VETERANS' ADVISORY COUNCIL

Ms PORTOLESI (Hartley) (14:14): Will the Minister for Veterans' Affairs inform the house about any progress on the Veterans' Advisory Council announced in September this year?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON (Croydon—Attorney-General, Minister for Justice, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:15): I am pleased to announce that former South Australian governor Sir Eric Neal will head the newly created Veterans' Advisory Council. I made the appointment this week on the 90^th anniversary of the end of the Great War. Last month I told the house that about 700 people came to a meeting in September to discuss the formation of the Veterans' Advisory Council. The meeting endorsed the appointment of an independent chair from outside the veteran community.

Other members of the council will be appointed soon and will be drawn from all parts of the large and diverse South Australian veteran community. Sir Eric Neal is highly respected by the ex-service community and brings a wealth of experience to this independent role. I am pleased that he will take up the challenge as the inaugural chairman. Sir Eric's appointment will be for two years. Sir Eric served as governor of South Australia from 1996 to 2001. Since 2002 he has been the Chancellor of Flinders University. Sir Eric is an engineer and private sector leader who has worked in the mining, construction and defence industries for much of his life.

Sir Eric is an honorary member of the RSL and former honorary air commodore of the City of Adelaide Squadron of the RAAF. I think that Sir Eric will be an exceptional leader of the Veterans' Advisory Council. I look forward to working with him and the other soon to be appointed council members.

Mr Pengilly: Who are they, Mick?

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: I said 'soon to be appointed'. What part of 'soon to be appointed' does the member for Finniss not understand?

Mr Pengilly: He understands perfectly.

The SPEAKER: Order!

The Hon. M.J. ATKINSON: The Veterans' Advisory Council will take the views of ex-service men, women and their families directly to the cabinet table as a key source of information and advice to me as veterans' affairs minister. The council will also promote the wellbeing of the veterans' community, encourage cooperation between the many veterans' organisations and offer advice to the government on commemorations. More than 40,000 South Australians receive commonwealth veterans' benefits and about 80,000 people in total identify as part of the veterans' community in South Australia. I am confident that the council will be an avenue for this large group to approach the state government with one clear voice.