Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader
Lutruwita/Tasmania has a long history of sending its sons and daughters away to battle fields on foreign soil. Many never came back, and many who did carried life-long scars.
From the Boer War to Afghanistan, and every major conflict in between, Tasmanians have signed up or been conscripted to fight in wars Australia has joined.
Tasmanian ADF personnel have also played an important role in international peacekeeping efforts.
On ANZAC Day, we remember those Tasmanians who gave their lives, and those who came home after Gallipoli, in the name of freedom.
On behalf of the Greens, I offer our deepest gratitude.
Tasmania has the highest per capita defence force sign up of any jurisdiction, with about 14 500 veterans in the state. Each has a story to tell and a burden to carry.
The Greens have committed to allocating an additional $150,000 to RSL (Tasmania) to respond to the complex needs of Tasmania’s veterans in areas like mental health, housing and employment.
We will also commit to formally transferring the RSL building that was gifted by the State Government to the now dissolved Huonville Sub-Branch to RSL (Tasmania) to establish a Wellbeing Centre in Huonville.
While we rightly remember the fallen and honour the sacrifice of our veterans, we acknowledge we can still do better by Tasmania’s veterans.
The Greens’ plan is available here - https://tasmps.greens.org.au/green-new-deal/lutruwita-tasmanias-veterans