Jo Briskey (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Flem/Ken RSL is a small but mighty subbranch down the south end of my electorate. I've stopped by a couple of times, and after one visit a conversation really stuck with me. We got to talking about their welfare program, which is mostly a few volunteers and a lot of phone calls, and one of them said that the part of the job that wears them down the most isn't the veteran who comes in asking for help. It's the one who never comes in at all—the veteran who's been sent back and forth between Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, asked for the same three forms and somewhere in there has quietly decided the whole thing just isn't worth the trouble. Flem/Ken go and find them. They make the call nobody else makes. Today, the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is seeking to take that responsibility off their shoulders.

I've thought about that conversation a fair bit because there is a lot of talk about veterans falling through the cracks as if somebody just didn't care enough. That's not what's going on. The people at the Department of Defence care, the people in DVA care, the volunteers at the RSLs in my community care, and our government cares. The parts of the system meant to catch a person have never been allowed to talk to each other. Defence holds half of someone's story, and DVA holds the other half. The veteran ends up stuck in the gap between holding both halves on their own right at the point in their life when they've got the least left to hold anything with. This bill intends to close that gap. That's at the heart of it.

Underneath the five schedules and all the clauses, what it does is let the system share what it knows about a person so it can act before things get to the worst point. This is the next step on a road that this government has been walking deliberately and at pace since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report. This bill forms part of this important work. The royal commission was a long and painful reckoning. It found what families had been saying for years, what the welfare officers at Flem/Ken RSL see each week, that suicide in the veteran community is not a private clinical tragedy that happens one person at a time. It is systemic. It is a product of culture, policy and the friction between institutions that were never built to hand a person gently from one to another.

The royal commission made 122 recommendations. This government accepted the overwhelming majority of them, agreeing or agreeing in principle to 104. By the end of last year, 32 were implemented. By the end of this year, we expect roughly two-thirds will be. This is not a government that received a report, thanked the commissioners and put it on the shelf. This is a government working through it, recommendation by recommendation, because the families who gave their evidence deserve nothing less than that we actually do the things they have asked us to do.

This bill enables 35 of those recommendations, it directly implements 15 and it supports a further 20. It is built across five schedules. The biggest thing this bill does is let defence and DVA share what they each know about a person. Right now, a veteran leaving the Defence Force has to arrive at DVA and tell their whole story over again to a department that already had every word of it sitting in a file somewhere else. So what the system currently does is make a person who is already struggling prove their own pain twice. This bill ends that. The information goes with the person. The handover happens on their behalf. DVA can reach out before someone's in crisis instead of waiting for them to find the strength to ask.

The rest of the bill follows the same instinct, which is to treat the whole of a person's life as the thing we're responsible for, not just the parts that are convenient. It puts the defence health system on a proper footing so risks get spotted early. It makes sure that, when a relationship ends in violence, a partner doesn't lose their support overnight, so leaving can be done safely. And, yes, it means a member sentenced to prison for serious violence or a sexual offence is discharged full stop—because the people who serve deserve to know who's standing next to them.

I know there are members in this place who will worry about the information-sharing powers, and I don't dismiss that worry, because it comes from good instinct. A person's health is their own. Their service record is their own. The state holding that information and moving it around is not a thing any of us should wave through without a thought. But I'd say two things. Firstly, the safeguards in this bill are written through it, with the conditions on use, the ministerial guidelines and the Information Commissioner overseeing everything. Secondly, the status quo is not neutral. The wall between defence and DVA was never a privacy protection and, sadly, people have died inside the gap it created. There is no version of this where we get to do nothing and call that the safe option. Doing nothing has a body count. This bill weighs a person's privacy against a person's life, and it gets the balance right.

Now I want to turn to the families. When I visit the RSLs in my electorate in Essendon, Keilor East, Flemington and Kensington, I don't just meet veterans. I meet their partners holding toddlers on their hips. I meet the parents watching their grown sons and daughters with that particular mixture of pride and fear. I meet the kids. The families of the men and women who serve are what I have come to think of as the silent ranks. They are the first responders inside their own homes. They are the ones who notice the withdrawal first, who hear the flashback in the middle of the night, who carry the weight quietly and ask for nothing. For too long, our national systems have not treated them as though they exist.

I trained as a psychologist. I studied developmental and child psychology. One of the first and most basic things you learn is that you cannot understand a person in isolation from the people around them. Mental health is not something that happens inside one person. It is relational. It is held, or it is dropped, by the people in the room. So when a system pretends that a veteran is a single individual to be processed and ignores the partner, the parents and the children who are holding that person up it isn't just unkind; it's clinically wrong. You will not keep a veteran well if you let the people keeping them well fall over. This bill recognises that. It builds the family into the way information is shared and support is offered so that the silent ranks are finally counted.

The timing of this is important because of what is happening today. On 1 July this year—today—the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency opens its doors. That agency exists because of the same royal commission. It was recommendation 87. This government has put $78 million behind it. From day one it will be a single place a veteran or a family member can go to find help by postcode or by phone and a person will help them navigate instead of handing them just another form. A family member can ring it even if they are not a DVA client themselves. The information-sharing powers in this bill help this agency to do effective work. It's only useful if it knows who you are when you walk through the door. The legislation we debate in here and the service that opens up today are two halves of the same promise—that no-one has to navigate this alone anymore. This is the through-line of this government's whole record on veterans, and it is worth putting plainly.

