Dunne Peter: War Pensions Amendment Bill (No 2) — Second Reading 
Dunne Peter: War Pensions Amendment Bill (No 2) — Second Reading 
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Hon PETER DUNNE (Leader—United Future) 
: 
 United Future will also be supporting the second reading of the War Pensions Amendment Bill (No 2). I heard the tail end of Mr Worth’s speech and although I did not pick up all the sentiments he was expressing from what I did glean I think he was saying that we need to take the interests of veterans more seriously even though the numbers of veterans are declining as they inevitably age. That is a sentiment I agree with. It seems to me that this bill by separating the provisions for veterans’ pensions away from the social welfare legislation and putting them into the War Pensions Act is a step in that direction. 
I note from the report of the Social Services Committee that many issues were raised by the witnesses. From memory I think the report stated that only one of the witnesses fully supported the bill. The other eight submissions supported recognition of the special status of veterans but actually dealt with a range of other issues that are outside the scope of the bill. I think that is part of the dilemma we have here. This bill is a necessary step in the right direction of our giving veterans the special status that I think every one in the House would acknowledge they need and deserve for their sacrifice and for the effort they made in pretty stressful times. But it is also true that there are a number of issues which are touched on in the report that need to be addressed. This bill is not the mechanism for doing that but that does not make the concerns any less significant. I want to refer to just a couple of those that I think will need to be addressed in the future. 
We already have the provision in some circumstances for portability of superannuation payments and I think we do need to look at the practicality of the portability of war pension entitlements particularly for countries we may have some sort of bilateral understanding with. There is also the issue of surviving spouses being able to continue to receive the veterans pension. I think there are some natural justice issues involved here. Overall we agree with the conclusion that the Social Services Committee reached that this bill is a useful consolidation of the existing legislation that governs war pension entitlements and that it will be a step in the right direction. The mistake would be to assume that by passing this bill we will have dealt with the issue. That I think might have been the point that my friend Mr Worth was attempting to make but in somewhat different language—he always has a somewhat greater style in these matters than the rest of us and I acknowledge that. 
Rodney Hide 
: Well! 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: Well certainly more than Mr Hide but never mind. 
Hon Phil Goff 
: Style rather than substance perhaps. 
Hon PETER DUNNE 
: The Minister should not be too concerned; there is such a thing as words dripping with irony. But seriously I think this bill is a step forward. It is worth supporting and we will certainly be pleased to vote it on its way and see it pass into law.