A united veterans’ voice is no use if it won’t challenge DVA

Dear Editor,

A national veterans’ peak body could be useful. But only if it remains willing to challenge the government funding it.

In 2025, ADSO sought $300,000 a year to help communicate government messages to veterans, alongside guaranteed access to senior consultation forums. Now Labor is spending $7.4 million establishing a much larger national representative body.

That creates an obvious risk – access and funding can become things organisations are reluctant to jeopardise.

A united voice is no use if dissent is filtered out before it reaches the Minister.

The new peak body should disclose minority views, protect members’ right to disagree publicly and never become DVA’s communications arm.

Independence must be demonstrated, not assumed.

I expand on this at markcroxford.net/read

Mark Croxford
Founder, Veterans Count,
20-year Navy veteran, and
former media and political adviser to a Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel

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