compilation and calculation of the CPI, which introduced such things as “quality” into the calculation and which resulted in a major downward shift in inflation.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/4 November 1989. CPI indexation restored but no compensation paid for the three year loss of retirement income from the cut in indexation.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/30 September 1991. DFRDB ceased to be an option for new members joining the ADF. Military Superannuation Benefits Scheme only option for new recruits. Existing members given the option of staying with DFRDB or transitioning to MSBS.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/Circa 1991-93. (i.e. Prices and Incomes Accords (Mark VII-VIII). With the end of centralised wage fixing, CPI began to delink from wages and become a measure of inflation rather than cost of living.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/1997. CPI acknowledged as no longer protecting purchasing power of Age Pension, after a major campaign by pensioners because of falling standard of living. New measure adopted but military superannuation pensions excluded..https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NPA2001. Australian Bureau of Statistics declares that CPI is a measure of inflation, not purchasing power.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NPAApril 2001. The Government ignored various Senate select committee recommendations for fair indexation made in Apr 2001 and again in Dec 2002. Finance used the same arguments then as current ministers. The Government did nothing about fair indexation despite the Senate committee recommendations and despite its welfare pension indexation reforms in 1998.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NPAFrom 2004 ‘salary’ used to calculate entitlements included all income (Service, Specialist and other allowances + basic salary). The effect is significant. DFRDB and MSBS superannuants discharged pre 2004 receive a pension as much as 50% less than their post 2004 counterparts.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NPAMay 2006. Superannuation “reforms” declared that military/APS super were ‘untaxed funds’ (see Circa 1973); beneficiaries are liable for income tax on their military super pension (unlike other Australians)..https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NPANov 2007. Parliament, with bi-partisan support, recognised loss of purchasing power for Veteran Disability Pensioners and provided a “one off” catch up increase and also brought their indexation arrangements into line with the other pensions. This “one off” increase did not fully recover the erosion suffered by Veteran Disability Pensioners particularly in the previous 10 years when revised indexation arrangements were introduced for Age and Service Pensions.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
LIB / NPA2007. ALP ‘promised’ to fix the indexation in lead up to the 2007 Federal election.
Result in power: Nothing (Matthews Review with constrained TOR recommended CPI be retained for Commonwealth & Military super – (Review widely condemned as superficial and inaccurate)https://www.aulro.com/afvb/2007. ALP released the Podger Review into Military Superannuation, commissioned under the previous government. The Review Team determined there was an in-principle case for changing the indexation arrangements of DFRDB Pensions. It found the original scheme contained a wage-based indexation element that was removed in mid-1970s when CPI was adopted. It found no case to increase the benefits payable prior to age 55, but it found there was a case for older DFRDB pensioners – “Government should consider indexing DFRDB pensions on a similar basis to that applying to Age Pensions”. It also recommended fixing the MBL limits for MSBS members and other anomalies. “There should be no change to the MSBS pension indexation arrangements.” For over three years, both Labor Governments have sat on the report and done nothing.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/2009. The Harmer Review of Pensions confirmed that at certain times, the rate of change in out of pocket living costs experienced by age pensioner households has moved faster than the rate of change in living costs of households as measured by the CPI. Age pensions indexation further adjusted by adding a pensioner and beneficiary living cost index (PBLCI) together with introducing a structural adjustment of pensions by increasing MTAWE benchmark to 27.5%. Military superannuation pensions ignored.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/Budget 2009. The 2007 Veteran Disability Pension benchmark broken in the Federal budget of 2009. The legislation suspended the benchmark for one event only, that of the 2.7% of MTAWE increase of 20 Sep 2009 afforded to all other pension’s arising from the Harmer review in which DPs were promised they would be included – see 23 October 1986 entry – the 2.7% loss is a lifetime loss as was the Keeting loss of 2% for 3 consec years.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/2009. Coalition pre-election statement: “if elected to government with a majority, they would on 01 July 2011 submit a Bill to provide for ‘Fair Indexation” of DFRB/DFRDB pensions to a higher level than just CPI indexation.”https://www.aulro.com/afvb/2 June 2011. House of Representatives unanimously supported (on voices) a coalition member’s motion acknowledging the unique nature of military service and the need for fair indexation of pensions.https://www.aulro.com/afvb/https://www.aulro.com/afvb/16 June 2011. the Government, The Greens and Senator Xenophon rejected Senator Ronaldson’s Fair Indexation Bill in the Senate

more from the video file

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Paid leave for dads, the Government’s higher priority than for Diggers’ fair military superannuation indexation?