There's half a billion dollars to clear the backlog of compensation claims, with hundreds of extra staff brought on to actually process them, so that claims are answered in months, not years. The Defence and Veterans' Service Commission was legislated last year and is now operating as an independent watchdog with the teeth to hold the whole system to account. There's a shift across DVA towards early intervention and prevention rather than waiting for the damage to be done and then treating it. And there's $5.7 billion in this year's budget to support the health and wellbeing of veterans and their dependents. This is a system being rebuilt piece by piece around the people it is meant to serve.

I think about Jenny Brown at the Keilor East RSL, who leads her sub-branch with such dedication and deep pride, who I was honoured to stand beside at the dawn service on Anzac Day this year. Jenny and her team don't just run a club; they run a sanctuary. The thing about a sanctuary is that it works because someone is paying attention to the people who walk through the door. Our job in this place is to make the national system pay attention the way Jenny and her team do—to make it notice, to make it reach out first.

Our government isn't pretending that this bill fixes everything, because no bill does, and the families who fought for the royal commission have earned our honesty more than they have earned any slogans. The test of all of this is not the passage of this legislation; it is whether, in five years, a partner in Flemington got the call before the worst happened, or a veteran in Keilor East only had to tell their story once, or a family in Essendon found the agency door open. That is the only measure that counts. But this bill makes that outcome possible in a way it wasn't before.

The men and women of our Defence Force put their hand up to serve our nation, to do hard and dangerous things on our behalf. We ask them to give up the ordinary safety the rest of us take for granted. The very least we owe them in return is a system that supports them, that talks to itself, that sees them coming and that never makes them carry both halves of their own story alone. A handful of volunteers at a small sub-branch in Kensington shouldn't have to do the system's job for it. With this bill, the system finally starts doing its own. I commend the bill to the House.

Simon Kennedy (Cook, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister to the Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

This government is failing veterans. This budget lacks empathy, human decency and emotion for what veterans have put their bodies, their minds and their families through. It lacks any respect for the fact that these men and women have risked their lives for our country. It's punishing them. It's punishing people who've laid down everything for things we wake up and take for granted every day.

I'd like to tell a few stories about veterans from my subbranches in my electorate. Cook is right near the Holsworthy army base. We have a number of veterans who have served and those who continue to serve living in my electorate. I'd like to tell a few stories about some folks at the Cronulla RSL Sub-Branch. Cory, an Iraq and East Timor veteran, served this country and had 12 service related injuries. Can you guess how long it took Cory to have his injuries accepted? Eight years—eight years of forms, reports, appointments, assessments, delays and uncertainty. Cory, as I mentioned, is president of the Cronulla RSL Sub-Branch. I recently heard from him, along with fellow board members Greg Crumblin and Paul Zaat, about the serious concerns they hold for veterans in my local community and right across the country. Collectively, these three men have dedicated more than 70 years of voluntary service to supporting veterans. These three men have fought across Vietnam, Iraq and East Timor, each of them returning with injuries—Agent Orange and cancer; PTSD and physical impairments. These are the consequences of serving and giving your mind and body for your country. They still speak about the pride they have and the pride those who served have.

They also spoke about what happens when the uniform comes off, you come out of battle and you enter the bureaucracy. Cory told me that veterans are now waiting more than 400 days for their claims to be processed. That's more than 400 days that a veteran is out there with uncertainty, wondering, 'Am I going to get covered?' These are men and women often living with fragile mental conditions. No-one should be waiting 400 days. It's just not good enough.

Now there's a $5,000 treatment cap. How heartless is this? For the Albanese government this is just another budget line—a simple hit and run, an easy target. For a veteran it's an endless stream of GP reports. It's reassessments, delays, out-of-pocket bills and another battle for care. It's uncertainty. It's many veterans wondering how they're going to get on with their life, wondering how they're going to pick up the pieces and even wondering whether they can get on with their life.

Unfortunately, we do have veteran suicides in this country. When we're giving people 400 days of uncertainty before they find out what's happening, when we're giving them a $5,000 cap, how petty can we be? A government that's raising almost $80 billion in extra revenue is taking away from people who've survived, often by the skin of their teeth, and who are now lame, injured and broken in our society. We're capping what we're giving them. It makes me sick. It lacks dignity, it lacks compassion and it lacks human decency.

How can the Albanese government look at the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and allow a policy that caps services at 5,000 bucks and restricts care needed by these veterans? Psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and mental health professionals aren't optional extras. Sometimes these are the difference between someone living or taking their own life. We go to morning teas and breakfasts and hear about all the funding for headspace. Yet, at the very moment the country should be removing barriers to mental health support, we're taking that support away from veterans. This is the opposite of what the royal commission should have taught this government.

I'd like to read a letter and some words that Cory Rinaldi, president of Cronulla RSL sub-branch, wrote. Cory wrote:

Every veteran signs a contract knowing that one day they may be asked to make the ultimate sacrifice. They willingly place themselves in harm's way, prepared to give their life in service to their country and in defence of others. They do so without hesitation, trusting that their nation will stand by them in return.

That trust must never be broken.

