VETERANS HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BE SCEPTICAL OF LABOR’S PROMISES ON THE RUN

Three days after Kevin Rudd said he fully supported the Howard Government's $330 million disability pension enhancement package, the rashness of his 'echo-nomics' was demonstrated when Labor requested details of the package, including costings.

Mr Rudd scrapped his party's own $55 million disability pension policy, which was barely a day old, at the recent National RSL Congress, to throw his support behind the Government's far more comprehensive and principled package.

Three days after Mr Rudd said he was "embracing fully and without equivocation each and every commitment made tonight by the Prime Minister", the office of Labor's veterans affairs spokesman, requested a briefing on the package, including details of forward costings.

"I find it quite extraordinary that Mr Rudd, on a whim, would fully embrace a Government announcement, costed at $275 million more than his own, which was announced barely a day earlier, without knowing any of the detail or costings of what was proposed," Mr Billson said.

"This is hardly the work of a fiscal conservative and highlights the fact that a Labor Government is again likely to take an extremely reckless approach towards economic management.

"The veterans' community has every right to be sceptical of Labor's promises on the run. Labor is out promising all things to all people and the time will come when decisions have to be made about shelving certain commitments. Labor has a terrible track-record in veterans affairs, so reneging on commitments to our veteran community could not be ruled out," Mr Billson said.

Media inquiries: Cameron Hill  0408 239 521