Deputy Chair, the Military Veterans Bill follows closely on the heels of the establishment of the Department of Military Veterans, whose responsibility is the overall management and administration of military veterans' affairs, including but not limited to developing legislation, policy, programmes, benefits and services that facilitate the transition from active service to civilian life.
The purpose of the Bill is to put in place institutional structures to address the plight of the military veterans, recommend benefits to be paid to military veterans or their dependants and advise on the appropriateness of current legislation.
The Bill also establishes an advisory council on military veterans as well as a military veterans appeal board.
The powers of the Department of Military Veterans, in relation to the advisory council and appeal board, should be contained in the regulations which must be submitted to Parliament for approval. The Select Committee on Security and Constitutional Development, having received briefing on the Military Veterans Bill and having concluded its deliberations on the Bill, recommends to the Council that the Bill be approved. Thank you.
Debate concluded.
Bill agreed to in accordance with section 75 of the Constitution.