Review of 2006 for the
‘Children of Vietnam Veterans Health Study Inc’ (COVVHS)
On the 23 January 2006 (one year
ago) the combined Consultative Committee and Scientific
Advisory Committee informed the Department of Veteran Affairs that a
study into the health of children of Vietnam veterans is feasible.
In addition, the committee was
of the view that there would be substantial scientific merit in such a
study, let alone the moral obligation. The benefit of the study is
that it would finally address the concerns of the veterans’ community
about their children.
As most will be aware the
feasibility study was conducted as a result of intensive lobbying by
both groups and individuals in the veteran community.
The Consultative committee was
represented by several ex-service organisations (ESO’s) and an adult son
and daughter of a Vietnam veteran. Furthermore, the Scientific Advisory
committee membership included some of the most respected and experienced
members of the Australian scientific community.
Unfortunately, Minister Billson
appears to be ignoring the advice provided by the feasibility study.
The Minister, in line with the
Department of Veterans Affairs chief public servants, has chosen to
revisit whether a health study is feasible or not.
This question has just been
answered, but yet the Department wastes time and funds in asking the
question again. This time they have brought the Centre for Military and
Veterans Health (CMVH)
into the equation, to investigate the findings of the recently completed
Feasibility Study into a Health Study of the Children of Vietnam
Veterans (http://www.dva.gov.au/adf/health/docs/Final_Report.pdf).
The CMVH cannot be called an
independent group and with all due respect to its professionals, they
lack the experience, skills or credentials of the previous Scientific
Committee.
Why revisit the same question
unless the Department did not get the answer it was seeking.
To see the contempt that senior
Repat bureaucrats hold for the veterans community click on this Senate
Estimates link and scroll down to page 113
http://www.aph.gov.au/hansard/senate/commttee/S9780.pdf
COVVHS (and I believe also the
Partners of Veterans Association (PVA)) has sought a lay position on the
newly formed Advisory Panel on
Intergenerational Effects, see media release at;
http://minister.dva.gov.au/media_releases/2006/10_oct/va117.htm
and the CMVH, the emphatic response has been negative, lay people from
the veterans community are not needed or wanted by the Repatriation
Commission and the government; is it a case of we know what’s best for
you? Apparently this is no place for a parent or an adult child of a
Vietnam veteran! The above will ensure that agenda's remain hidden!
Numbers appear to be all that
governments worry about; COVVHS has an email list of 29,400 (self
registered on our web site) plus media, politicians, ESO’s, etc we
cannot and will not allow bureaucratic waffle and spin to go
unchallenged.
Governments would do well to
understand that the internet has changed how information is shared and
obtained by the community. There will be a Federal election within the
next year (probably only months away), now is the time to get a firm
positive commitment about the Children’s Study, after the election
is too late!
To the ESO members; this study
will happen whether in Australia, NZ, Canada, USA, UK, etc, please make
sure that your organisation is at the forefront of pursuing this matter.
Results for the members are the measurement of competency that you ought
to apply to your executive.
Please forward this email onto any
Vietnam veteran and their family’s that you know; they need to be aware
of what the government is (not) doing for their children’s health.
Kind regards,
David Matheson
President, COVVHS
http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/home/carryon/web/COVVHSindex.html
