Matt Keogh (Burt, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Herbert for his remarks in relation to the amendment that he has moved. I understand the opposition's and the member's desire to move the date of the first report of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission to an earlier time. In that regard I note that 32 recommendations have already been implemented and two-thirds will be implemented by the end of 2026, and of course work is ongoing in relation to the remainder of the royal commission's recommendations. The opposition's amendment, though, would see the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission reporting in the middle of all of this work.

In addition, the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission has already started its first inquiry looking into the implementation of recommendations 9 to 13 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's interim report, which was about providing better information access not only for veterans but also, in particular, for the families of those veterans who have taken their own lives.

I think that the opposition's amendment is best considered, however, by the inquiry that has already been established in the Senate to look into this legislation. We will be able to best consider the proposal that has been put forward by the opposition in the context of that inquiry. For that reason, at this time the government will oppose the opposition's amendment as moved in the House.

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