Wednesday, 18 June 2025

 John BERGER (Southern Metropolitan) (18:23): (1729) My adjournment is for the Minister for Veterans in the other place, Minister Suleyman. My constituency of Southern Metro is home to several veterans who regularly access their necessary services through institutions like the local RSLs. In many respects RSLs remain the cornerstone of the local community, where people of all ages can converge, acting as a de facto community centre for the local area. RSLs play an important role in preserving the history, memory and legacy of those who have served in this country in past wars, including veterans who served in the First World War. RSL Victoria plays an important role in supporting retired service men and women in adjusting to life back home. This includes the very important fields of both their physical and their mental health, but it also includes advocacy and assistance in other areas of civilian life. They work with education providers and employment programs to help veterans make what is often a difficult transition, and importantly, RSL sub-branches provide retired service men and women with a place of community and social connection, something which we all know is very important.

RSLs have a long history in Victoria, and many sub-branches have long and extensive histories of their own. Take Hawthorn RSL, for example, which was founded in 1917, over 100 years ago, as the Hawthorn returned soldiers social club. And it was 100 years ago this year, in 1925, that funding was approved to build the cenotaph at St James Park in Hawthorn. This was then completed in 1929 and still stands today.

Across Australia there are tens of thousands of men and women who currently serve in the ADF who will need these great institutions of Australian community to be there as they retire and re-enter civilian life, which is why it is important that our RSLs stay in place, serving the community for years, decades and even centuries to come. The action that I seek is for the minister to provide me and my office with information about how the 2025–26 Victorian budget is supporting veterans. How is the budget delivering for RSLs in my community of Southern Metro?