Written by Super User | https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
The Defence Family views cynically this latest Government spend for parental leave for fathers ($200 million over five years) when the Government continues to deny Fair Indexation to its 60,000 DFRB/DFRDB military superannuation pensioners at an estimated cost of $20 million pa.
The increasing catalogue of "wasteful" Government expenditure on its "higher priority needs" than to fair indexation of military superannuation pensions is galling to those who were/are willing to serve Australia to the ultimate price – their lives!
Obviously this is one of the higher priority matters that Senator Penny Wong, The Minister for Finance, spoke of in the public debate proposition that " Both Major Parties are Failing the Australian People", held in Melbourne on the 5 April 2011. Listen to her at 54.48 minute for the next nine minutes) speak of the Government's role to govern for the national interest and to prioritise the competing interests of the political parties and interest groups to the national interest. She specifically mentioned the high cost of changed indexation for public servants and military superannuation ($11.95 billion dollars over the period 2011/12 – 2014/15) that had to be weighed against other competing priorities.





Jessica Brown explains why "Paid leave for dads (is) a useless, cynical waste of money" Read it here
"In a patently cynical attempt to relive its past glory, the Gillard government this weekend used Fathers' Day to announce that it will extend parental leave to dads.
Back on Mothers' Day in 2009, the Rudd government won almost universal plaudits by announcing an 18 week paid parental leave scheme. In 2009, the Productivity Commission handed down its final report on paid parental leave. It recommended working mums be given 18 weeks of parental leave, paid by the taxpayer at the minimum wage. Dads would also qualify for 2 weeks of paternity leave, which could be taken at the same time as the mother but not at the same time as employer-paid leave.
While the government accepted the recommendation for 18 weeks parental leave it sensibly rejected the paternity leave provisions, which were largely symbolic yet added $61 million annually to the bill.
Getting dads more involved in parenting is a noble goal. Unfortunately, there is very little evidence that paid paternity leave will help realise it.
The fly in the ointment is that paternity leave doesn't actually seem to achieve these noble aims. Paternity leave policies are common inEurope. But they haven't necessarily led to big changes in the amount of time dads spend with their kids.
A 2003 EU survey found that 75 per cent of dads knew that paternity leave was available, but 84 per cent said they would not take it up. The main reason given was that they couldn't afford it (paternity leave is rarely paid at a fathers' full wage; inAustraliait will be paid at the minimum wage). Other dads said they didn't want to interrupt their careers.
In recommending two weeks of paternity leave the Productivity Commission recognised the limited effect that paternity leave has had, admitting that 'its actual effects on fathers' behaviour are likely to be modest'. The policy is a triumph of hope over reality.
It is also expensive. Taxpayers will fork out nearly $200 million over five years for a more modest form of paternity leave. That a government whose political credibility is staked on a swift return to surplus should opt for such an expensive piece of symbolism shows just how desperate it is."

This should be interesting, thanks to those who voted, Bob

STOP PRESS - THE PM SAYS POST AND VOTE - THE RESULT - 19 JULY


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The Prime Minister says: Post and vote on OurSay!
THE RESULT - SUCCESS

WE WILL "HANGOUT" WITH THE PM

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM
We came second with 10,933 votes which secured us a seat at the live web broadcast on Saturday 21 July at 11 am when the PM will answer the three winning questions. Tune in here to watch it live.
A BIG THANK YOU to all who voted and/or made a comment/contribution to support David Jamison's question and other like questions. You stood up when the call came for action at such short notice. The results were:
First, 12,749 votes and 511 comments
Second, 10,933 votes and 598 comments
Third, 10,756 votes and 562 comments

The result has shown our ability to our defence community, our plight to the Australian people and our strength to the Parliament. The comments reveal the deep concern to the injustice and unfairness of our military superannuation pension indexation. We have catalogued those comments.
We look forward to David Jamison's questioning the PM and her answers
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported the result in an article Love, religion overtake tax for 'hangout' with PM
The ADSO team is proud of you who voted, who mustered family and friends, and who used social media to pass our question to a wider and supportive audience. Please give them our thanks and congratulations.
We invite all those not enrolled in the Fair Go Campaign to join us at www.standto.org
This week we have shown that "Opportunities multiply as they are seized" - Sun Tzu.

