Fed: Billson addmits error

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2006
Fed: Billson addmits error

CANBERRA, Dec 11 AAP - Veterans' Affairs Minister Bruce Billson has apologised for
saying he believed two former soldiers committed suicide when their deaths were cancer-related.

The minister was speaking to ABC radio about pensions granted by the department to
more than 230 Australians who had served in Iraq and Afghanistan when he made the error.

Mr Billson said his comments were based on early, incorrect, advice from his staff.

"It's very important that reliable and accurate material be brought forward whenever
it's requested," he told the ABC.

"In this case, it was quite a complex task of analysing that information in a short
period of time.

"I accept that errors can be made there but I'm not happy with that error and apologise
for conveying that erroneous information to you and other media outlets."

AAP nb/sb/it/jlw

KEYWORD: PENSIONS BILLSON

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