When a veteran comes home carrying the physical and psychological scars of service, our responsibility does not end. In many ways, it is only beginning. We owe them more than words of gratitude and ceremonial tributes. We owe them a lifetime commitment—a commitment to provide the care, support and dignity they have earned through their sacrifice.

The government and the Australian people have a moral obligation to stand beside every veteran for the rest of their life, just as they stood ready to stand for us. No veteran should ever have to fight for the support they were promised after already fighting for their country.

If we are willing to ask men and women to risk everything for Australia, then we must be willing to give them everything they need when they return. Anything less is a failure to honour the sacrifice they made on our behalf.

I'd ask this government to listen to Cory's words and, more than listening to his words, to think about the millions of veterans out there and the precarious situations some of them find themselves in. They're broken and bruised, and we're talking about a $5,000 cap? We've announced it and passed it in a budget, and now we're doing the consultation. How backwards is that? We're raising revenue and giving billions of dollars to hydrogen and billions of dollars to billionaires. We're giving $15 billion to the NRF. We're paying $20 million to tell people to pump up their tyres and use less fuel, yet we can't find the $750 million to cover these veterans' health bills. What kind of message are we sending those who want to sign up to protect this country? We're already struggling with recruitment to our armed services. This is a slap in the face to all those who have served, do serve or are thinking about serving.

I also want to share Paul's story with the House. In May 2016, after suffering a serious mental breakdown, he was forced to retire from work and sell his business. He approached the Vietnam Veterans Association for help, and an application was made for a gold card. He was sent to a DVA doctor—mlcoa in Sydney—but, after 12 months of delays, his claim was rejected. The rejection triggered another breakdown. Paul was left in such distress he threatened to take his own life, and only then did the DVA arrange for a psychologist to call him every two days. His case went to the Veterans' Review Board, where he had to fight for the recognition against military and civilian lawyers, a process that caused him enormous distress. Eventually, DVA accepted all of his conditions. In September 2017, he became TPI and received a gold card with 17 months of back pay. For those 17 months, he had no income. Luckily, he had a home which he could borrow against, but for those 17 months he had to borrow against his home and he was under constant psychiatric treatment, with no promise that it would ever be reimbursed. This isn't how a grateful country should treat a veteran. It's not support; it's a system that forces hurt and broken people to break before it finally believes them.

Cory, Greg and Paul also spoke about the human cost. They've told me about family breakdowns caused by the stress and claims process and about relationships buckling under years of uncertainty, financial pressure and untreated trauma. The royal commission itself stated:

Between 1997 and 2021, there were 1,677 confirmed suicides by serving and ex-serving members. That's 20 times more than the number of people that were killed in combat.

We have 20 times more people killing themselves than died in combat, and now we're capping their claims at 5,000 bucks. It's disgusting. The report went on to say:

We believe the actual number of preventable deaths by suicide to be higher than 3,000.

That would be more than 40 times those killed in combat. Look what we're spending in our defence department for those in combat now: $50 billion—

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 11:08 to 11:22

The Cronulla RSL sub-branch has told me about the war widows left to figure out life after service, grieve, and then deal with this bureaucracy all at once. They've told me about servicemen carrying mental scars as they try to rebuild their identity. Men and women trying to find purpose again, to piece together what's left of their lives when the uniform comes off. They've told me about veterans living out in the bush, isolated from support, veterans sleeping rough, veterans who served this country who have now been abandoned by it and abandoned by the Labor Albanese government. It's shameful. How can the Albanese government look these men and women in the face and say this system is working? How can a government ask Australians to serve and then leave them short, capping what they'll reimburse them for at 5,000 bucks a year? It's pathetic.

Cory's story should shame this government. A veteran should not have to wait eight years for 12 injuries to be accepted. A veteran should not have to wait more than 400 days for a claim to be processed. A veteran should not be forced through repeated assessments just to keep receiving care. A veteran should not be paying out of pocket while waiting for a government approval. This $5,000 cap is not just an administrative threshold; it becomes a symbol of a system that places budgets before dignity, that places process before people and suspicion before respect.

This isn't charity. It's not special treatment; it's a debt of honour that we owe these veterans. When Australians sign up to serve, they accept obligations most of us will never have to face and will never have to think about. They accept hardship, risk and sacrifice and they accept doing things we would not even dream about. They accept a chance they might not come home, they might not see their kids, their sons and daughters, their wives and husbands or their parents.

This Albanese government must accept its obligation in return, must explain why veterans are being pushed through repeated reassessments, must explain why veterans are paying out-of-pocket costs for 400 days while waiting for approval and must explain why doctors are being driven away from DVA work. For me, this is the most egregious one: Labor must explain why it is creating $5,000 cap on what these men and women deserve.

Now, I don't want to keep political point scoring on this issue. I want the government to backflip. They've just done it on parts of their tax and budget reform. It's not too late to make this right. But if they don't make this right, I will keep on this issue for the next two years until we get change. Whether that's getting this government to backflip or whether it's throwing them out, it's not something I will drop. This has to change. I don't want to continue with political point scoring. I want this to flip. If the members across here today and the members watching in their offices right now can take this back to their party room: we want to stop. Let's make this right. If this was overlooked or administrative, great; I will personally shut up about it. But let's fix this for the veterans. They deserve it.

