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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2013-09-26 Daily Xml
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DEFENCE RESERVES SUPPORT COUNCIL

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (14:41): My question is to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Industries. Can the minister tell the house about the support provided to the Defence Reserves Support Council?

The Hon. J.J. SNELLING (Playford—Minister for Health and Ageing, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:42): I thank the member for Florey and acknowledge her keen interest in the welfare of our defence veterans in particular but, of course, our reservists who continue to serve our country. Many members will be aware that Parliament House is a signed-up, supportive employer of defence reservists in South Australia and that on 8 November 2012 South Australia was the first state government to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Defence that draws the entire Public Service into the supportive employer network.

I have long admired the good work done by the Chair of the Defence Reserves Support Council in South Australia, Dr Pamela Schulz OAM, in encouraging employers to become supportive employers and to engage with defence reservists. I was honoured to host a reception in my role as state Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Industries earlier in the month to acknowledge and encourage employer and organisation support for defence reservists in South Australia. I was pleased that the Leader of the Opposition, along with the members for Taylor, Bragg and Ashford, were also in attendance, and I take this opportunity to acknowledge the good work that the members for Ashford and Bragg contribute through their service on the Defence Reserves Support Council.

I am confident that all in the house recognise the contribution that the young men and women who serve in our reserve forces make to the defence and security of our nation. Our nation has an impressive history in reserves service. It is a history that stretches back more than 100 years, almost to Federation. The Commonwealth Defence Act of 1909 mandated a system of military training and encouraged employers to support that service. Reservists have served us well in times of conflict and in times of peace. Most recently, defence reserves helped to bring peace and rebuilding in the Solomon Islands and East Timor. Those who saw service in these countries are among our newest veterans.

Given the important regional nation building tasks that have been undertaken by our reservists in recent years, our support for them has become more focused. Supportive employers repay this contribution by ensuring that reservists do not suffer as a result of being on duty and that their job progression and defence leave are assured and protected. In this, I acknowledge the importance of employers in the defence and private sectors. The work of the Defence Reserves Support Council is crucial. It allows our reservists to serve with confidence, knowing they have the complete backing of their community and their employers.

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