Christian Porter (Pearce, Liberal Party, Minister for Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

By way of summation to the second reading debate on the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget and Other Measures) Bill 2016, and on behalf of the minister, I would just note that the bill gives effect to three of the veterans affairs 2016 budget measures, all of which will benefit the defence and ex-service community. The first of the three budget measures will expand access under the Veterans' Entitlements Act to non-liability health care for certain mental health conditions for all current and former permanent members of the Defence Force. The reference to the provision of non-liability health care describes treatment for conditions that do not need to be linked to the service of the member, and is regarded as being separate from any claim for compensation. To provide for the expanded access, the government has committed $37.9 million in the 2016-17 budget to extend eligibility for non-liability health care for five mental health conditions. Those are: post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, alcohol use disorder and substance use disorder. The amendments being made by this bill will also ensure that access to treatment for the listed mental health conditions will be quicker and easier by removing the need for a formal diagnosis at the time the request for treatment is made.

The remaining measures both relate to the payment of compensation in the form of incapacity payments under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act. The first measure will assist members and families by ensuring that interim incapacity payments will be payable at 100 per cent of the normal earnings of the member. That means that for a former Defence Force member, interim incapacity payments will match the regular salary payable at the time of discharge. Under the current incapacity payment provisions, the amount of compensation payable cannot be finally determined until superannuation entitlements are finalised by the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation. So this measure will ensure the appropriate level of support is maintained commensurate with the former Defence Force member's salary whilst the superannuation entitlements are being calculated.

The remaining measure will improve support for current and former Defence Force members and their families by aligning the cut-off age for incapacity payments with the increases in the pension age at which age pension will be payable under the Social Security Act. In most cases, incapacity payments cease when the current or former member reaches 65 years of age. In the circumstances where the injury occurred on or after the age of 63, the maximum of 104 weeks of incapacity payments will be payable. The amendments to be made by this bill will ensure that eligibility for incapacity payments will continue to keep pace with the scheduled age pension age increases. These 2016 budget measures are further examples of the government's commitment to recognising and meeting the needs of current and former members of the Australian Defence Force and their families.

I would like to acknowledge the contribution to the debate of this bill made by the member for Kingston, the shadow minister, in which she noted the importance that early intervention can have in mental health treatment. This bill will ensure that we provide our veterans with the help they need as soon as possible. The member for Kingston also noted that the extension of eligibility and delaying of the requirement for a diagnosis are common sense changes that will have a huge impact. The shadow minister also noted that the other measures in the bill address the problems caused by the low level of interim incapacity payments to veterans. The government welcomes her support for another commonsense change that will increase these payments so that no veteran is left in financial difficulty. I would also like to thank on behalf of the minister, the member for Wright, for his point that while we might see physically fit veterans returning from conflict, we need to make sure that the injuries that are hidden are treated as soon as possible. The member for Wright has also made the point that in these commonsense changes, we are not just assisting veterans access to treatment they need, but that they are being provided with simpler and more streamlined systems.

Additionally, I would like to thank the member for Lingiari for his contribution to this debate. As a former minister for veterans' affairs, he knows better than most the challenges that face veterans and serving personnel. As he noted, this bill forms part of a broader canvas of reforms to ensure that all veterans receive adequate treatment and support when transitioning from service in the defence forces. It continues a tradition of bipartisan support for the veteran community.

Finally, I would like to recognise the member for Ryan's input in regard to her continual advocacy for our Defence personnel and veterans. Be it through supporting ex-service organisations that provide an important service for veterans in our community, improving care for older veterans receiving a pension or ensuring that persons transitioning to civilian life have resources and assistance readily available to them, she has been a steadfast supporter of veterans in her own community, and I thank her for her contribution.

This bill is not only a commonsense bill but one that will fundamentally change the way our veterans receive assistance for mental health. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

See this speech in context