JOLENE LAVERTY, HOST: Veterans sacrificed abroad to secure prosperity for you and me here in Australia and in the Northern Territory. But here are those sacrifices being honoured in the way that they should? At last year's Northern Territory Labor Party conference, a motion was passed proposing an increase in veterans concessions. Last week you heard from Adam Giuliani, the branch president of the Council of Australian Veterans in Darwin, about why concessions need to improve.

AUDIO – ADAM GIULIANI – COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIAN VETERANS, DARWIN: “We're losing people through suicide, we’re losing people through retention, when people can't live in Darwin because of the expense. And like I said, if you're on TPI, you can't work anyway and you're restricted to $1,500 a fortnight. That's it.”

LAVERTY: TPI being total permanent injury, I think is what that stands for. Luke Gosling is the member for the Darwin seat of Solomon. Good morning.

LUKE GOSLING, MEMBER FOR SOLOMON: Morning, Jo. How are you?

LAVERTY: Yeah, I'm very good. Do you reckon veterans in the Territory are treated as well as veterans in other parts of Australia?

GOSLING: When you break down who's entitled to what packages the states have to recognise their veterans, WA and Vic are the best. The NT has a great concession package across the board, but sort of when you break down where we could do better, a couple of things when I sort of compare the NT to two other things where concessions can be provided. I think there's some low-hanging fruit, like public transport being one, which is a concession provided in other states. Admission to entertainment or sporting venues.

But I guess what I just heard Adam Giuliani saying is really the key point, is that we want to be the best in Australia. We want to have the best package of supports in the country because we want to retain all of our veterans, particularly those 400 or so each year that are retiring from service at Robertson Barracks, Coonawarra, from Larrakeyah Barracks, from Berrimah, Tindal, wherever they may be. We want to keep those skilled, disciplined, well-trained people right here, because we know we've got skill shortages and we just want them to stay and be part of our community. So I do think that we can do a bit better in some areas.

LAVERTY: Was that figure 400 retirements a year?

GOSLING: Yeah, just check that with— I'll give a shout out to Amelia Nuku from ISAC NT Industry Skills Advisory mob. She's doing a brilliant job. Maybe get her in for a yarn. But she's doing awesome work in trying to make it easier for veterans when they separate. And I'm pretty sure from the briefing I had, that was the separation rate out at Robbo. We want to keep all those people, and the more attractive we make it to veterans for them, and if they're married with kids, for their families to stay, to make it as attractive as possible, keep those skilled people right here.

LAVERTY: Here's Adam Giuliani again on some of the concessions available to veterans in Victoria.

AUDIO – GIULIANI: “In Victoria, say, for instance, you get full transport concession, a travel pass, 50 per cent off for gold cardholders, 50 per cent off your sewerage, stamp duty concessions on your house. There's power, there's water concession, vehicle registration for gold card holders.”

LAVERTY: So how much of a difference would be made in the Northern Territory if all of these were implemented here, do you think, Luke Gosling?

GOSLING: You know, I think it'd make a big difference, Jo. You know, cost of living is an issue for everyone. That TPI that you mentioned before, that's for people who are totally and permanently incapacitated and they receive a pension. I think it's also more about the dollars – as important as they are, it's a bit of a recognition of service. And today, Jo, is actually National Servicemen's Day. And when we think about how many people had their birthday pulled out of a ballot and had to go and serve in somewhere like Vietnam, just taken out of their lives. Like my father, the 21st of December was pulled out of a ballot, so he had to join up where we lost some mates. And for people like that or for anyone who's served, I think as a nation, we want to say, “Hey, thank you for doing that. We really value you.” That's why I pushed so hard for the royal commission with my colleagues, the veterans groups, just so we can make the supports as good as possible for those who put themselves in danger for our country. So I think particularly today on National Servicemen’s Day, I want to say thank you to all those people, but also let's do everything we can up here in the Territory to make it the best place in the country for veterans to settle.

ADAM STEER, HOST: 20 to nine on ABC Radio, Darwin, Adam Steer and Jo Laverty with your guest this morning, Luke Gosling, federal Member for the Darwin seat of Solomon. What discussions have you had with the Northern Territory Government to try to introduce some of these concessions, so at least we could become on par with Victoria or as you say, lead Victoria and WA in terms of veterans’ concessions?

GOSLING: Yeah, I've had a couple of chats with Paul Kirby. He's looking at all of these things, and through the process that they have in the lead-up to every budget, obviously every minister is sort of fighting for their area about what scope there is to bring in new initiatives like that. And I know that Paul and his team will be looking at what they can do for Territory veterans, and I really encourage them to do that. I know these are difficult times fiscally, but I think we've got to look at the positives, which is not only acknowledging and recognising our people who have served, but just keeping them here. And again, just to really recognise the work the NT Government is doing to try and make those pathways into employment once people leave the Navy, Army, Air Force.

STEER: Is there a particular concession that you're fighting for? Have you costed any of those concessions?

GOSLING: Yeah, well you know, obviously my work is federally down here to make sure that we've got the best possible recommendations, and the Royal Commission has shown us the work we need to do federally. But what the NT Government decides to do is up to them. So the pricing, the financing how that's going to be done, they’re questions for the NT minister. But he has my total support to do whatever he needs to do.

STEER: But your job as the Federal member is to look after the Northern Territory and help increase our population. Have you costed any of the concessions that you're chasing?

GOSLING: Again, Adam, as you know, the majority of the funding that the NT Government receives is from the Commonwealth, and through a process of election commitments that are already in the bag and will be delivered by our Albanese Federal Government and the continued work that we have in close cooperation. I’ve got not only the Veterans Affairs Minister coming up in a week or so's time. I've also got the Assistant Minister for Veterans Affairs and the Assistant Minister for Defence all coming out for the Bombing of Darwin [anniversary] on the 19th of February. And then we're going down to Adelaide River on the next day, and we're going to be consulting as part of that visit. So the time's right for the veterans community to have their voice heard by federal ministers, and also obviously there'll be meetings between these federal veterans ministers and the NT veterans minister about a week away. So the timing is perfect for this conversation. So well done to bring it to everyone's attention. Just want to acknowledge the national servicemen again on this day. And if you've got time at the end of this interview, Adam, I can give you a poem.

LAVERTY: I was going to ask, it is Valentine's Day, and I suspect you're a bit of a romantic Luke Gosling, and you have a beautiful wife who, let's face it, does most of the work in the relationship.

GOSLING: Yes. Or, in the relationship, no, it’s a team. But yes, Jo, part of what you said is correct.

LAVERTY: She's a beautiful wife. She does a lot of the work. A lot of the work. 50/50. Would you like—

GOSLING: I would, I’ve stepped outside of our caucus meeting—

LAVERTY: No, get back in there and do it in front of everybody, Luke, otherwise it’s not real love.

GOSLING: The PM's talking. I don't know if I can do that, but I hopped outside and it's freezing. So:  roses are red, violets are blue, it's freezing in Canberra so my lips are too. I miss my wife, particularly when I'm down here. I love you so much. And to everyone in Darwin and Palmerston, have a great Valentine's Day.

LAVERTY: That’s nice. It didn't rhyme at all, but it is a lovely, lovely poem, Luke Gosling. Thank you.

GOSLING: Thanks for your time.