Mr Kolomeitz was “outraged” at the Liberal government’s refusal to release documents outlining the effect of changes in indexation to veterans’ and widow’s pensions and called on Mrs Sudmalis to explain why she voted in favour of the changes.

He said the Abbott government had twice refused a freedom of information request by the Transport Workers Union, which represents many veterans, for documents that would show the effects of changing indexation of the pensions.

“What is the government hiding in refusing to release information about the indexation changes?” he said.

During the 2014 budget, the Abbott government announced it would no longer index veterans’ and defence widows’ pensions using the rate of average male earnings but would instead index them at the CPI rate.

The decision, to take effect in 2017, is expected to cut $65.1 million from the veterans’ pensions in the first year and will compound year on year.

“Mrs Sudmalis voted in favour of changing the indexation method, and voted against Labor amendments which would have protected the entitlements,” he said.

“It is deeply disappointing in the very week of the Centenary of Anzac, the Liberal government has tried to hide from veterans its own analysis of how these indexation changes will affect their pensions.”

A veteran himself and through his work as a pro bono lawyer for veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, Mr Kolomeitz said he has had many conversations with veterans and their dependents who were extremely concerned by the changes.  

“Mrs Sudmalis has put numerous posts on Facebook about Anzac Day, referring to the hard work of serving defence personnel and veterans and showing photographs of her attending Anzac Day services to honour local veterans, yet she has taken active steps to work against them by voting for the changes to indexation, not once, but on three occasions,” he said.

Mrs Sudmalis said Mr Kolomeitz’s statements were the “height of hypocrisy” after he didn’t slam the government when Labor ripped $16.6 billion out of the defence budget.

“That put expenditure down to the level of 1938,” she said.

“It is interesting that anyone could stand there so self-righteously. It is shameful.

“The timing is unbelievable, especially after the weekend when we have honoured our fallen and encouraged young people to honour our servicemen and women. To come from such a base is ridiculous.”

She questioned who Mr Kolomeitz was advocating for.

“Is it union, the RSL or Labor Party?” she said.

“Labor ripped $16.6 billion out of the defence budget and now he has the hide to stand there and say ‘Woe is me, they are not spending enough money’.”

Mrs Sudmalis dismissed claims she should be fighting more for the local defence community, saying she had “fought for local defence from the get go” and that was why they have got a 2 per cent pay increase.