This is not how a grateful country should treat those who've served it. For a veteran with a physical injury, delay can mean more than pain; it means less mobility, less work, less independence, and sometimes I hear them say to me it makes them feel less human. For a veteran with PTSD, delay can mean sleepless nights, anger, isolation, shame. It can fracture their relationships, fracture their sense of self. We don't live through that. Most of us watching at home will never live through what these men and women suffer. Just the uncertainty right now of passing a $5,000 cap in consulting afterwards is creating anxiety. We heard about up to 3,000 suicides in this population. Why are we doing this? Let's fix it. Let's act now. Let's say 'we got it wrong', fix it and make it right. Veterans need the peace of knowing that, when they reach out for treatment, the first response from their country will not be to ask whether they've crossed a spending threshold. It's time to make this right for veterans all around Australia, and I stand with you.

Tom French (Moore, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. This is not a routine defence bill. It sits in the long shadow of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. It deals with service risk, injury, transition, family responsibility, institutional accountability and the consequences that follow when systems designed to support people do not speak to each other quickly enough, clearly enough or humanely enough.

In Moore, this is not a remote policy. We have a large veteran community, families with long links to service, and two active RSL clubs in North Beach and Joondalup. They do far more than host commemorations. They are places where older veterans, younger veterans, serving members, partners and families find connection, practical advice and a familiar face. Often that support is quiet, informal and deeply important.

Anyone who spends time with veterans quickly learns that service does not end neatly on the day a person takes off the uniform. The habits, injuries, memories, pride, obligations and sometimes trauma of service travel with them into civilian life. Families carry much of that load. Partners often notice changes first. Children live with the consequences. Parents, siblings and friends often become the first line of support without ever receiving a brief or a manual.

The government announced its response on 2 December 2024. The royal commission made 122 recommendations. The government has agreed or agreed in principle to 104 of them and noted another 17 for further consideration. By the end of 2025, 32 recommendations had been implemented. By the end of this year the government expects around two-thirds to be implemented. That pace is important. Royal commissions cannot be an expensive form of national catharsis followed by administrative drift. Their recommendations must be translated into practice, into resourcing, into change behaviour and, where necessary, into law. This bill is one part of that work.

This bill directly implements 15 accepted recommendations and supports a further 20. It amends the Defence Act 1903 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004. There are five schedules, on information sharing, Defence health services, support for ADF families, service entry and exit arrangements, and governance and accountability. The central theme is simple. Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and related agencies must be able to identify risk earlier, act earlier and support people through transition and beyond. That requires better systems, lawful and careful use of data, continuity of care, and respect for privacy but not paralysis dressed up as privacy. It also requires Defence and DVA to operate as connected parts of the same national obligation.

Schedule 1 deals with information sharing to improve wellbeing, health and safety outcomes.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 11:31 to 11:43

This is one of the most important reforms in the bill. The royal commission found that better information sharing between Defence and DVA is fundamental to improving the health and wellbeing of Defence personnel and veterans and their families. At present, the information can sit in different parts of government. Defence may hold service records, health information, incident information, training information, deployment history and transition records, and DVA may hold claims, rehabilitation, compensation and service delivery information. Each dataset may tell only part of the story. When those parts are not brought together properly, the person at the centre can be left to repeat their story again and again, often when they are at their most vulnerable. That is not good administration. More importantly, it is not good care.

This bill creates clear statutory authority for the collection, use and disclosure of information, including personal and sensitive information, for research, data analysis and evaluation relating to wellbeing, health and safety. It also supports information sharing for prevention, early intervention, continuity of care, proactive outreach and transition support. The privacy safeguards are important. Information sharing is not a blank cheque. The bill requires compliance with ministerial guidelines, aligns with the Privacy Act framework, requires reasonable steps to de-identify personal information where appropriate, and limits use and disclosure to purposes connected with wellbeing, health and safety. ADF members and veterans need confidence that information about them will not be mishandled. They also need confidence that government will not hide behind fragmented systems when risk is emerging.

Schedule 1 also supports claims processing and transitional support. The royal commission identified transition out of the ADF as a period of increased risk, particularly for members who are medically discharged or involuntarily discharged. Anyone who has worked in employment or industrial law understands that a person's identity is often tied up with their work. In Defence, that is even more profound. Service is a culture, a community and a set of obligations that shape daily life. When that abruptly ends, the risk is obvious. The person may be dealing with injury, loss of identity, uncertain income, housing pressure, family strain and a complex compensation system. The Commonwealth should not make that harder by forcing people to carry paperwork from one agency to another, like an exhausted courier in a bureaucracy designed by a committee. Earlier transfer of information from Defence to DVA should mean earlier claims processing, earlier support and fewer gaps. That is practical reform. It is not glamourous, but, for a veteran waiting on income support, medical treatment or rehabilitation, it can be the difference between stability and crisis.

Schedule 2 modernises the legislative framework for Defence health services. It establishes a dedicated legislative basis for Defence health services, including clinical governance, health monitoring, quality assurance and improvement activities. The Defence health system has a unique role. It must support operational capability and fitness for service but also the health of the individual member. Those purposes will sometimes sit comfortably together. At other times, they require careful governance. The royal commission recognised that Defence health arrangements must be contemporary, clinically sound and trusted. This schedule clarifies how Defence health information can be collected, used and disclosed. It supports quality assurance and continuous improvement. It enables lawful, proportionate use of health data to improve care, supports suicide prevention and assess the performance of the Defence health system. Good health systems learn. They review errors. They identify patterns. They ask whether particular environments, postings, exposures or service pathways are associated with greater risk. They look to whether programs actually work. That is ordinary clinical governance in a modern health system. Defence should be no exception.

