Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs tabled the government's response to the Interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Australia has lost more serving and former serving personnel to suicide over the last 20 years than it has in active service in the same period. In the minister's words, the Interim report makes clear that, while there have been improvements in Defence and Veterans' Affairs processes, with a greater recognition of the importance of mental health, as well as physical health, some systems and approaches across Defence and DVA are not sufficient.

I have met with a number of veterans and RSLs across Boothby, and time and time again I have heard stories of veterans who'd submitted claims a year or a year and a half earlier and had heard nothing. They'd often suffered for years before finally deciding to put in a claim, and to then have to wait so long for a response was distressing and disrespectful of their service.

I am pleased that this government has started to fix what is a truly broken veteran support system. By removing the DVA staffing level cap and recruiting 500 additional staff, claims will be processed faster.

I'd like to thank the veterans and current serving personnel in Boothby and assure them: this government will be there for them.