I never mind putting my name to correct an injustice!

by Ted | http://www.standto.org/templates/ads...mailButton.png
ADJUSTMENT OF VETERANS DISABILITY PENSION RATES

The Federal Government has stated it understands the impact of rising costs of living and the importance of ensuring that entitlements do not erode in value. It says it is committed to making sure that our disabled war veterans have their pensions adjusted to take account of "not just the cost of living but also the standard of living".
The Harmer Review of Pensions (2009) confirmed that at certain times, the rate of change in out of pocket living costs experienced by age pensioner households has moved faster than the rate of change in living costs of households as measured by the CPI.
In 2007 the Parliament recognised this in relation to Veteran Disability Pensioners and provided a "one off" catch up increase and also brought their indexation arrangements into line with the other pensions.
This "one off" increase did not fully recover the erosion suffered by Veteran Disability Pensioners particularly in the previous 10 years when revised indexation arrangements were introduced for Age and Service Pensions.
Changes to the Age Pension announced in the 2009/2010 budget were designed to address particular concerns for our most disadvantaged elderly community members and these have our support.
The exclusion of the Veterans' Disability Pensions from the 2009/10 Budget initiative, further accentuated the existing disparity for Veterans' Disability Pensioners who have suffered a disability as a result of their service to the Nation and has meant that the relative value of Veterans' Disability Pensions measured against the other pensions has diminished.
Proposal: That the Government remove the remaining level of erosion to the value of Veterans' Disability Pensions by adjusting Veterans' Disability Pensions (including general rate, EDA, intermediate rate, temporary special rate and special rate) to reflect increased community living standards since 1997, as it has for Age and Service pensioners.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bob10

This should be interesting, thanks to those who voted, Bob

STOP PRESS - THE PM SAYS POST AND VOTE - THE RESULT - 19 JULY


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The Prime Minister says: Post and vote on OurSay!
THE RESULT - SUCCESS

WE WILL "HANGOUT" WITH THE PM

CONGRATULATIONS TEAM
We came second with 10,933 votes which secured us a seat at the live web broadcast on Saturday 21 July at 11 am when the PM will answer the three winning questions. Tune in here to watch it live.
A BIG THANK YOU to all who voted and/or made a comment/contribution to support David Jamison's question and other like questions. You stood up when the call came for action at such short notice. The results were:
First, 12,749 votes and 511 comments
Second, 10,933 votes and 598 comments
Third, 10,756 votes and 562 comments

We look forward to David Jamison's questioning the PM and her answers
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported the result in an article Love, religion overtake tax for 'hangout' with PM
.

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Once again, THANK YOU to all who voted. If you haven't looked already, serving and ex military members should take advantage of the website www.standto.org to bring yourselves up to date on the progress of ADSO's struggle on our behalf. This is about all of you. To non military members, no matter what your thoughts might be on this, thank you for taking the time to look. Let's hear what the PM's answers are at 1100 today, via the link above. BRAVO ZULU , bob10 out.

An update on the campaign so far, for our service members, Bob

UPDATE 24 - ACTION ON TWO FRONTS

Issue #24 Dated:8 September 2012

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In the Public Arena - we rallied

We were prominent again in August in the lead up to Vietnam Veterans' Day when we conducted successfully Phase 2 of 'OP AWARE'. This continued our public awareness activities to explain to the public at large and to targeted politicians in particular how unjust is the Government's failure to neither fairly index Military Superannuation pensions nor to restore Veterans' Disability Pensions to parity.
ADSO's strategy of planned incremental increases in the size of its public rally activities deliberately limited our efforts in this one to specific targets within our increasing capabilities and resources. Those efforts will increase in size, scope and time as required.

The rallies of planned limited numbers were held at mid day on Friday 17 August outside some marginal Labor electorate offices while at some other MP's electorate and Senators' offices, deputations delivered a formal ADSO letter to the Office staff.

The operation was successful. In summary there were 34 reported events (rallies and deputations) in all States and Territories (except Tasmania). They included the Offices of MPs' PM, Treasurer, Defence Minister, Greg Combet, Mike Kelly, Kevin Rudd, Adam Bandt and Senators Wong, Furner, Farrell and Xenophon.

Ralliers in WA were amused to see the Dignitary Protection Police Force was on hand at Fremantle. No sightings this time at Penny Wong's office.

Thank you to all our supporters (men and women) who participated in the rallies, deputations or as lone rangers. The support from Neil Weekes and his warriors boosted our performance, thanks Neil. The response from the public was very encouraging with many expressions of support to prove that our plight is penetrating the community.

