Sydney veterans who wish to continue living in their Belmore homes are able to do so under a plan proposed by the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Bruce Billson. Mr Billson said the plan was developed after negotiations with the Totally
and Permanently Incapacitated (T&PI) Association, owners of the Belmore units, to seek resolution to the proposed sale of the units. The sale proposal has caused great anxiety and concern among residents fearful of the prospect of potentially being relocated against their will.

"My plan is to offer the T&PI Association an interest-free loan that would enable the admirable goal of expanding the range and improving the quality of housing available to its members to be pursued without the need to press for an early sale of the site vacated of its current residents," Mr Billson said. "While I have made the offer and hope for the T&PI Association's early in-principle agreement, I am keen to ensure a number of conditions are incorporated in any agreement between my Department and the Association to safeguard the well-being of veterans."

The Minister outlined the following conditions as essential to any legal agreement:

* all existing residents who wish to remain at Belmore would be allowed to do so;
* options for relocation of those wishing to move out would continue to be explored;
* once a unit became vacant it would not be re-let;
* the units would be maintained in a fit and proper state for human habitation;
* essential and urgent maintenance would be undertaken as soon as possible; and
* once the units were vacant and the property sold the amount of the loan would be returned to the Commonwealth.

Mr Billson said his plan also included actions to re-establish and support effective communications and goodwill between the Belmore T&PI residents and the association that has been providing subsidised accommodation and support for its T&PI members for many decades. "It is disappointing that the local state Member and NSW Premier Morris Iemma has failed to recognise that his state's housing responsibilities extend to all citizens, including veterans and war widows, and has instead played politics with the concerns of the Belmore residents," Mr Billson said. "My concern for the well-being and welfare of the veterans and war widows at Belmore has seen the Commonwealth put forward its constructive, positive and innovative plan that supports all of the people involved achieving their goals."