Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I am aware of the issue that Senator Allison has mentioned. It is a serious issue. I have not have had a briefing on the report and I will advise the senator accordingly. In relation to the health cards afforded to veterans, we have a variety of health programs available to veterans, both the gold and white cards. My own feedback from the veterans community about the health services that we provide veterans in this country has been a positive one. Just recently we made an announcement on the indexation of pensions or allowances, which went down very well. As for the health aspect, we have a good system in place that stands up very well internationally. I fail to see how Senator Allison can impute that in some way we are letting down the veterans as a result of any of the ill effects they might have suffered as a result of the testing concerned.