Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) notes the:

(a) Government's decisions in the 2026-27 budget which fail to adequately support Australia's veterans and their families; and

(b) introduction of a $5,000 cap on allied health services, which places significant limits on veterans' access to essential rehabilitation, mental health and ongoing care;

(2) acknowledges that many veterans rely on ongoing and specialised allied health support, and that imposing a cap on these services will place many veterans at risk of delaying treatment and worsening health outcomes;

(3) further notes with concern the lack of targeted funding and support for families of veterans, despite their critical role in caregiving, recovery and long-term wellbeing;

(4) recognises that veteran families often experience emotional, financial and social pressures which are not adequately addressed in the budget;

(5) condemns the defunding and discontinuation of veteran support and education programs, which have provided essential services including mental health support, transition programs, community connection and education programs; and

(6) calls on the Government to immediately scrap these decisions and commit to properly funding services and programs to ensure veterans and their families receive the support, respect and care they deserve.

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Is there a seconder for the motion?

Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) | Link to this | Hansard source

I second the motion and reserve my right to speak.

Pat Conaghan (Cowper, National Party, Shadow Assistant Treasurer) | Link to this | Hansard source

Every Australian knows that taxpayer dollars should be allocated to policies that best enhance our chances for a prosperous future, that align with our Australian values that protect our sovereignty and our people—coincidentally, the very things that our brave men and women in the armed forces signed up for: our values, our sovereignty and our prosperous future. On that note, I'd like to acknowledge the member for Solomon and his service to our country. He's sitting in the Chamber at this time.

I have the privilege to represent a region that is home to more than 9,000 veterans and their families. It is the largest cohort in New South Wales. Over the past seven years, as their local MP, I've had hundreds of individual conversations with them and heard firsthand about the challenges that they may have or have, having served our country and returned to everyday civilian life. The consistent piece that I hear from them is that we have to remove the barriers to support and any treatment that they may need in the future—those supports that they earned and so much deserve.

That is why the proposed introduction of a $5,000 cap on veterans' allied health services from 1 July 2027 is so baffling. To me, this is cruel and unusual punishment to those who served our country. This punitive cap will apply to physiotherapy, psychology, exercise physiology and occupational therapy, which are the most basic levels that our veteran community can access to manage pain, recover from injury, deal with trauma and be able to function day to day while rebuilding their lives. How can putting a cap on these services help our veterans? It makes absolutely no sense. I don't know which bureaucrat thought of this for saving money, but it's not going to work; it's going to cost lives and livelihoods.

It's going to cost veterans like Richard Snape from Port Macquarie, better known as Bruce. Bruce served his nation proudly for 20 years in the military, including time served in the Vietnam War. Bruce endured significant injuries over his 20 years of service and has subsequently been classified with an 80 per cent level of permanent impairment. He currently attends two sessions of exercise physiology and one approved pilates session every week as a preventative measure for further degradation of his condition. These weekly sessions play a critical role in maintaining his current quality of life, but Bruce is now understandably frightened for his future. He very eloquently said to me:

A country that fails its Veterans weakens the very pact that underpins service. You cannot ask Australians to serve, sacrifice, and carry the cost of duty, then place a cap on their recovery when they come home injured. In my case, as I am aging and my capabilities deteriorate, I am more dependant on my weekly sessions than ever. I am anxious about my future should this cap come into effect. My physical therapy not only keeps me going in body, but also in mind. I don't want to think about my prospects without it.

And there are thousands of these stories around Australia.

The questions each one of my affected constituents has posed are: What happens when a veteran has reached their cap amount? Will they be forced to choose between care and the cost of living? Will they be able to continue to see their trusted clinicians? And will you, Labor, bear the responsibility for what happens next?

Now, I note that the minister has said DVA will fund allied health services above this cap, but I ask these questions: How will that process work? What are the definitions for valid clinical needs? How can veterans apply for their claims to be considered once they've hit their cap? How long will the process take? And, while they're waiting for determination, will they be unable to access care if they cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs?

