Address to the RNZRSA National Conference

Good morning everyone, and thank you for inviting me to be here today.

It's been a good three years since I first was given the Veterans' Affairs portfolio.  I guess it's time to reflect.

The stand out quality of this portfolio is the people.  The veteran community is both special and unique.

RSAs and their members are a cornerstone on which our communities rest.

I recall an image of the Malayan veterans at the celebration of Mederka in Malaya.  I was so proud listening to the rapturous applause given to our vets on parade.  The local paper gave them the accolade of having received the largest applause of all.  As I watched them go past, I thought to myself; whilst the steps were not the strongest, and there were walking sticks, despite the heavy camouflage of silver hair and mature figures, they were still young men at heart.

The Year of the Veteran in 2006 was a successful collaboration between the government and the RNZRSA.  It was an opportunity, not only to commemorate the service and sacrifice of New Zealand's veterans, but also to honour the contribution veterans have made to the development of their local communities by providing the opportunity for local communities to say "thank you" to the veterans in their communities.

To assist communities with acknowledging their veterans, the government provided a one million dollar Year of the Veteran community grants fund and an additional $200,000 for national projects. 

The next big task was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between government and the EVSA and RNZRSA to respond to the concerns raised by Viet Nam veterans and their families. 

The package included a range of provisions and officials and veteran representatives have worked together to ensure that these initiatives have been actioned.  We have made excellent progress.

We established the Viet Nam Veterans and their Families Trust which has made grants totalling around $800,000.  We have registered 5,400 veterans and family members and made 72 ex gratia payments to Viet Nam veterans and their families for specific health conditions. 

The celebration and commemoration weekend, Tribute08 was an exceptional event that started with an apology from the Crown on 28 May 2008.

Anyone listening to the apology and subsequent speeches could only have drawn the conclusion that it was sincere and well meant.  When Frankie Stevens sang after the speeches the emotion was palpable.  Visitors sitting in the gallery were visibly moved.  They had witnessed a remarkable event. 

This set the scene for the rest of the weekend.  The organisation of Tribute08 was excellent from its start through to the Chief of Defence Force's (CDF) apology on the Sunday.  The spontaneous standing ovation CDF received from the veterans said more than words ever could. 

I was privileged to have been able to participate.  I'll never forget seeing the army of men and women coming across the bridge from Frank Kitts Park and silently down the stairs into Civic Square on that Friday evening for the Civic Welcome.  There were so many veterans and family members; it was an extraordinary demonstration of character and solidarity of purpose.

In February this year, I accompanied, in a support role, a delegation of six New Zealand veterans of the Viet Nam War on a successful trip to Ha Noi.  This was the first formal visit by a group of New Zealand veterans to Viet Nam with the purpose of exploring possible connections between veterans' groups.

The invitation was extended by the Vietnamese Government sponsored, Veterans' Association of Viet Nam (VAVN).  A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the RNZRSA and VAVN, dealing with better understanding among veterans, sharing experiences, veterans' rights, possible cooperative ventures and the importance of international discourse in the cause of peace.

I have had the opportunity to attend some unforgettable events.  But there has been hard work too.

At the beginning of my tenure as Minister of Veterans' Affairs, I had my staff brief me on the legislation pertinent to my role, the War Pensions Act 1954.

I quickly concluded that it was badly in need of a rewrite.

I also came to the conclusion, as we worked through the issues of the MoU, that our legislation needed to expand its focus from physical disabilities and take a more holistic approach to the health and well being of veterans.

The third conclusion I came to was that the legislation emphasised pensions and too little focus was given to rehabilitation.

I also feel strongly that the legislation does not reflect the role of the family in supporting the veteran.

Yesterday the Prime Minister spoke about the work the government and the Law Commission has been doing on reviewing the War Pensions Act.  The first phase of this project is complete and the Law Commission has produced a comprehensive discussion paper that presents the complex issues involved in a clear way.

Sir Geoffrey Palmer has been meeting regularly with the RNZRSA as part of the process of developing the discussion paper.  The next phase is the process of taking written submissions on the discussion paper.  The Law Commission will also be visiting RSAs around the country in late October and early November 2008 so that veterans and their families are able to give comment to the Law Commission on the document.  I really encourage you all to participate in these meetings.  Sir Geoffrey can't possibly visit every RSA in New Zealand, so if you can't get to a meeting use your networks with other RSA members to make sure your members' views are represented.

You will all be aware that recently Veterans Affairs New Zealand was given sole responsibility for end to end delivery of the War Disablement Pension and became a fully integrated part of the New Zealand Defence Force.

As Minister, I realised quickly the need to look forward and face the challenge posed by the demographic changes in the veteran population. 

In order to position Veterans' Affairs to meet these changing needs, I asked the Chief of Defence Force to undertake a review of Veterans' Affairs New Zealand.  This was followed by a review undertaken by the State Services Commission.

Both found that there were inefficiencies in the delivery of War Disablement Pensions and that there needed to be one agency delivering War Disablement Pensions.  Staff from both agencies have worked hard over the years to deliver a high standard of service to veterans, but it was clear that the system they were working with needed to be improved.