This bill also supports disclosure for limited and relevant command purposes, and that distinction is important. A commander may need enough information to make safe fitness-for-duty decisions, but that does not mean a commander needs every private detail disclosed in a clinical consultation. The bill seeks to draw that line in a way that supports safety, capability and trust.

Schedule 3 supports ADF families. This is one of the most human parts of the bill. It improves information sharing and communication between Defence and families where contact details have been provided. It also ensures that benefits and supports can continue for a former spouse or partner in the immediate aftermath of separation where family and domestic violence is present. Family violence creates a particular risk at the point of separation. Benefits being cut off abruptly can make the separation harder. A system that removes support at the very point the person is trying to leave an unsafe situation can unintentionally increase danger. The bill recognises that reality and provides a safer approach. It recognises that families are not spectators. They are part of the service community. When a member is struggling, a partner or family member may be the person trying to help. If Defence only communicates through the member, families can be left without information about available support. Better communication with families and appropriate privacy protections is a necessary reform.

Schedule 4 deals with requirements to serve in the Defence Force. It prohibits persons who have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for serious violent or sexual offences from joining the ADF. It also introduces mandatory discharge for members sentenced by an Australian court to imprisonment. It consolidates 'fit and proper person' requirements and aligns substance related separation processes with existing medical separation arrangements.

The provisions concerning serious violent and sexual offending are direct and necessary. Service in the ADF carries authority, trust and responsibility. It also places people in close working and living environments where power, hierarchy and discipline are significant. The royal commission made findings about sexual violence and its connection with harm, trauma and suicidality. The Commonwealth must set clear standards about who can enter and remain in the Defence Force. Mandatory discharge for members in prison for relevant offences sends a clear signal about institutional safety and integrity. It protects members, it protects trusts and it recognises that defence cannot credibly address culture, safety and wellbeing while retaining people whose conduct is fundamentally inconsistent with service.

The substance related charges are also sensible. Substance use can be misconduct. It can also be linked to medical conditions, mental health challenges, trauma or dependence. Aligning these processes more closely with medical separation arrangements allows for a more coherent approach, one that can preserve discipline while also recognising underlying health issues. That is not softness; that is competence.

Schedule 5 makes related governance and accountability amendments to support the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission. Oversight is essential because the task does not end when parliament passes a bill. The royal commission's recommendations require implementation across agencies over time with proper scrutiny. Systems tend to return to old habits unless someone keeps asking whether promised reform has changed experience on the ground.

But, for my community, the test will not be whether this legislation is neat on paper. The test will be whether a veteran in Joondalup gets support earlier, whether a family in North Beach knows who to call, whether a member transitioning out of service has continuity instead of a cliff edge, whether a claim is processed with information already held by the government or whether a young veteran who is not coping is contacted before they disappear from view. That is the measure of this bill.

There is always legitimate scrutiny about information sharing. There should be. Privacy is not an inconvenience; it is part of dignity. However, privacy should protect people. It should not isolate them inside disconnected systems. The royal commission made clear that fragmented information, poor coordination and delayed support can contribute to harm.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 11:52 to 12:03

The answer is not careless data sharing. The answer is lawful, proportionate and accountable information sharing directed at care, prevention and safety. I acknowledge the veterans and families in Moore who continue to contribute to our community. North Beach RSL and Joondalup City RSL both provide leadership, welfare, remembrance and connection. Their volunteers do work that is often unseen but deeply valued. Every Anzac Day and every Remembrance Day, we see the public face of that contribution. For the rest of the year, much of that work happens in conversations, phone calls, visits, practical assessment and the quiet acts of care. The Commonwealth must match that community commitment with systems that work. We cannot ask RSL volunteers, partners, families and mates to carry the full load while government agencies remain fragmented. Community support is essential, but it is not a substitute for competent national systems.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was a solemn warning. It told us that admiration for service is not enough. Thanks are not enough. Ceremonies are not enough. We honour service by building systems that reduce harm, treat people with dignity and respond before crisis becomes tragedy. This bill is a serious step in that direction. It directly implements 15 recommendations and supports a further 20. It strengthens information sharing for prevention and early intervention. It modernises Defence health services. It supports families, including in circumstances involving family and domestic violence. It improves service entry and exit arrangements. It strengthens governance and accountability. None of this removes the pain already experienced by families who have lost someone. No legislative amendment can do that, but parliament can act on what it has learned. It can ensure that the evidence given in the royal commission leads to durable reform. It can require Defence and DVA to work together more effectively. It can insist that the health, wellbeing and safety of those who serve and those who have served and their families sit at the centre of this system. That is what this bill seeks to do. I commend the bill to the House.

Kate Chaney (Curtin, Independent) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is a further response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, building on the reforms that this parliament has already passed. That commission spent three years hearing the testimony of families who had lost someone and survivors carrying wounds that this parliament should have reckoned with long ago. It handed down 122 recommendations. The task now is to move more of those recommendations from paper to practice. This bill takes up this task on several fronts, and I support it. Let me briefly set out what it does.

