Veterans have "once again" been overlooked in the Northern Territory budget, according to a prominent defence advocate.
Adam Giuliani said veterans do not feature in a single line item of the 2023 NT budget.
"If we don't appear in the budget we're unknown, we're a nobody," Mr Giuliani told ABC Radio Darwin.
"We become someone on Bombing of Darwin Day, Anzac Day, Remembrance Day. And then we're forgotten about.
"The politicians show up to take a photo at the memorial — but that's it."
As the president of the Australian Council of Veterans, Mr Giuliani regularly meets with returned service people to hear their concerns.
He identified three key areas which required government funding to support veterans facing financial instability and health concerns.
"[Having] veteran concessions would allow people to have some sort of sense of ability to financially live up here," he said.
"Another one is special measures, so veterans and their families are prioritised for job opportunities.
"The other thing is to support the Scott Palmer Centre, for addressing homeless veterans and veterans that are actually on the brink of breaking down financially [and] emotionally."
Despite years of calling for these targeted supports from the Northern Territory Government he said no concerns have been addressed in writing and that politicians were only offering lip service.
NT minister deflects to federal government
When asked about territory budget funding for veterans, NT Minister for Veterans Affairs Paul Kirby pointed to the yet-to-be-released Northern Territory Defence Veterans Strategy.
"This is something that we continue to work on with Luke [Gosling] as our federal member and who is an ex-serving veteran himself," Mr Kirby said.
"We're doing a lot of work to try and attract and encourage veterans to stay here in the Northern Territory."
The minister said the strategy document is expected to be released on Monday.
Mr Kirby was asked if he could point to any specific funding in this year's NT budget.
"Defence doesn't sit with me, that's where the funding arrangements comes through," Mr Kirby said.
Mr Giuliani said he does not hold out hope for financial support.
"The minister has spoken about the Northern Territory Defence Veterans Strategy. How does the strategy look if it's got no funding?" he said.
"Regardless of who is in charge of the money, we need a strong advocate for veterans in the NT.
"From what I've seen, other states have better concessions and support than we do."
Opposition vague on election promises
NT opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said her party was consulting with different veteran's groups in the lead up to next year's election.
"We want to hear from everyone in the veteran space because there's a range of issues including mental health support, there's concessions, there's a whole range of things. We could do better," she said.
"We want to know about all of them and then prioritise them into a comprehensive policy platform that we can take to veterans and say 'this is what we would do if we're the government'."
Ms Finocchiaro did not commit the Country Liberal Party to any specific policies or reforms.
The lack of specific, formalised government support from either major party is frustrating for Mr Giuliani.
"We've been asking for some support. Can we please have it? Like, do we have to beg for it?" he said.
"You've been made aware of it. Please, please, please give us a leg up. There's people out there struggling."
