Services to veterans must not be interrupted by the planned closure of the General Repatriation Hospital, says Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Senator Penny Wright.

Senator Wright said the new centre of excellence must be fully operational before the Repat is closed, and consideration should be given to the cultural significance of the site for veterans.

"The General Repatriation Hospital is more than just a hospital to many veterans - it is a place to meet and to remember and has had a culture that respects and understands veterans," Senator Wright said.

Excerpt from Senate Hansard: Thursday, 19 June 2014.

Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Mental Health and Other Measures) Bill 2014

Second Reading

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee 
Department of Veterans' Affairs 

20 November, 2013

Senator WRIGHT: I am just interested to know: is the issue of expanding compensation for veterans of the nuclear testing at Maralinga in the 1950s and 1960s under consideration by the Department of Veterans' Affairs?

Mr Lewis: Not that I am aware of.

Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee 
Department of Veterans' Affairs 

20 November, 2013

Senator WRIGHT: I have some brief questions on veterans mental health. I understand the department runs eight veterans-only psychiatric facilities around the country. Is that correct?

Queensland's Mates4Mates veterans' program would be expanded nationally to assist the new wave of servicemen and women returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as part of a new approach to caring for veterans announced by the Australian Greens today.

Spokesperson for Veterans Affairs Senator Penny Wright and Queensland Greens senate candidate and former Australian Defence Forces Colonel Stuart Yeaman AM today announced a range of initiatives to improve care for Australia's current and future veterans and their families.

The Greens believe that if we are prepared to send men and women to serve Australia on our behalf, we have a responsibility to care for them properly when they return.

This means ensuring they have access to proper support, including mental health and wellbeing services, and making sure service personnel who are injured are not financially disadvantaged while they are being treated.