There are three things that our federal budget should strive for, and it's time this government canned this policy.

Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

As a fourth-generation veteran—my great-grandfather served on the Somme in World War I, my grandfather served in the Second World War, my father served in Vietnam, and my two brothers and I all served in Timor-Leste with the ADF—I hold a veterans card. I've had treatment that's been covered by that card, so I know personally and in my family what it means to come home from service and need that system to work.

I recommend—even though he's left—that the mover of the motion, the member for Cowper, speak to the veterans minister, the member for Burt, and ask him those questions so that he can allay the fears that Bruce in Port Macquarie has. And I go further in saying that it's his personal responsibility not to increase the level of anxiety in his electorate, as some—namely, the member for Herbert—have been doing for their own grandstanding. Indeed, it is the member for Cowper's responsibility to Bruce and the other veterans in his electorate to reduce the level of anxiety, because Bruce will get all the treatment that he requires. I think it's important to put that on the record and to speak to this—I think the member for Cowper comes from a good place; others, I'm not too sure about. But I think this motion is dressed up as concerns to take political advantage and is pretty disingenuous.

Let's look at the mess that the coalition made of veterans affairs. When we, the Albanese federal Labor government, came to government in 2022, the Department of Veterans' Affairs was not just underfunded; worse, it was completely broken. There was a backlog of almost 42,000 new veteran claims that had not been looked at. The then secretary of DVA, Major General Liz Cosson, said plainly that, under the coalition's resourcing, that backlog would never be cleared. So there are tens of thousands of veterans that would never have even received someone to look through their case so that their case could be resolved. The ambivalence and indifference of those opposite, their negligence when they were last in government, including members who are speaking on this bill—they decided that the extra resources for DVA weren't worth it. They fought against a royal commission into defence and veteran suicide. Just let that sink in for a sec. Over a prolonged period of time, the coalition argued against the royal commission that has led to drastically increased resources going into this sector, including to meet recommendations that give more support to allied health providers so that they can give our veterans what they need. That's what we inherited—a shamefully broken system.

And, just weeks before the election, the coalition's then shadow finance minister, Senator Jane Hume—now deputy leader of the coalition—was questioned on national radio as to whether DVA even needed the extra staff that our government had funded to clear the backlog. She was questioning that—whether it should actually occur or not. I don't know where she was getting her advice. Maybe from the member for Herbert, who's busily trying to write down some things at the moment in order to reject what I'm saying.

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

Address the MPI! You haven't spoken about this at all.

Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I just say: bring it on. This is a very, very important topic. It is important that there is a realisation that it's easy to whip up concern in the veteran community, but you have to be personally responsible for the anxiety that it causes. You might get 100 likes on your LinkedIn post, but you aren't giving the full story if you aren't reassuring people that no changes come into place until 1 July next year or letting them know that if there is a need—a clinical need—those veterans who have served our nation are going to get all the assistance they need.

Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thoroughly endorse this motion moved by the member for Cowper, and it's my pleasure to second the motion. It is not a spurious—

Honourable Member:

An honourable member interjecting—

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member is being disorderly by speaking out of his seat.

Sam Birrell (Nicholls, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health) | Link to this | Hansard source

It is not a spurious motion, and we are not the ones who have caused the concerns. We did not put this policy in. The coalition didn't put this policy in. Labor has put a $5,000 cap on allied health care. That's what we should be talking about—how that works. Why is the cap there? Why are veterans who are suffering from PTSD, service related injuries and requiring ongoing rehabilitation being hit with a limit of $5,000 in a matter of months? That is the point, not the back and forth between personalities on this. The important thing is that there are people in our communities who are concerned. They're not concerned because we're whipping up fear; they're concerned because of the policy. It is the government's job to explain the policy, and they have not done so yet.

