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

The Prime Minister should apologise for using D-Day to push his carbon tax bandwagon, says Australian Greens spokesperson for Veterans Affairs Senator Penny Wright.

"Prime Minister Abbott should be ashamed of himself for using D-Day," Senator Wright said.

"Those who fought for our country at D-Day, and every other conflict since, came from every corner of society. Their service should not be co-opted to push the Prime Minister's political bandwagons.

"War service should not be commercialised and it should not be politicised.

To enter the Australian Greens Makepeace Prize, fill out and email the online entry form available here to senator.wright@aph.gov.au. The form can also be printed and posted or scanned and emailed.

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

20 November, 2013

Senator WRIGHT: My question is about the previous granting of deductible gift recipient status to the Peacekeeping Memorial Project to 31 December 2014. Can you advise whether this status will be extended past that date and, if it is not known yet, what the time frame for that decision will be?