For the first time, the Defence Act will contain a dedicated part devoted to the health and wellbeing of ADF members, veterans and their families. More than merely symbolic, this is a legal and cultural commitment that the lifetime wellbeing of the people we ask to serve is a core responsibility of the Defence Force, not an afterthought once the uniform comes off.

The bill modernises how Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs share and use information. The royal commission found something that should shame us: that fragmented systems, lost records and ad hoc, consent-by-consent information sharing have contributed to real harm. Veterans were forced to tell their story over and over at the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Risks that were obvious at a cohort level stayed invisible because nobody could see the whole picture. This bill creates a clearer framework for research, data analysis and evaluation so that we can identify suicide risk earlier and intervene before a life is lost.

I want to acknowledge the privacy questions this raises, because they are serious. We're talking about health records and deeply sensitive personal information. The RSL has indicated it's broadly supportive of this legislation and agrees with its intent, and I share that view.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:07 to 12:17

The RSL has indicated it's broadly supportive of this legislation and agrees with its intent. I share that view.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:17 to 12:27

The RSL has indicated it's broadly supportive of this legislation and agrees with its intent, and I share this view. The RSL will also rightly seek assurances about how veterans' data will be protected, how it will be used and who will be able to access it, particularly given the privacy failures which led to the closure of the MATES program in 2024. Veterans were right to be angry then and they're right to expect better now. The bill goes some way to answering those concerns. It keeps the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles in force, requires ministerial guidelines made with advice from the Information Commissioner, requires a proportionality assessment before information is disclosed, and defaults to consent wherever it's practicable. The principle is right; the answer to bad information sharing is not no information sharing but rather careful, accountable information sharing.

A division having been called in the House of Representatives—

Sitting suspended from 12:28 to 12:46

The principle is right. The answer to bad information sharing is not no information sharing. Rather, information sharing should be careful and accountable.

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But the safeguards have to be real, not just on paper, and I'll be watching development of those guidelines closely to make sure that that balance holds in practice.

The bill also establishes, for the first time, a comprehensive legislative basis for the Defence health system, with a clear benchmark that care must meet or exceed civilian standards; it brings in proper quality assurance and improvement protections so that clinicians can speak candidly when something goes wrong; it strengthens support for Defence families, including allowing benefits to flow to former partners in the immediate aftermath of separation where there's family violence; and it implements mandatory discharge for members who are convicted of serious violent or sexual offences and sentenced to imprisonment, and bars such people from joining in the first place. The royal commission was unequivocal that sexual violence in the ADF is both a moral catastrophe and a driver of suicide. The RSL has strongly supported this direction, and so do I. Sexual misconduct has no place in our Defence Force, and this parliament should say so plainly.

So this is a good bill, and the broader reform effort around it has been welcomed across the veteran community. The RSL has called the recent budget a 'long-overdue investment in veteran health care'. The fee increase for allied health providers included in the budget, the largest in more than two decades, means more providers will be willing to see veterans, and there will be better funded care when they do.

But I can't speak about this reform package and stay silent on something that sits right alongside it and threatens to undercut it: the $5,000 annual cap on allied health services for veteran card holders, due to commence a year from now. I want to be clear that the cap is not in this bill. It didn't come through this parliament for a vote. It's a budget measure that the government can implement administratively through DVA. The appropriation that funds DVA passed without a formal division, so there was no moment at which any members voted yes or no to this cap specifically. Veterans deserve to understand exactly where the decision sits: it sits with the minister, who has the power to get the design right without coming back to this place. The detail to inform that design simply doesn't exist yet.

Let me tell you about a constituent of mine, a veteran I won't name. He attends physiotherapy and exercise physiology twice a week and sees a psychologist every fortnight for mental and physical injuries from his service. These are accepted conditions. He lives on incapacity payments, on a fraction of his former income, much of it going to rent. He's done the maths. Under this cap, his funding would run out in about five months. After that, he faces the prospect of fighting DVA for an exemption or paying out of pocket, and if he pays, in his words, he doesn't eat. He asked me a simple question: he asked whether it's fair that a veteran with accepted conditions should be pushed below the poverty line to continue receiving the treatment that keeps him out of hospital and out of a very dark place. I don't think it is, and I don't think anyone in this chamber, if asked that question directly, would say that it is either.

Here's what makes this so frustrating. The government says DVA will fund care above the cap where there is a genuine clinical need—good. But nobody has explained how a veteran applies, how DVA will assess the request or how quickly a decision will be made. DVA's own data show that around one in 10 cardholders use more than $5,000 a year. Those are not people rorting the system; they're veterans with the most serious and most complex needs—the very people this entire royal commission was about. If the exemption process is slow, opaque or adversarial, then for those veterans the cap is not a saving; it's a barrier between them and their treatment, dressed up as administrative efficiency.

There are some genuinely good things in the detail, and I'll acknowledge them. Psychology through Open Arms doesn't count towards the cap. The old rule forcing a new referral every 12 sessions is being scrapped, which removes a real and ongoing burden for anyone in regular treatment. These are improvements, but they don't answer the core question for the veteran living fortnight to fortnight: 'What happens when the money runs out, and how hard will I have to fight for additional funding?'

