Address to Parliament- STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS - Veterans

Veterans have an advocate and ally in Julie-Ann Finney. Last week was the fourth anniversary of the loss of her son Petty Officer David Stafford Finney, a proud member of the Royal Australian Navy, 38 years young—gone too soon. Julie-Ann has attended each and every one of the hearing days of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. She was at Wagga Wagga between 28 November and 1 December last year. While there, she visited the Pro Patria wellbeing centre that is being driven by the community and that would have been the beneficiary of $5 million of government support, had that money not being withdrawn.

Julie-Ann is a supporter of that facility. She said: 'We're forever looking for answers, for solutions. Pro Patria is the solution. We need places and services like Pro Patria.' She joins Wagga Wagga veteran Jason Frost, community member Alan Lean and so many others, myself included, who are very much staunch supporters of this facility. I call on the veterans affairs minister to support in the May budget this much-needed facility that Wagga Wagga and the Riverina deserve.