Ministerial Statement

Veterans' Advisory Council

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Small Business, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:02): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: In my capacity as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, I seek to inform the house that I have appointed Air Vice Marshal Brent Espeland AM as the new chair of the Veterans' Advisory Council for a two-year appointment, effective 1 June 2016. Air Vice Marshal Espeland enjoyed a long and successful career in the Royal Australian Air Force spanning 36 years. He is an experienced commander, having held unit and formation command twice and having tenure as air officer commanding training command and deputy chief of Air Force.

Air Vice Marshal Espeland's final military position was on secondment to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he was responsible for the coordination of security and intelligence at the national level for the Olympic Games in Sydney. A second career then followed. Air Vice Marshal Espeland spent 10 years working in senior sports administration at the Australian Sports Commission, with a focus on the governance of national sporting organisations, sports science and medicine, and the fight against drugs in sport.

Now retired, Brent Espeland works actively in support of a number of worthwhile causes. He is national president of the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force Association, both national and South Australian president of the Royal United Services Institute of Australia, a director of the Sir Richard Williams Foundation, a member of the Department of Veterans' Affairs round table, chairman of the Board of Governors of the Repat Foundation, a member of the Air Force Heritage Advisory Committee and a member of the National Council of the Australian Air Force Cadets.

In his spare time, Air Vice Marshal Espeland is actively involved as a founding and steering group member of the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations, which works closely with the government, the opposition and crossbenchers to shape policies for past, present and future members of the ADF. I, along with Mr Rob Manton, director of Veterans SA, consulted with a number of prominent veterans, including those currently serving on the VAC. Air Vice Marshal Espeland received strong support from all who were consulted, and I very much look forward to working closely with him.

I would like to take this opportunity to again thank the Hon. Sir Eric Neal AO CVO, who served with distinction as the chair of the VAC since its inception in November 2008. I wish, on behalf of the house, Air Vice Marshal Espeland well in his new role.