So my position is this: I support this bill for what it does, but the cap that sits beside it must not be allowed to hollow out the very wellbeing this bill is meant to protect. Being forced to choose between treatment and food is not an acceptable outcome of any policy passed or administered in this country.

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

No, it's not, so stop misleading this parliament.

Cassandra Fernando (Holt, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The member will be heard in silence.

Kate Chaney (Curtin, Independent) | Link to this | Hansard source

DVA has committed to 12 months of consultation with veterans and ex-service organisations on how the new allied health system will work. I've made the case directly to the minister: build the exemption pathway around the veterans with the most serious needs, make it clear, make it fast and make it something a person in crisis can actually navigate without it becoming another fight. Because this is administrative, the minister can do that, and there's no excuse not to do so. We owe these men and women more than a royal commission and a set of recommendations; we owe them follow-through. This bill constitutes good follow-through. It takes real steps to better support veterans' wellbeing. But those steps mean little if, at the same time, we let changes to the allied health cap pull in the opposite direction. We can't strengthen wellbeing with one hand and undercut it with the other. I commend this bill to the House.

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

I welcome the opportunity to speak to the reforms that the Albanese government is making to the Defence Act 1903 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004—commonly known as the MRCA—to give effect to key elements of the government's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. This legislation, the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026, demonstrates that our Labor government is working to improve things for veterans and engage in systemic and structural reform as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. As a fourth-generation veteran—

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I was just saying that as a fourth-generation veteran, having been alive for about 54 years, over that period of time I've had so many conversations with so many veterans, including First World War veterans; Second World War veterans; Korean War veterans; my dad's mates, Vietnam War veterans—lots of those; Rwanda veterans; Cambodia veterans; Timor veterans; and Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. Throughout my whole life, during my time in the service and then working with ex-service organisations afterwards, I've been continually speaking with veterans.

Our veterans support system right now is the best it's ever been and the best in the world. I challenge anyone to point to somewhere in the world that has a better system to support their veterans. This legislation is a part of that. But, of course, particularly when the uninformed or those taking political opportunities create increased anxiety, it sometimes increases what has become a bit of natural scepticism in the veteran community because of their bad experiences in the past. I'm not saying the system is perfect, but what I am saying is that it is vastly better than it has been. It is excellent, and, with the launch of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency this morning, it's going to get even better. But it's going to take maturity and integrity for this issue not to be used as a political football. Purposefully, we need members of this place and senators to take their responsibility to lower anxiety and to provide proper information.

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We are making it so the DVA can operate better, with increased efficiency, to deliver a level of service in reasonable timeframes that veterans deserve. It's bills like this one that upgrade the operating system of DVA, so to speak. It's bills like this that should reduce that scepticism over time by enabling DVA to deliver better outcomes

Primarily, this bill creates legislative authority for information sharing between Defence and DVA to enable proactive support and early intervention for suicide prevention research, data analysis and evaluation underpinned by strong privacy safeguards. Additionally, it modernises the Defence health framework to align with contemporary clinical practice and national governance standards; improves continuity of care and transition arrangements between Defence and DVA; enhances support and communication with defence families, including in the context of family and domestic violence; and introduces fairer, more transparent end-of-service provisions.

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Together, these reforms enable Defence and DVA to better support personnel by intervening earlier; sharing and using data more effectively; and further equipping departments to protect the health, wellbeing and safety of those who serve, those who have served and their families.

Our government is working at pace to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Acknowledging the national tragedy of veteran suicides, this government called for the establishment of the royal commission while we were in opposition, and we have supported the work of the royal commission since coming to government. By the end of last year, 32 recommendations had already been implemented, including the establishment of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission. By the end of this year, we expect that around two-thirds of the royal commission's recommendations will be implemented.

The royal commission found that enhanced information sharing between Defence and DVA is fundamental to improving the health and wellbeing of defence personnel, veterans and their families. A number of interim measures have been in place while policy and legislative reform initiatives have been developed. The legislation before us today takes a significant step towards implementing recommendations in that space. This bill forms part of the government's ongoing response to the royal commission. It enables the implementation of 35 of those recommendations focused on enhancing health, wellbeing and safety outcomes; improving suicide prevention and information sharing; supporting defence families; enhancing transition and continuity of care; and modernising governance and accountability arrangements.

Broadly, these reforms outlined in the bill support the health, wellbeing and safety of members of the Defence Force, former members of the Defence Force and their families by strengthening the legislative frameworks for information sharing, defence health services, family support and, as previously mentioned, end-of-service arrangements.

We need this bill because it provides clear statutory authority to collect, use and disclose information for research, data analysis, and evaluation relating to health, wellbeing and safety outcomes. Now, as mentioned, these powers are carefully balanced by strong privacy safeguards, including compliance with ministerial guidelines and alignment with the Privacy Act framework. Critically, the bill supports a more integrated approach across Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and other portfolio agencies, including the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency that was launched this morning, and the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission that began last year. It enables earlier and more effective information-sharing to support continuity of care, proactive outreach and improved transition arrangements.

