ADSO’s Policies – Federal Election 2025

4 Apr 2025

The Election’s major issues are publicly expressed as both the weakening Australian economy (costs of living increases highlighted by rising energy cost, decreasing standards of living, to name a few) and concerns with Australia’s defence and security capability .

Australia’s military veteran families are affected. Many veterans who are on fixed incomes and/or disability pensions know the savage impact that the recent cost of living increases has had on their standard of living. And, all who served and sacrificed for our nation are deeply concerned at the increasing geo-strategic threat to Australia and our defence capability to deter it.

Here are ADSO’s Veterans Policies released publicly today.

Our Policies, in an on-line Question and Answer format, were given privately in advance to the PM, Opposition Leader, Leaders of all Federal political parties and Independents asking for their answers to be given well in advance of the Election date. We eagerly await their response so that we can inform our veteran’s community and the Australian people with a comparison table.

We don’t want a repeat of our 2022 Election experience when our Veterans Policies given to both the then Coalition Government and the Labor Opposition Party prior to the Election date were ignored.

The Royal Commission’s Report into Defence and Veteran Suicide has exposed the failures of recent Governments, Defence, DVA and the ADF to continue to implement the 1917 Australian PM Billy Hughes’ pledge to the Australia’s military forces “we will look after you and your families when you return”. That pledge is cemented in the initial 1917 Repatriation Act.

We appreciate the Labor Government’s speedy and positive response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations and its progress towards implementation and their consultation with Veterans’ Organisations

We eagerly await the release of all Political Parties Veteran Policies before the Election voting starts.

ADSO’s Fair Go campaign is non-partisan: it involves civil and respectful engagement with Federal candidates in selected electorates. Volunteer to join us here.

MORE: ADSO UPDATE 1/2025 – We’re Back and Ready for Action