An Albanese Labor Government will support veteran families in Brisbane with a $1.5 million contribution towards the new Legacy House veteran family wellbeing centre on the site of the old Red Cross Hall in Greenslopes.

The Greenslopes Red Cross Centre is a historic site that supported veterans and their families after the Second World War, and included a recreation hall and accommodation hostel for family visiting loved ones at the nearby Greenslopes Repatriation Hospital, so has enormous significance for the veteran community.

Part of the centre has been transferred by the Council to Legacy Brisbane, who have a deep connection to the site, to build a new headquarters where the former Australian Red Cross building previously stood.

This will retain the social purpose of the land and support families who have lost a parent to the service of our country, or are supporting a parent that has given their health serving our country.

Once built, the new Legacy House will create South East Queensland’s first medical and medical research precinct for veteran and family services, which will evaluate services and coordinate support to veterans and their families.

This $1.5 million commitment from Federal Labor will help Legacy undertake necessary remediation works and construction of the new facility, which is expected to be completed by 2024.

The facility will be co-located with the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, Keith Payne VC Mental Health Unit and Greenslopes Private Hospital to ensure mental health services provided to families supporting an incapacitated veteran are dealt with in a holistic and case managed environment.  

Ex-service organisations, such as RSL Queensland, Mates4Mates and the Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling, will also collaborate to deliver services at the hub. 

This commitment builds on Labor’s $519.2 million plan to strengthen the services veterans and their families count on, including a $42.8 million commitment to roll out 10 veteran hubs across the country. 

Comments attributable to Terri Butler, Shadow Minister for the Environment and Water, and Member for Griffith: 

“I have been campaigning for years for the former Australian Red Cross Hall to be restored, so I’m glad to finally see some progress on the project after years of neglect and inaction by the Liberal-National Government.

“For some time, I have advocated for the site to become a local community hub for veterans and more recently for Legacy Brisbane to have access to the site, so I’m pleased it will now be returned for use by veterans and their families.

“This is a great outcome in keeping with the historical significance of the site and the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families, and Labor is proud to support Legacy Brisbane with this $1.5 funding commitment.”

Comments attributable to Shayne Neumann, Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel: 

“Legacy has a proud record of looking after the families of Australian veterans who lost their lives or have been seriously injured serving, and deserve the best possible care and support.

“With the centenary of Legacy coming up in 2023, I’m excited that Labor is able to support Legacy Brisbane in its move to a new home in Greenslopes and help them to deliver practical assistance for our veteran families.

“The new Legacy House in Greenslopes will benefit families supporting a veteran with mental health issues, particularly as we await the outcomes and recommendations of the Royal Commission into defence and veteran suicide.”