In my electorate, the president of Seymour RSL, Matt McLaughlin, wrote to me and said:

Many veterans rely heavily on ongoing allied health services—such as physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, and exercise physiology—to manage service-related injuries and long-term health conditions. For a significant number, these needs are complex and chronic. A capped annual limit is unlikely to reflect the real cost of maintaining their health, function, and quality of life.

I'm not making that up. That is from a person in my electorate who served this country who's very concerned. The same concern has been widely expressed within the veteran community.

The government has confirmed that DVA will fund allied services above the $5,000 cap where there is a valid clinical need. But there are no details on this. How will that process work? What is the definition of 'valid clinical needs'? How are they going to apply for these claims? How will they be considered? How will DVA assess their claims? These are not unreasonable questions for the opposition to ask.

The government's saying, 'Trust us.' Well, we've just had a budget where it's been shown that we can't trust them. Veterans don't know what the process for seeking treatment and supports above the $5,000 cap will be. It could be as simple as a letter from their GP, but it could be a complex and contestable process. In effect, it could force veterans with an ongoing condition to prove it again and again—every 12 months—just to justify spending above $5,000. I quote again from Matt McLaughlin, president of Seymour RSL:

Veterans should not be placed in a position where financial limits determine access to clinically necessary care, particularly when that care relates directly to injuries sustained through service.

Our veterans committed to serve our country and I honour those—including those opposite—who have done so. In return, a grateful nation has always committed to looking after those veterans and their families. I condemn the defunding and discontinuation of veteran support and education programs which have provided essential services including mental health support.

What this debate in the Federation Chamber should be about—again I commend the member for Cowper for bringing it on—is how this is going to work so that the veterans who need that care, often well above $5,000 in value, are going to get it. It's the government's job to go and explain how that process works, to work out if there are any gaps in that process and to make sure that our veterans don't have to go through the bureaucratic nightmare and all the health assessments and everything to get above $5,000. If it works like that, I'll come in here and congratulate you. I worry that it's not going to work like that, and I call on this government to properly fund services and programs to ensure veterans and their families receive the support, respect and care they deserve.

We're coming in here to ask questions and stand up for them. The discussion should be: 'This is how it's going to work. Is it going to make life easier or harder for them?' They did a lot of hard things for this country. Not capping their entitlements and making it more difficult for them to get the service and the care they need is the least we can do.

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Before I call the next member, I remind all members that it is highly disorderly to make interjections while out of your seat.

Emma Comer (Petrie, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no greater responsibility than ensuring we honour the commitment and sacrifice that men and women have made to defend our nation. Every Australian who has ever worn the uniforms of the Australian Defence Force has answered the call to serve something greater than themselves. Not only have they earned our gratitude; they also deserve our unwavering support. That support must be reflected not just in a speech but in the decisions we make and the investments we deliver to veterans services.

When the Albanese Labor government came to office, the Department of Veterans' Affairs was under enormous pressure. Years of underresourcing had left almost 42,000 claims sitting unallocated. Imagine serving your country and then waiting months, if you're lucky, but more often years for someone to simply begin looking at your claim. The previous secretary of DVA, Major General Liz Cosson, made it clear that, under the previous coalition government's resourcing, that backlog would never have cleared. Veterans deserve better, and this government has acted. We invested in DVA, employed additional staff and properly resourced the department so veterans could receive the health care, compensation and support they deserve. As a result, all cases have been allocated, and the backlog is being cleared.

Today, new claims are allocated within 14 days and many common claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act are now processed within months. That is what happens when the government chooses to invest in veterans rather than leaving them waiting. Our commitment is backed by record funding. During the first three years of the Albanese government, spending on veteran compensation and treatment reached $37.9 billion, compared with the $31.1 billion over the final three years of the former coalition government. This financial year alone, spending is expected to exceed $15 billion—almost $5 billion more than in the final year of the former coalition government.

