Greens spokesperson for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Whish-Wilson, said, “The entire nation was shocked by the revelations of the recent Four Corners episode regarding the prevalence of mental illness and PTSD amongst our defence force personnel returning from deployments and other service.

The Greens spokesperson for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, provided the following comments on the ABC’s Four Corners episode, “Bringing the War Home,” by Quentin McDermott and Mary Fallon into the lack of support for returning veterans.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “We send these men and women off to fight wars on our behalf and yet we don’t do enough to help them cope with the horrors they faced during their service once they return.

Services to veterans must not be interrupted by the planned closure of the General Repatriation Hospital, says Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Senator Penny Wright.

Senator Wright said the new centre of excellence must be fully operational before the Repat is closed, and consideration should be given to the cultural significance of the site for veterans.

"The General Repatriation Hospital is more than just a hospital to many veterans - it is a place to meet and to remember and has had a culture that respects and understands veterans," Senator Wright said.

The Greens spokesperson for Veterans’ Affairs, Senator Peter Whish-Wilson, has backed the call by Soldier On for everyone to observe an extra minutes silence tomorrow on Remembrance Day to honour those soldiers who have been severely affected by their service, and those who have been lost to suicide.

Senator Whish-Wilson said, “Traditionally, Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on those who lost their lives on the battlefield, particularly from wars long past. This is, and will always be, a key aspect of this day.

Excerpt from Senate Hansard: Thursday, 19 June 2014.

Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Mental Health and Other Measures) Bill 2014

Second Reading

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee 
Department of Veterans' Affairs 

20 November, 2013

Senator WRIGHT: I am just interested to know: is the issue of expanding compensation for veterans of the nuclear testing at Maralinga in the 1950s and 1960s under consideration by the Department of Veterans' Affairs?

Mr Lewis: Not that I am aware of.