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

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I am pleased to introduce the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No 1) Bill 2025.

This bill continues our government's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and our commitment to implementing a better and simpler veterans' entitlements system so that veterans and families can access the support they need and deserve, faster.

For too long the complexity of the veterans' entitlements system has been a source of frustration for veterans and families, with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's interim report finding this was a contributor to suicidality amongst our veteran community.

We worked with a range of stakeholders to develop the way forward. In February this year we passed the VETS act—the Veterans Entitlements Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act.

That means that from the middle of 2026, all veteran claims will be assessed for compensation and rehabilitation under one single piece of legislation that will be simpler to use and faster to process—the new and improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004—the MRCA.

This is the most significant reform to how we support veterans in a century and means we'll be able to better provide the services and supports the veteran community needs, when they need them.

Since these reforms were passed, we have been preparing for this significant reform—making veterans aware of the changes to come, upskilling delegates within the department, training advocates and updating computer systems.

This bill proposes a number of minor technical amendments to this legislation to ensure the smooth implementation of these reforms and the transition from the previous complicated tri-act arrangement to the single ongoing act.

These amendments do not change the intent agreed to through the passage of the VETS act.

The bill will clarify the powers of the existing Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission and Repatriation Commission as they transition to a single Repatriation Commission.

The bill inserts new transitional provisions to allow the existing Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission to make instruments by prior to 1 July 2026, which will continue in effect after 1 July 2026, where it would be beneficial to support a smooth uninterrupted transition to a single act.

This includes instruments that will give effect to the presumptive liability rules that will assist the government and the Department of Veterans' Affairs to more flexibly respond to emerging conditions.

It would also include transition arrangements for the guide used for permanent impairment assessments, which contains much of the operational detail and calculations used to assess an individual veteran's claims when they transition to the MRCA.

The bill will also remove ambiguity in the legislation for veterans and families seeking review of a DVA decision and clarify the interpretation of eligibility for important funeral benefits, to ensure claims for funeral compensation are determined according to the act under which they are lodged, and the correct entitlements are available as quickly as possible.

The bill also strengthens the review rights for decisions made under the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA), before the commencement of the new review pathway on 21 April 2025, and beyond that date.

While the VETS act amended the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 to preserve the former section 62 review rights in relation to DRCA determinations made before 21 April 2025, this amendment will ensure a clear and unambiguous basis for these arrangements and reaffirm the primacy of the single review pathway.

These amendments together will clarify and make minor adjustments to the veterans legislation to align with the government's original policy intention to simplify and harmonise the veteran compensation system, making the most significant reform to how we support veterans in a century.

This will enable veterans and families to get the support they need and deserve, when they need it.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate adjourned.