CANBERRA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) should be abolished and the veterans support system needs bold reform, a major report has found.

The report, released by the Productivity Commission on Friday, called for "bold" reform to Australia's support system for military veterans, which currently costs 13 billion Australian dollars (9.39 billion U.S. dollars) every year, an average of 47,000 Australian dollars (33,958 U.S. dollars) for every veteran.

Commissioners Robert Fitzgerald and Richard Spencer said the system should operate more like a worker's compensation scheme, with the Department of Defence taking responsibility for veterans' lifetime care.

"A unique aspect of the current veteran support system is that Defence (the employer) bears no financial responsibility for the cost of compensation, rehabilitation, transition services or medical treatment for service-related injuries and illnesses once a member leaves the service," Fitzgerald wrote in the report.

"The time for tinkering is over, and bold reform is needed."

They found that the current system was complex, poorly administered and inequitable, which was placing "unwarranted stress on claimants."

The report recommended abolishing the DVA and instead handing responsibility for veterans policy to Department of Defence, with a new agency - the Veteran Services Commission - to take charge of the support system.

Under the reforms, Department of Defence would put money into a fund for veterans' rehabilitation and compensation out of its own budget.

The commissioners said the new system would incentivize Department of Defence to prevent injury and illnesses for serving personnel. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)