Federal Member for Macquarie Susan Templeman is encouraging Hawkesbury and Blue Mountains veterans to have their say on two controversial service pensions, with submissions still open for separate parliamentary inquiries.

“Many veterans have raised long-standing issues with me about the Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) veteran pension and the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) military superannuation scheme,” Ms Templeman said.

“Despite many representations to the Minister for Defence on behalf of local veterans, there’s been no resolution of the issues that are causing angst, so Labor has referred the concerns to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for independent inquiries. 
 
“The Government’s 2019 reviews of the TPI pension rate and DFRDB commutation arrangements were a slap in the face for ex-service men and women, particularly many older and disabled veterans. 
 
“The TPI inquiry will examine the adequacy of, and indexation arrangements for, the TPI payment (Special Rate of Disability Pension) and the case for an increase in the pension. 
 
“The DFRDB inquiry will run in parallel and will look at the accuracy of information provided to DFRDB members about the effects of commutation (exchanging part of their pension for a lump sum) on future retirement pay, and what remedial action could be taken.  

“Once the consultation process has ended, the committee will consider all of the submissions and evidence from public hearings, and deliver reports on both issues by the end of June. 

“I’m encouraging TPI veterans and DFRDB scheme members, and ex-service organisations, to make written submissions to the inquiries.

“These are people who have been willing to