It was another great learning experience for us all. The network is in place. We need more of our keep informed supporters, to take another voluntary step and join your local electorate Action Group. What commitment can you make? Check it out and make your choice here

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Our intrepid warriors outside Gary Gray's Office in Brand WA.

There will be a gallery of rally photos to be posted on the web site soon

In the House Arena - the Pollie's Games

Events in the House of Representatives in the period 22-23 August were a good example of political tactics in play. If you were confused then these background notes will help you interpret them.
The Background
1. The current Oakeshott motion is an expanded (to include MSBS) repeat of his previous motion presented in the House on 24 June 2010 just prior to the 2010 August election. That motion was not fully debated but was accepted unanimously after the Speaker called on the House to voice their support or dissent for it on a show of hands.

2. Earlier, on the 17 June 2010 the Coalition declared its Election policy support for Fair Indexation which pledged that if elected to Government they would introduce a Fair Indexation Bill by the 30 June 2011.

3. The August 2010 election resulted in a minority Labor Government formed with the support of the Greens and Independents who for stable government had agreed to support the Government in opposing; any out of budget proposals (Bills) that involved additional expenditure not covered by compensatory savings elsewhere, and any no confidence motions against the Government.

4. In November 2010 the Coalition tabled the Fair Indexation (FI) Bill in the Senate in a move to have it voted on before 30 June 2011 when the Greens would have the balance of voting power. The Coalition's Bill, which applied only for DFRDB and only for over 55's did not include MSBS, under 55 disabled veterans , preserved funds or the total reversionary pension for partners of deceased military superannuation pensioners, was defeated in June 2011, after a tied vote 34 – 34: Labor, Greens and Independent Senator Xenophon voting against it: Xenophon on the basis that he was not convinced the Coalition's cost offsets were possible.

5. In March 2012 the Coalition, in a public announcement in Bendigo, reaffirmed their pledge in Government to legislate the FI Bill in their first budget.

6. In the June 2012 session of Parliament before its 2012 Winter break the Oakeshott motion was tabled in the Federation Room (not the HoR). Some limited debate was had but further debate adjourned until the next sitting in August. That did not happen but is expected in the 10-20 September sitting.

7. On 20 Aug 2012 the Coalition seized upon the Government's Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 (to vary certain legislative matters) tabled in the House to propose an amendment that would stop the debate on the Government's Bill until the government agreed to introduce a bill on fair indexation of military superannuation pensions. The amendment was debated extensively by the Opposition before being lost in a 69-68 vote. Voting against were Labor MPs including Craig Thomson (who had stated his support for fair indexation to Bob Ihlein and his Dobell Action Group), Green's Adam Bandt, and Independents, Windsor and Katter. Rob Oakeshott abstained from voting by not being present in the House to vote. Andrew Wilkie voted with the Coalition. Read the debate here and continuing here.

8. The Coalition released amedia statement Robert/Ronaldson - Joint Media Release - Fair Indexation defeated 69-68 by Labor and Independents 22/08/12
9. Rob Oakeshott in response to the Roberts/Ronaldson release said: "The Bill today had nothing to do with military superannuation. So I was not going to participate in an exercise that ran interference in support to over 200,000 veterans throughout Australia. I judged this as irresponsible. Instead, I have a vote coming on a motion before the House for the issue of military superannuation to be addressed. I am urging all MP's to support it in a fortnights time".
10. See both Bob Katter'sand Warren Snowdon's contribution to the debate here.
11. Katter's office staff explain his decision to vote against the Coalition's amendment in this way: " Had Bob voted with and helped pass the Opposition's amendment, it would have resulted in the halting of the Veterans Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012, depriving veterans of the much-needed entitlements. However, Bob voted against the Opposition amendment, and the Bill was subsequently passed without division".

12. Snowdon's media release said "The Opposition's actions were for political purposes, noting that their proposal to change military superannuation indexation does not apply to anyone who joined the Australian Defence Force after 1991. The Coalition had over 11 years in Government to act on their proposal and chose to do nothing."
13. The Coalition refuted these claims as false and inaccurate and countered by questioning the will of the Government and the Independents to deliver Fair Indexation inRonaldson's Roundup article "Coalition Committed to better deal on Defence Superannuation".
The Current Situation
1. The Coalition has shown its intent to carry out its pledge for Fair Indexation by trying to force the issue through an amendment to the Veterans Affairs Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 tabled by the Government. It failed.

