Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Bruce Billson has condemned Labor MP Wayne Swan for running baseless advertisements in Queensland local newspapers aimed solely at scaring the veterans’ community.

Mr Swan, in his typical style, didn’t let the facts get in the way of trying to score some cheap political points, with his false claims that DVA services are being cut in Queensland.

He also attempted to perpetuate the total myth that there were moves to absorb DVA into another department.

"Mr Swan’s paid advertisements can only be described as the work of fiction, it’s little wonder he had to take out paid advertisements to peddle such garbage. This is the same man who rose in Parliament back in 1994 accusing others of running a ‘deplorable’ veterans’ scare campaign and now 13 years later he is doing just that," Mr Billson said.

"The Prime Minister, John Howard, made it perfectly clear at the RSL National Congress earlier this month that the Australian Government is totally committed to maintaining ‘a separate, independent Department of Veterans' Affairs’.

"My Department is also totally committed to maintaining high levels of service to veterans in Queensland. It is already setting new benchmarks in service delivery, including doubling the number of hospitals veterans can access and significantly improving times to process their claims.

"Contrary to the suggestion of ‘secret plans’, staff from my Department are discussing with ex-service organisations about how best to maintain their high service standards.  This is necessary given that our client base is progressively decreasing," Mr Billson said.

"The veteran community will continue to access the full range of DVA programs and services, delivered by fully trained staff in Queensland and will continue to enjoy face-to-face contact through our offices in Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Townsville."

"The shadow treasurer certainly has a selective memory, however, I am certain members of the local veterans’ community would recall that he was a member of the last Labor Government which decimated the Department of Veterans’ Affairs," Mr Billson said.

"Mr Swan owes veterans and war widows within his electorate an apology for his shameless advertisements that were clearly designed to put the wind up them."

 Media inquiries: Cameron Hill  0408 239 521