Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Minister for Defence Industry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

For all of Labor's out-of-control spending, they somehow manage to find a way to cut services to veterans, and they think that's okay. A $5,000 cap on allied health services is what this government is bringing in. I've heard from veterans, but I've also heard from staff at the Department of Veterans' Affairs who have told me they're deeply concerned about the recent budget decision to cap allied health support to $5,000. From what I see on the ground, this change will have serious and unintended consequences for many veterans. For veterans with complex and chronic service related conditions, allied health is not optional or short term. With the government's view of cutting services and saying that this is all that veterans can get—if you need psychosocial support, if you need physio or if you need OT, what happens? What happens when you run out of your $5,000 cap?

This government is failing our veteran community, and we've seen that again with the defunding of Invictus Australia. Invictus Australia has more than 10,000 participants. They travel. They use sport as a method of recovery. They bring veterans together. And this government has decided: 'No. That's no good. We're going to scrap it.' The Invictus Games have saved lives—saved lives. This is shameful. If you want to pick a fight, we will have it.