Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) | Hansard source

Before I start, I want to acknowledge the member for Solomon, the member for Petrie and the member for Herbert and thank them for their service to this country.

After years of underinvestment, those opposite had left the Department of Veterans' Affairs struggling to meet demand, with almost 42,000 claims—that's right, 42,000 claims—sitting unallocated in the system. Behind every one of those claims was a veteran or family member waiting for compensation or support. No Australian who has served under the flag of this great nation should be left waiting indefinitely for help. That's why one of this government's earliest priorities was properly resourcing the Department of Veterans' Affairs and ensuring support could reach veterans faster. Additional staffing and sustained investment have helped clear the backlog we inherited and improve the speed at which claims are entering the system. Today, new claims are being allocated within days rather than sitting untouched for months. That means veterans are receiving support sooner and gaining earlier access to services they need.

Yet improving outcomes for veterans is about far more than processing claims. A support system can only be considered effective if the care it provides is accessible, affordable and available when they need it. For many veterans, allied health services play a critical role in maintaining physical health, supporting recovery from injury and addressing the impacts that service can have on mental wellbeing. Access to services such as physiotherapy, psychology or podiatry should never be determined by whether a provider can afford to offer treatment under the existing funding arrangements.

That is why the Albanese Labor government is delivering the largest increase to allied health funding for veterans in more than two decades. These changes respond directly to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and reflect the experiences shared by veterans and providers across the country. Time and again, veterans told the royal commission that access to allied health services was becoming more difficult. This government listened.

From 1 July next year—2027—significantly increased payments will help ensure veterans can continue accessing the support and treatment they deserve. Funding for physiotherapy and exercise physiology consultations will increase from $75.10 to $110. Standard podiatry consultations will increase to $110. Psychology services will receive some of the most substantial improvements, with a standard consultation of more than 50 minutes increasing from $163.40 up to $260. These changes represent a significant investment in the wellbeing of veterans and a recognition of the important role allied health professionals play in supporting those who have served. Better funding means a stronger network of providers. A stronger network of providers means improved access to care. Improved access to care means veterans can receive support earlier and closer to home.

Just as importantly, the government is reducing unnecessary red tape that too often frustrates veterans trying to access treatment. Under the current arrangements, veterans can find themselves navigating repeated referral requirements and administrative processes simply to continue receiving care. That can create barriers at exactly the moment people should be focused on recovery and rehabilitation. The new arrangements will replace the strict 12-session treatment cycle with a more flexible annual monetary limit of $5,000. This change will allow veterans to access more appointments without the need for repeated referrals and unnecessary paperwork. It will reduce administrative burdens while giving veterans greater certainty about their ongoing treatment. Importantly, veterans experiencing acute or complex health needs will continue to receive support above that threshold where clinically appropriate.

The objective is not to limit or take away necessary care. The objective is to ensure care is easier to access and better tailored for individual circumstances. These reforms form part of a broader effort to build a veterans' support system that is responsive, modern and centred on wellbeing, recognising that getting support early often prevents more serious problems from developing later and that rehabilitation and treatment are most effective when barriers to access are removed. Most importantly, they recognise that veterans deserve a system that works for them, not the other way around. The men and women who have served our nation answered the call when Australia asked. They accepted responsibilities that most Australians will never be required to carry. Our responsibility is to ensure that, when support is needed, it is available without delay and without unnecessary obstacles. And that is exactly what we are doing.

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