Veterans Act 2005

The purpose of this Act is to—

establish the Victorian Veterans Council and the Victorian Veterans Fund;

re-enact the Patriotic Funds Act 1958 with amendments to—

abolish the Patriotic Funds Council of Victoria;

confer the regulatory powers of the Patriotic Funds Council of Victoria in relation to patriotic funds on the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria;

improve the administration of patriotic funds;

simplify the provisions relating to the regulation of patriotic funds;

repeal the Patriotic Funds Act 1958, the Defence Reserves Re-Employment Act 1995 and the Discharged Servicemen's Preference Act 1943;

make minor amendments to the ANZAC Day Act 1958, the Fair Trading Act 1999, the Fundraising Appeals Act 1998, the Gambling Regulation Act 2003 and the Shrine of Remembrance Act 1978.

In outline this Act—

creates the Victorian Veterans Council to promote issues of concern to veterans and to advise the Government of Victoria in relation to such issues;

provides that the ex-service community are to make up the majority of the membership of the Victorian Veterans Council;

creates a Victorian Veterans Fund to provide a source of funds to support educational and commemorative activities related to Australia's war and service history;

shifts responsibility for the regulation of patriotic funds from the Patriotic Funds Council of Victoria to the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria;

shifts the regulation of patriotic funds to this Act.