General News
21 July, 2025
Veterans get support
THE state government is considering a funding request to build a new Legacy House for more than 11,000 veterans living in Far North Queensland following a visit to the Cairns RSL by Premier David Crisafulli.
“Our veterans should be acknowledged for their service and their families supported,” he said.
“Local MP Bree James has been a strong voice and advocate for a new Legacy House for the Far North and I thank her for facilitating a meeting with Legacy to discuss how we can continue supporting our veterans.”
Miss James is leading the call for $5.7m in state and federal government support to deliver a purpose-built facility that will provide crisis accommodation, mental health and wellness services and ongoing support for over 300 beneficiaries across the region.
She said the government funding would pay for the land and development.
“Far North Queensland has one of the highest veteran populations in Australia, with more than 11,000 veterans living in the Leichhardt and Kennedy regions,” she said.
“Our veterans and their families deserve a dedicated facility north of Brisbane. This is what Legacy House will provide and this is what I will continue to fight for.”
FNQ Legacy president Commander Alfonso Santos said Legacy House “is not just a building, it’s the lifeline our community needs. And we need to act now, before more families fall through the cracks”.
“Since the Royal Commission was released in September, our community has already lost a number of veterans to suicide. Their families, like so many others, are left to pick up the pieces with no dedicated, localised support system,” he said.
Mr Santos said the project directly aligned with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s recommendations to establish more family-focused, regionally-based support services across Australia.
To date, FNQ Legacy has raised over $200,000 towards the project but is seeking government commitment to bring Legacy House to life.
A petition launched by Miss James is calling for public support to demonstrate community backing.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to do what’s right,” said Commander Santos.
“We’re asking everyone in FNQ and beyond to take just 10 seconds and add their name to show our government this matters.”
Legacy House, an FNQ Legacy initiative, will be the first purpose-built facility in the region designed specifically to support the families of our fallen or incapacitated veterans’ widows, children, carers and those who are often forgotten about.
The design includes two low-cost crisis accommodation units for families seeking medical treatment or escaping domestic violence, wellness and therapy spaces to support mental health and recovery and administrative and community facilities for Legacy services and programs.
Sign the petition at
