3 years ago
LABOR WELCOMES VETERANS BEING INCLUDED IN THE CENSUS
SHAYNE NEUMANN MP
Labor welcomes the announcement by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that it will include a new question in the Census to be held on 10 August 2021 on service in the Australian Defence Force.
As a nation, we recognise our veterans in a range of ways and yet to date, we have not recognised them in the national survey.
Last year, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester admitted that the Government did not know how many veterans there were in Australia.
Federal Labor, along with the States and Territories, has long called for the Commonwealth to include a question on defence service in the Census to identify Australia’s veterans.
The new Census question will help identify how many veterans there are and where they live, allowing the right services to be delivered where they are needed.
The resulting data will help Federal, and State and Territory government agencies, and ex-service organisations to better target support for veterans and their families in areas such as health and mental health, housing and employment.
Recent reports on issues such as veteran suicide and homelessness have highlighted that too many ex-service personnel are falling through the cracks and support services are failing our most vulnerable people.
We need to have the best information available to understand the issues, so we can provide the best possible care and support for our veterans.
As a nation, we recognise our veterans in a range of ways and yet to date, we have not recognised them in the national survey.
Last year, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester admitted that the Government did not know how many veterans there were in Australia.
Federal Labor, along with the States and Territories, has long called for the Commonwealth to include a question on defence service in the Census to identify Australia’s veterans.
The new Census question will help identify how many veterans there are and where they live, allowing the right services to be delivered where they are needed.
The resulting data will help Federal, and State and Territory government agencies, and ex-service organisations to better target support for veterans and their families in areas such as health and mental health, housing and employment.
Recent reports on issues such as veteran suicide and homelessness have highlighted that too many ex-service personnel are falling through the cracks and support services are failing our most vulnerable people.
We need to have the best information available to understand the issues, so we can provide the best possible care and support for our veterans.