Now, it is clear that there are people trying to create concern and panic about allied health services, but the facts tell a different story. This government is delivering the biggest increase in allied health fees in more than two decades. From 1 July 2027, physiotherapy consultations will increase to $110, podiatry consultations to $110 and longer psychology consultations to $260. These increases respond directly to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and to the feedback from veterans who told us that it was becoming increasingly difficult to find providers willing to offer treatment. Better funding means better access to care.

Instead of requiring veterans to obtain a new referral every 12 sessions—something the former coalition government introduced—our reforms introduce an annual mandatory limit of $5,000, providing better flexibility and meaning less time going to a GP for what is ultimately an unnecessary tick of a box. Veterans with acute and complex needs will continue to receive treatment beyond that amount where clinically appropriate. These reforms reduce red tape; they do not add to it.

I want to make something very clear. Veterans with critical or acute health needs that would take them over the $5,000 annual monetary amount will continue to be supported. These new arrangements have received a lot of attention in and out of this chamber—rightly so. That is why members of the government, like me, are consulting with the veteran community to ensure veterans are getting the best out of these reforms.

In the electorate of Petrie, which I am proud to represent, I have already started meeting with veterans about these reforms. Petrie has over 5,500 veterans, one of the largest groupings of veterans in any one electorate, and this is something that I am honoured to have. These veterans served our country, and I have the honour of representing them in this building. Over the past month, I have met with every veteran who has asked for a meeting, and time and time again I've heard stories that outline just how incredibly important it is that we get these reforms right.

Debates like this matter, because the Albanese Labor government is a government that listens to the concerns of communities such as veterans and acts on them. We are a government that will always back our veterans. This is why we have delivered record investment. We are clearing the backlog that we inherited from those opposite, strengthened health care, improved claims processing, implemented the royal commission's recommendations and reformed the veteran support system to better meet the needs of those who served our nation.

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

I still, after all the Labor members' speeches, haven't heard them talk in detail about the $5,000 cap. The member for Solomon spoke about the royal commission—and rightly so, as he was here through the whole process—but he didn't talk about the substance of this motion, which is the $5,000 cap. The member for Petrie said that the facts around this are about service fees, which were in the recommendations of the royal commission, but none of the recommendations of the royal commission spoke about a $5,000 cap—nowhere, nothing. Having a cap is not going to give you ease of access.

I'll give the former speaker some credit for saying that, if someone's going to exceed it, or if they regularly exceed it, then they should get the support that they deserve. I agree. But how? Do you have to go to your GP and pre-empt an injury or illness? Do you have to wait till you're in a very dark place and then somehow find the magic number to call to get it extended? There is no detail here. Veterans around the country are rightly questioning this Labor government about what the cap is, how to do it and what happens if it runs out. What happens if you're in a dark place? You're going through something tough and you've fallen over—it's happening. You've hit your $5,000 target, and the only light at the end of the tunnel was the services that you were getting to get yourself back together. What happens when you get the letter or the phone call to say the appointment's cancelled because you've reached the limit? What happens then? How does this person get the support and services that they need? What do they do? They may not be in the frame of mind to be able to navigate the hours and hours of wait times when calling the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Then what do you do?

Well, right now, if you call DVA, you would wait for about 52 minutes. The member for Solomon is rightly concerned about this, and I take his concerns, but the problem here is this is going to cause more harm. A $5,000 cap is not what the royal commission said. It is not what veterans want. There is nowhere that I have been or spoken where a veteran has organisation has said, 'We're extremely happy about this.' I was at the Cameron Baird Foundation launch today, and all the veterans there were rightly concerned. To gaslight them, to stand up in the chamber and say, 'Everything's fine. It's everyone else's fault. Everyone's just whipping up concern'—it's just simply not true. It is not good enough that this Labor government has this cap that is going to make veterans worse off. It's simply mind boggling how you can somehow quantify this as the right thing to do.