There were two perspectives which guided me in this work.  First, was in the elegant words of Sir Geoffrey Palmer, that there is a basis for giving veterans who have served in hostile environments better treatment than other New Zealanders.

The second was the American Secretary for Veterans' Affairs who once said to me that in the future, no democracy will ever again raise a conscription army.  Our ability to recruit our armed forces will increasingly depend on how well we look after our veterans.

The amalgamation of Veterans' Affairs NZ into a single unit within Defence is an important outcome.  It recognises that the Chief of Defence Force has an on-going duty of care for those who have served under his command. 

The new Veterans' Affairs NZ has a new General Manager, Brig (Retd) Rick Ottaway, who will report directly to the Chief of Defence Force.

My relationship with the Chief of Defence Force has already strengthened as a result of the reorganisation.  I have already had one meeting with Robin Klistcher, RNZRSA President, and the Chief of Defence Force together, and in the future the General Manager of Veterans Affairs will join us as well.

Those of you here that receive a War Disablement Pension will have noticed that the name on the payment slip has changed to NZDF.  I've heard a lot of positive comments about this, it's much more appropriate to your identity as veterans.

Our veterans range in age from 19 to 99+ years.  It is important that we are able to respond to the breadth and the complexity of the issues that veterans and their families face.  The new structure of VANZ will be critical to our ability to meet these challenges. 

Now that VANZ has end to end delivery of the War Disablement Pension, we are in a much better position to address the vexed issue of delays in the processing of claims.

I need to say that part of our problem is the complex and outdated legislation which cannot be solved quickly.

Another key driver has been a three fold increase in war pension claims within a very short period of time.

I am focussed on reducing waiting times and to assist, I have signed off a list of presumptive conditions for which a War Disablement Pension will be awarded automatically on the advice of a General Practitioner.

Secondly I have Veterans' Affairs focussing on how they can, within the existing framework, reduce the number of times a claim is handled, and speed up processes.

Some things, such as the time it takes to get specialist medical opinions are out of our control, but I want to assure you that we are all working hard to reduce the backlog and reduce waiting times.

We want to provide the very best service to veterans that we can.

I'm also pleased that this year the government agreed to commit a million dollars to the RNZRSA welfare infrastructure.  Something the Rt Hon Winston Peters played a key role in negotiating.  We will continue to work with the RNZRSA to look at ways of further enhancing this important function.

Recently Cabinet agreed to the terms of reference of an Expert Panel.  The Expert Panel will be formed as a Ministerial Advisory Committee.

Its role will be to review available scientific research on an on-going basis and make recommendations to the government.

Some other things the Panel may provide independent advice to the Minister of Veterans' Affairs on are:

• the way in which veterans' specific service related health conditions should be addressed within the war pensions and veterans support systems; and
• preventative measures for managing exposure to possible environmental contaminants;
• the management of service related health conditions to promote wellness and mechanisms for rehabilitation;
• contemporary battlefield hazards and their potential effect on veterans' health.

The RNZRSA will be a key part of the operation, referring issues to the Minister for consideration by the Expert Panel.  Your challenge will be to ensure you remain engaged with the broad range of issues faced by veterans, that you are accessible to your members and that you represent their concerns effectively.

The RNZRSA has provided me with a range of names to be considered for membership to the Panel.  We are working to get it up and running.

In the MoU, we also agreed to the establishment of centres of excellence.  Planning and work has begun on the establishment of a centre of excellence based on evidence, research and information dissemination and sharing.  Its key feature will be strong, formal links to international specialist veterans' care research and treatment facilities.  It is intended to support best practice in veterans' care in New Zealand.

I know that the initial view of the centres of excellence was that they would have a physical location.  Well I have to say, that I have reflected upon this and have come to a different perspective.

Our veteran community is spread all over New Zealand.  The resource has to be available from the top to the bottom of the country.

If experts are housed in a building in Wellington, but are required in Otago, or a specialist clinic in Auckland, well that doesn't work very well.

There isn't a surplus of resources, and I want to ensure we can provide the best possible information no matter where a veteran is located, as soon as we can.

We will also be working with veterans organisations and research centres in Australia, the US, Canada and Britain to draw information together and make it available to the medical fraternity in an organised and easily accessible format.  

I believe that the information and access to the information is more important than where it resides.

I see this as an important first step to improving the care of all veterans; it will be a service that will strengthen and develop over time.

One more piece of news I wish to share with you today.  I am part of a group of Ministers of Veterans' Affairs from Australia, Canada, the US and the UK.  This group meets regularly to discuss issues of mutual interest. 

In 2009 it is proposed this group will meet in New Zealand.  A date has yet to be finalised but I think this will be an opportunity to recognise the connections and relationships we have built through service.  So I hope that is able to happen, and some of you get the chance to hear those Ministers speak.

In conclusion, I just want to say thanks to each and every one of you.  Thanks for the support you have given over the last three years.

It is an honour to serve as Minister of Veterans' Affairs.  It is a role I am continually challenged by but also find intensely rewarding.  On reflection you can see much has been done, though I'm sure we all agree there is still more to do.

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your conference.