General News
13 June, 2023
Nashos left feeling overlooked
THE south west Victorians behind a push to give a voice to Australia’s forgotten veterans have hit out at the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs after attempts to raise concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
THE south west Victorians behind a push to give a voice to Australia’s forgotten veterans have hit out at the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs after attempts to raise concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
Nasho Fair Go president Geoff Parkes, a product of Naroghid, represents the 1965-72 servicemen conscripted in to compulsory service (known in colloquial terms as Nashos).
He said he has been trying to contact Minister for Veteran Affairs Matt Keogh since February due to irregularities members experienced in eligibility to receive a white card from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Some veterans conscripted between 1965 and 1972 had the option to serve six years part time in the Citizens Military Force (CMF) as opposed to two years full time in the army.
Mr Parkes said anyone deemed to have done one day full time in the army qualifies for a white card, but those who served six years part time do not meet this requirement.
However, some Nasho Fair Go members who served in the CMF have received a white card despite seemingly being ineligible, while others have been rejected.
Mr Parkes said one member, who is undergoing cancer treatment, had been approved before having his white card removed.
He said the minister had “already lost the confidence of a sizable group of veterans” after recent attempts to discuss the issue were ignored.
“Over three months ago, we notified Mr Keogh, and his department, that serious mismanagement by their staff had resulted in some of our members getting a benefit to which they would seem not entitled to, and obviously, others with the same service history have missed out,” Mr Parkes said.
“I have emailed the minister four times, his chief of staff, and even the Prime Minister.
“Not only has nothing been done about the situation, but not one of these people has bothered to even acknowledge one of my emails.”
“This is arrogant rudeness on the highest scale.”
Mr Parkes said the government’s lack of communication was an example of silence speaking volumes.
“It shows a lack of respect for the 31,000 surviving 1965-72 national servicemen who did not serve in Vietnam,” he said.
“We represent over six per cent of living veterans in Australia.
“If I cannot get a single reply to any of my emails to Minister Keogh, or his department, or the Prime Minister, then obviously we are not the veterans whose affairs they are concerned about.
“These repeated blunders by staff of the Department of Veterans Affairs are putting the mental health of some of our members in serious jeopardy, ironically, while we are in a Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide.”
Mr Parkes called on the minister to make a decision whether all Citizens Military Forces Nashos are eligible, or declare none are.
WD News contacted Mr Keogh’s office for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.