Labor has condemned the Liberal-National Government, after it was revealed that Australian veterans who hold a DVA Gold Card have been excluded from receiving the Regional Seniors Travel Card.
 
While DVA White and Orange card holders are still eligible to receive the $250 Regional Seniors Travel Card, excluded DVA Gold card holders are over 70, and can be former prisoners of war, World War 2 veterans and permanently disabled.
 
Labor Shadow Minister for Veterans, Greg Warren said: “The exclusion of DVA Gold Card holders is disgraceful and an insult to those men and women who have served our country valiantly and bravely.”
 
Labor Shadow Minister for Seniors and the Cost of Living, Jo Haylen said: “The Regional Seniors Travel Card is meant to provide eligible seniors in rural and regional NSW with a $250 prepaid card to ease the cost of travel.”
 
“Why have the Liberals and Nationals excluded some of our most vulnerable veterans from this program?”
 
“The Liberals and Nationals must apologise to our veterans, and they must reverse this stupid decision immediately.”
 
This isn’t the first time the NSW Liberals and Nationals have excluded Gold DVA card holders. Six months ago they were barred from voting in the Liberal and Nationals ‘My Community Project’ program.
 
“This is just another example of the NSW Liberals and Nationals treating vets like second class citizens,” Mr Warren said.
  
“Veterans living in regional NSW shouldn’t have to beg for travel support that they were promised.”
 
Ms Haylen concluded saying: “Vulnerable people are being left without help due to bureaucratic bungling from the Nationals.”
 
“They’ve delayed the card, excluded whole communities, underfunded the card by $135 million and now veterans are being turned away when they try to apply. It’s just not good enough.”