Support for the dependants of Australian veterans remained a key part of the Australian Government's commitment to the well-being of members of the veteran community, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Bruce Billson, said today. Addressing the 2006 Biennial National Conference of the War Widows' Guild of Australia in Coolangatta today, Mr Billson said the Australian Government recognised the important role of the family in the lives of our veterans.

"Families act as an anchor for our veterans and defence personnel during and after their service to Australia, in good times and in times of great need, and are therefore deserving of the nation's gratitude and continuing support," Mr Billson said. "Many Australian families who lost their loved ones through war, conflicts and other military operations have received vital support, hope and inspiration through the charitable work of the War Widows' Guild. For more than six decades, the Guild has been providing empowerment, compassion and necessities such as low-cost housing for many war widows. This has proved to be a useful complement to the support provided through the Repatriation system," the Minister said.

Mr Billson said war widows around the country would benefit from a range of recent Veterans' Affairs initiatives announced by the Australian Government. "The Government has committed more than $600 million over the next five years to ensure continuing access to free high-quality health care services for more than 300,000 Gold and White Card holders, with all war widows to benefit from this package," he said. "We have also doubled the number of private hospitals that can provide Tier 1 services for veterans and war widows in metropolitan, regional and rural areas across Australia through a $3 billion package to expand access to private hospital services.

"War widows will also benefit from recent changes to the Repatriation Transport Scheme, which supports travel to health providers for medical treatment, and a $24.4 million Federal Budget initiative to ensure continuing access to high quality community nursing services. "I congratulate the War Widows' Guild on their dedication to the veteran community, and will continue to work with the Guild to improve the lot of this community," the Minister said.