I would challenge any member in this place that says they haven't received messages on their social media about this cap. I got one just the other day, and it reads: 'I spend $336 on psychology every two to three weeks. Sometimes it's a double session, which is $672, for EMDR treatment for PTSD, as one hour isn't enough for those sessions. I've got physio twice a week at $110 per session—so that's $220 a week. I see a chiropractor once a week at $75 a session. The $5,000 cap will last me three months.' Another person said that they have psychology treatment, they have physio, they have chiropractic—'What happens when this runs out? I don't want to be a burden on my family.' That is terrifying, and it's terrifying because the government isn't giving answers to the questions that veterans have.

No speaker has said, 'This is how the $5,000 cap will work.' No speaker from the government has stood up in parliament, and the minister really should—it's his responsibility—stand up and outline it all. But, once again, veterans are left to try and decipher it, to try and understand it. Most fear it because it hasn't been clearly communicated. The tens of thousands of those that reach out to me and to other offices have been asking questions. No-one has told them how it will work. I did expect better from the member for Solomon. A veteran himself, he once again just gets up and gaslights the world. He should be asking these hard questions.

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | 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.

David Batt (Hinkler, Liberal National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the motion moved by the member for Cowper, and I thank him for standing up for our veterans. Courage and sacrifice should never be forgotten. Aussies, many young and afraid, have been into battle across many wars and many years, often with an unseen enemy. And they fought to protect the rest of us—to fight for our freedom.

This is why the government must scrap the $5,000 allied health cap, a cap Labor has imposed on veterans as a part of its chaotic, broken-promises budget. Veterans in my electorate of Hinkler, like those across the entire country, are feeling forgotten, stressed and confused. I support this motion that notes that the government's decision in the 2026-27 budget fails to support Australian veterans and their families and that the introduction of a $5,000 cap on allied health services places a significant limitation on veterans' access to essential rehabilitation, mental health and ongoing care.

Take Keith for an example. He provided me with a picture of his current situation: a 71-year-old Army veteran, a gold-card, totally and permanently incapacitated veteran, who is now increasingly clinically required to access allied health support in a bid to deal with his 39 years of loyal service to our nation. Keith says visiting one allied health therapist once a week for half an hour and for approximately 38 weeks will see him reach his new annual $5,000 limit. But he needs a mix of support: podiatry, physiotherapy and psychology, the kind of help that this new cap won't allow.

In Bundaberg, ex Navy Petty Officer, veteran Max Francis, has gathered hundreds of signatures from local veterans and their families. That's people putting their name on paper in strong opposition to this ill-informed change. Max and other veterans held a peaceful protest at the new ANZAC Park in Bundaberg last month. This protest, like the motion I stand here and support, acknowledges that many veterans rely on ongoing and specialist allied health support and that imposing a cap on these services will place many veterans at risk of delaying treatment and worsening health outcomes.

It will simply put greater pressure on an already clogged and broken healthcare system, just like the scrapping of the private healthcare rebate for over 65s. This Labor government is making it worse for everyone who needs access to health care. Where is the fair go? Vicki tells me her husband served for 41½ years, all the way from school to retirement. She says this cap is a kick in the guts for him and all veterans. Pieter says veterans are not here to fix years of the Labor government overspending, and Pieter is concerned with the amount of extra stress and hardship this will put on our veterans, who are already struggling.

DES spent 20 years in Defence. He says this Labor budget of broken promises will deprive veterans of serious medical treatment. This motion I support recognises that veteran families often experience emotional, financial and social pressures which are not adequately addressed in the budget. We cannot allow the defunding and discontinuation of veteran support and education programs. These initiatives have provided essential services, including mental health support, transition programs, community connection and education programs.