2. The Government continues to oppose Fair Indexation.

3. The Independents saw the Coalition's move as a stunt that would delay the Government's Amendment Bill changes.

4. The Coalition has refuted the Independents' assertions.
5. The Oakeshott motion has yet to get on to the House's business agenda in the September sittings commencing 10 September. The motion is not a Bill and only calls on the Government "to consider ......."
We want you to make it known to your local MP that you expect them to support the Motion to be placed on the House's September Business Agenda and they will vote for the Motion in the House.
If the Motion is debated who can predict the outcome?
The Government could indeed agree to 'consider', and do nothing more, merely saying they are still 'considering' and use all manner of delaying tactics ("but it's too expensive" etc etc) or they could have another inquiry.

If the Motion is debated and passed with the Coalitions support and all the Independents, the Government will have to accede to the House's will and in time bring forward an enabling Bill for debate.
Now it does get interesting. Any Bill that is presented is a money bill out of budget and in accordance with the Independent's agreement with the Gillard Labor minority government they should oppose it if there are no costs savings elsewhere in the budget . With the Independents voting against their Agreement with the Gillard Minority Government lurks the potential trigger for the Coalition to move for a vote of no confidence in the Government that one would imagine the Independents would oppose.

If the Bill does pass in the House then it still has to face the Senate hurdle where the Greens would most likely vote it down to save the Government. Of course in the due processes if it fails in the Senate then it would go back to the House for another vote and if successful be returned to the Senate. If it fails a second time in the Senate then there are grounds for a double dissolution.
The forthcoming federal election may be upon us before the Parliament resolves this issue.
One thing we can be sure is we will witness the whole range of Government delaying tactics again. So folks its time to pull out your YES MINISTER and YES PRIME MINISTER video series and follow their application in the House.

YOUR INVITATION TO BE PRESENT IN THE HOUSE

If you live in the ACT or adjoining Federal electorates especially Eden Monaro, or visitng Canberra, come and join us in the House Public Gallery to see and listen to the Oakeshott Motion being debated. Contact Geoff Schmidt (our ADSO ACT Action Group Leader ) on gnschmidt@netspace.net.au or Alf Jaugietis on ajaugiet@hotmail.com for details NOW.

HELP NEEDED

Due to the expanding size and scope of our operations we seek help from people with skills and experience in the following fields who are willing to help us conduct the Campaign:
1. Computer Operations - Webmaster for the www.standto.org Ideally, you should have some experience in manipulating images, converting documents to pdf, posting content to (not designing) the web site and experience with social media. If not, but you are experienced as a computer and social media user we can train you in the tasks required.
2. Data base marketing - Manager.
3. Fund Raising - Manager
4. Investigative journalism - Journalists
5. Research officers for all the Fair Go Campaign issues.
6. Media management - Manager
Please contact Ted Chitham tchitham@bigpond.com for further information.
And please encourage your mates, friends and family to join the Campaign. We owe it to every Australian military serviceperson past and present to restore and protect their rights.
Thank you for your great support. The awakening is happening.

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http://www.aulro.com/afvb/wlmailhtml...images/WRA.pngFrom the "Fair Go!" Team Campaign Directors: Ted Chitham , Alf Jaugietis
Campaign National Spokesperson: David Jamison
Stay current with the Campaign at www.standto.org

One small step at a time, Bob

MEDIA RELEASE

12 October 2012
VETERANS ON THE PATH TO FAIRER INDEXATION
AUSTRALIA’S war veterans have won an important battle in their fight for a better military superannuation deal.
Independent Lyne MP Rob Oakeshott, on his second attempt to have military superannuation pensions properly indexed against cost of living expenses, finally received the unanimous support of Labor, Liberal and National Party MPs yesterday.
"The Parliament has finally sent a strong message to the federal government that the time has come to bring military superannuation pensions in line with other pension payments," Mr Oakeshott said.
"Only the government of the day can introduce a Bill making my Notice of Motion law because it is a money Bill, but the clear message from 150 Members of Parliament yesterday was that the government must act."
Mr Oakeshott’s notice called on the government to consider increasing the Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme Pension, Defence Force Retirement Benefit Pension and the Defence Force Retirement and Death benefits Pension twice a year. The benchmark would be the greatest of the Consumer Price Index, the Pensioner and Beneficiary Living Cost Index and the Male Total Average Weekly Earnings.
The Labor Party and Coalition had both promised fairer indexation in opposition, but neither have delivered in government.

"I welcome the parliament’s support and will continue to push for a fairer deal for veterans to be enshrined in legislation," Mr Oakeshott said.