Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the honourable member for Batman for his question and say to him that the government is committed to ensuring that the unique nature of military service underpins our actions for veterans and their families. Indeed, the budget provides $12.1 billion in services and support to veterans and their families, including $6.5 billion for income support and compensation pensions, $5.5 billion in healthcare treatment for veterans and their families and $88.7 million for commemorations and war graves.

I was a little bemused, I suppose, by the honourable member's comments about parades and welcomes home. I thought that was something that enjoyed bipartisan support in this place. I was with the honourable member for Ryan at the farewell to the troops at Enoggera who are now serving this country and the interests of this country and indeed the broader Western alliance, if I can put it in those terms, in Iraq at the present time. I was there at the parade that was held in Melbourne, as parades were held all around the country, for those who served us over a decade in Afghanistan. It is entirely appropriate that we as a nation recognise in a bipartisan way—because people from both sides of politics attend these events—the contribution our defence forces have made on behalf of us, the people of Australia.

Indeed, spending per veteran—to come back to the point—is the highest it has ever been. Indeed, in 2015-16 we will spend an average of $40,650 per DVA client, up 1.8 per cent on last year. This contrasts with a decline in spending per veteran of around three per cent in the last Labor budget. This year's budget maintains indexation for pensions paid by DVA at CPI, MTAWE and the BPLCI; provides $10 million to increase the number of case coordinators, which will improve the level of support to veterans with complex and mental health needs; invests a further $3.7 million to extend a trial of in-home telemonitoring; invests $700,000 to improve the Veterans' Vocational Rehabilitation Scheme; streamlines the appeals process under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act—exactly what veterans have asked us to do; improves compensation available for Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act clients, including excising DVA clients into their own Defence-specific compensation act; and provides additional financial support for the Centenary of Anzac, particularly our centenary of service, which includes the Second World War, Korea, Malaya, Borneo and Vietnam. This government is committed to veterans. And, as I have indicated in that very brief summary, there is an indication of the real measures we have taken to assist veterans.

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