The answer is simple: the government must immediately scrap these decisions and commit to properly funding services and programs to ensure veterans and their families receive the support, respect and care they deserve, not just defer these cuts for another 12 months. Don't clog up the health system even more. In Hervey Bay, Denzil and Sue Potter both served. I met with them on multiple occasions in the past few weeks, and they've urged me to deliver this point: that veterans should not be asked to bear the cost of Labor's budget repair. As another constituent wrote in an email: 'Veterans are not a line item. They are Australians who put their lives, bodies and futures on the line for this country.'

Tomorrow many of us will have the honour of attending the opening of the new Anzac Atrium and Anzac Hall galleries at the Australian War Memorial. This showcases the stories of Australian service in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Middle East and other peacekeeping operations. It's a showcase that allows us to respectfully reflect on Australian service with the dignity, depth and significance that our veterans deserve—a tribute to the sons and daughters who answered the call. Let us remember that their courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten. Our veterans didn't cap their service to Australia, so we should never cap their care.

Susan Templeman (Macquarie, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Support for veterans and their families is one of the most serious responsibilities that we have as a government. When we came to office, the system supporting veterans was under considerable strain—I think that's the polite way of putting it. There was a significant backlog of claims, including 42,000 claims that had not even been looked at by anyone in the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Previous Secretary of the DVA, Major General Liz Cosson, said that with the resourcing provided by the previous government, the backlog would never be cleared. We didn't think that was good enough, so we've increased funding to not only ensure claims are assessed but so that DVA has the funding for health care, support and the compensation that veterans deserve.

I'd like to talk specifics. In this financial year alone, we expect to spend nearly $5 billion more on compensation and treatment for veterans than the Morrison government spent in their last year of government. They spent $10.05 billion. By the end of June next week, we expect to have spent $15.05 billion. The Albanese government is also making allied health more accessible with increased funding and payments for services. It's the biggest increase in funding in 20 years and will come into effect from July next year. As an example, physio standard consultations which are currently paid at $75.10 will increase to $110. A standard podiatry consultation will increase to $110, and a standard 50-minute psychology consultation will increase to $260.

The need to increase the fees that are paid to providers was a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and it's the result of feedback from the veteran community that the current fees limit their access to allied health services. The strict 12-session treatment cycle is being removed in favour of an annual monetary limit of $5,000, so veterans can access more appointments without needing a new referral, but, where a veteran requires additional support due to the complex or acute nature of their needs, there will continue to be pathways for care beyond the standard threshold. We'll be talking to the veteran community over the coming months to design this system and other aspects of the new arrangements so it works for them.

I think it's worth remembering that of the 122 recommendations in the royal commission's final report, 32 were implemented by the end of last year, and we expect two-thirds of the government's response will be implemented by the end of this year. In the 2026 budget, $770 million was allocated to specifically address royal commission recommendations, including that biggest increase in 20 years in allied health fees paid to providers to support veterans.

An important component of the effort that we're making is the creation of the veteran and family wellbeing agency, which commences operations from 1 July. Its role is to bring a more coordinated and proactive focus to the wellbeing of veterans and their families, particularly during the transition from military life to civilian life. As part of standing up the agency, the government is transitioning funding for a broad range of existing wellbeing support for veterans and families into the new agency, and that includes funding for organisations like Invictus Australia, Bravery Trust and the wonderful Kookaburra Kids. Families are really key. The Veterans' Children Education Scheme has also been rolled into the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Education and Training Scheme. This is another way in which we support kids. And eligibility has been retained. Anyone in receipt of VCES is keeping access to all their payments. At the local level, we have the Hawkesbury Veteran and Family Hub operating while its permanent home in Richmond is being renovated. And, as we hit 1 July, all compensation and rehabilitation claims will be determined under a single ongoing act, the improved MRCA.

So what you have is a system that's being strengthened across multiple fronts, and I'm very proud of the work that we've done. Not every veteran is broken. The vast majority go on to have amazing careers in the civilian world. But they all need our support to do their very best.

Mary Aldred (Monash, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned, and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.