Payments made to Vietnam veterans, families

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Ex-gratia payments have been made to the first 50 defence veterans and families exposed to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

Under the agreement reached last year veterans exposed to Agent Orange received a $30 million package that included an apology from the Government.

Ex-gratia payments are being made to veterans with certain medical conditions, the spouses of veterans with these conditions who have died, and children who have suffered health effects.

Veterans Affairs Minister Rick Barker yesterday said Veterans Affairs had paid out 50 ex-gratia payments.

Of the payments so far, 27 were made to veterans themselves and 23 went to families of Vietnam veterans, totalling $1.75m.

When the Memorandum of Understanding was reached last year with the Returned Services Association and the Ex-Vietnam Services Association, it was estimated eight to 10 ex-gratia payments would go directly to veterans themselves.

"So the number is actually higher, and this is concerning, but it is also gratifying that support is going to the Vietnam veterans," Mr Barker said yesterday.

Of the estimated 3500 who served in Vietnam, 1400 veterans were receiving a war disablement pension.

Mr Barker said more than 4500 Vietnam veterans and their families had registered with Veterans Affairs as part of the agreement.

They need to register their details so they can be helped if their health suffers from exposure to the defoliant Agent Orange.

Mr Barker also said the Vietnam Veterans and Their Families Trust had been established and was accepting applications from veterans and their families for financial assistance for conditions that were not explicitly dealt with in the memorandum of understanding.

The process for a comprehensive medical check was being finalised, work was under way to implement an expert panel, an oral history project had begun, and planning was under way for a tribute to veterans in 2008.

- NZPA