About the Council

As outlined in Labor’s Plan for Veterans’ Affairs 2007, the Rudd Government promised to give the ex-service community a greater voice at the highest level of government by establishing the Prime Ministerial Advisory Council on Ex-Service Matters (PMAC).

The Council has been established to consider and advise the Prime Minister and Government on strategic and complex matters impacting on the ex-service and defence communities.

The Prime Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd, and the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Alan Griffin announced the membership of the Council on 6 September 2008.

The inaugural meeting of the Council was held on 9 and 10 October 2008 at Parliament House in Canberra.

The Council has a high level strategic view and does not replace the day to day engagement of the Government with veterans or the legislative review options available to veterans such as, the Veterans’ Review Board (VRB), Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) or departmental review.

The Government continues to engage widely with the ex-service and defence communities on issues and to ensure services are responsive to the communities’ needs.

Membership

Members were selected on the basis of individual merit, broad experience and understanding of the issues affecting the ex-service and defence communities.  The Council reflects and brings together the diverse groups in these communities.  Members are not appointed to the Council as representatives of any organisations.

Chair:

Members:

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