More than half a century after their release from Japanese camps, Australia's surviving prisoners of war are to be given special compensation, Treasurer Mr Peter Costello signalled today.
Mr Costello said the government had been considering a one-off compensation package for the PoWs as one of its priorities inframing the budget due to be unveiled on Tuesday.
"The Canadian government has (announced such compensation) and Ithink New Zealand has as well," Mr Costello told the Nine Network.
"Obviously this is a group in our community that suffered verygreatly in the service of their country.
"This is very much on the government's mind and it's one of thepriorities that we had as we faced up to this budget.
"I can't say any more about the budget but obviously it'ssomething that's been very much on our mind over recent months.''
Former Japanese PoW and former Labor government minister, Mr TomUren, welcomed the statement, saying it would be a step in the right direction.
He also said Prime Minister Mr John Howard deserved credit for theproposal, which comes 56 years after the Australians were releasedfrom the notoriously brutal Japanese prison camps. Many have since died.
"One can disagree with him politically, but as far as veteransare concerned he has been a good prime minister," said Mr Uren.
AFP