From the Minister
The Hon Matt Keogh MP Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel
As the last hearings for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide have now wrapped up, I want to thank all of you who took the brave step of sharing your experiences – be it in writing, or in person, as we all work together on establishing a better way of supporting Defence personnel, veterans and families.
The Defence Minister, Richard Marles and I were grateful for the opportunity to contribute directly to the evidence of the Royal Commission. Ultimately we want to see their expert recommendations so the Government can get on with the job of implementation.
To all those who have lost loved ones, and all those who will forever be burdened by their experiences – we see you, we hear you. Our words of sympathy will never be enough comfort, but please judge us on our actions as we move forward to truly establish a better future for Defence personnel, veterans and families.
We’ve already taken action on all recommendations of the Interim Report – the items that the Royal Commission deemed too urgent to wait for the final report.
We’ve followed their lead, eliminating the veteran compensation claims backlog in February, a month before deadline. Of course, I acknowledge that the clearing of the “backlog” of unallocated claims is just part of the story, with many people still waiting too long for determinations. This is now DVA’s key line of effort – to bring down those claim determination times.
The Government was elected on a commitment to properly resource DVA so it could eliminate the unacceptable backlog of veteran compensation claims. It’s thanks to those hard working DVA staff that we’ve been able to achieve this milestone.
We’ve also made massive progress with the first recommendation – to simplify and harmonise veteran compensation legislation. I don’t need to tell you all what a nightmare the current three act system is. The intention behind rolling everything into one Act is to ensure it’s easier for people to understand what they’re eligible for, simpler to make a claim, and faster for the Department to determine that claim – ultimately getting support to you, faster.
I welcome your feedback on the draft legislation and I encourage you to visit the DVA website for more information. Please make a submission; we are intent on getting this right and a big part of that is taking your feedback into consideration. Submissions close on 28 April 2024.
I’m also happy to report we’ve now announced more than $5 million funding for each of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs we committed to at the last election. Each of these Hubs, spread around the country, is to be located in areas of the largest veteran populations – identified in the 2021 census. These Hubs will be opening over the next two years.
As we approach Anzac Day, I am reminded that what we do in the Veterans’ Affairs portfolio is an important part of how we express our gratitude to the generations of Australians who have donned a military uniform in the service of our country and let future generations know that all those that serve then, now and into the future are never forgotten.
In towns and cities across Australia and around the world, Australians will gather to acknowledge the commitment of our service personnel to the defence of our nation, and reflect on their sacrifices and those of the families who support them.
Anzac Day is a powerful reminder that the Australian community rightfully expects our Defence personnel, veterans and families to be well looked after. This is an important task and responsibility of government – a commitment we take very seriously.
To all of you, we thank you for your service, and the sacrifices of your families.
Announcing the Ipswich Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.