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Earlier today, I was speaking about the launch of the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency, the fact that last year we had started the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission, and the fact that these organisations and the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 are going to enable earlier and more effective information sharing to support continuity of care, proactive outreach and improved transition arrangements, including earlier transfer of relevant information from Defence to the Department of Veterans' Affairs to support timely claims processing, compensation and tailored support for individuals who are identified as being at increased risk, consistent with royal commission recommendations. While you're in the chair, Deputy Speaker Haines, I want to acknowledge your support for Defence personnel and veterans and the establishment of the royal commission. Together with other royal commission related reforms, this bill delivers further practical, system-wide change aimed at reducing harm, supporting families and ensuring that Defence and DVA are better equipped to intervene earlier and more effectively when members, veterans and their families are at risk

To summarise the key changes, this bill strengthens information sharing to support health, wellbeing and safety by amending the Defence Act and the MRCA, providing clear legislative authority for Defence, DVA and other Commonwealth agencies to collect, use and disclose information, including personal and sensitive information, for research, analysis, evaluation, prevention and early intervention, subject to those robust privacy safeguards. The bill also modernises and clarifies the Defence health system framework by establishing a dedicated legislative basis for Defence health services, including clinical governance, health monitoring, quality assurance and improvement activities, enabling lawful, proportionate use of health data to improve health care, suicide prevention and Defence health system performance. The bill enhances support for ADF families, including by providing information sharing and communication between Defence and families and by ensuring benefits and supports can continue for a former spouse or partner in the immediate aftermath of separation, where family and domestic violence is present, to support safe separation outcomes.

I had a great conversation this morning with the Veteran Family Commissioner, Annabelle Wilson, and I want to pay tribute to her. In this legislation, there's the start of presumptive liability for specific conditions and service types, which goes live from today. I want to acknowledge Annabelle because she advocated strongly for these changes.

This bill strengthens integrity and safety requirements for service in the ADF by prohibiting persons convicted of, and sentenced to imprisonment for, serious violent or sexual offences from joining the ADF; introducing mandatory discharge for members sentenced to imprisonment by an Australian court; consolidating 'fit and proper person' requirements; and aligning substance related separation processes with existing medical separation arrangements.

In addition to this bill, our government has properly funded DVA so that we have a better system of support. It is true that in the past we haven't had the level of resourcing that DVA required to speedily get through claims. Consider that, in the first three financial years of this current government, we spent $37.9 billion—that's with a b—on compensation and treatment for veterans, compared to just $31 billion by the previous government. It is just a matter of fact that, in this financial year alone, we expect to spend almost $15 billion on compensation and treatment. In the Morrison government's last year, that figure was $10 billion. That's a $5 billion a year difference—a 50 per cent increase in support going to veterans. That's what happens when you fund DVA. If you resource it properly and get through the backlog of claims, of course there's going to be an increase in compensation that's out there helping Australian veterans and their families.

Before the changes that we introduced into the budget, veterans were locked into an arbitrary 12-session treatment cycle. That meant that every time a veteran needed more treatment, they had to go back and get a new referral—another GP visit, more paperwork, more delay and more administration standing between them and the care that they needed. We've removed that 12-session treatment cycle and replaced it with a more flexible system. Alongside that, we're delivering the biggest increase in allied health fees paid to providers in two decades. For example, physiotherapy consultations will rise from $75 to $110, and psychology consultations will rise from $163 to $260. Under these changes, veterans will be able to better access services because providers can now actually afford to treat veterans. That is what the royal commission recommended. This is the biggest increase in funding in two decades, and it will kick in from July next year.

For those wondering why this increase in resourcing for DVA was needed, it was because there was a huge backlog. In fact, there were 42,000 veterans waiting for their claims to even be allocated to someone at DVA to start working through them. That is why more funding and more personnel were required at DVA, to get through that backlog. We're also about to start a consultation process to make sure that veterans get a smooth pathway to accessing over $5,000 worth of allied health support. There's going to be more allied health professionals providing that support, because we've upped their fees, making it more viable for them.

I call on all MPs and senators to do the right thing and let veterans know that the new system does not kick in for a year, and, not only that, there's also going to be a lot of consultation to make sure that it's streamlined. The last thing we want to do is make the system more difficult—quite the opposite. We're making it easier for veterans to get the support they need.

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Solomon for his service as a distinguished and decorated Australian Army officer. I know he understands that the home of the soldier is at Kapooka, where he served. The long line of khaki that stretches from Gallipoli right through to the front gates at Blamey Barracks, right through to the present day, is an important thing—not just for our nation, but for the world. It is Australian soldiers, Australian aviators, Australian sailors and Australian peacekeepers who are relied upon so much to keep the peace, ensure democracy and give help where help is most needed. We do that in times of conflict and we do that in times of peace, and we do it very well—best in the world, I would argue.

I listened to the member for Solomon very closely and deliberately. He pointed out the backlogs in the Department of Veterans' Affairs and what the government is doing to address that. I would ask, quite earnestly and genuinely: if in fact Labor is so much better at ensuring that the DVA is well resourced, why, oh, why were more than 100 positions cut from the DVA in the federal budget in May? It doesn't matter how you sugarcoat this, it was still more than 100 positions taken from an important organisation providing help, support and service to veterans.

I would also ask: if the changes that were announced in the budget to the allied health provisions for our veterans were so necessary, so right and so proper, why is there white-hot anger in the veterans community about the $5,000 cap? If there isn't such a cap and it is making it better, easier and more efficient for veterans to receive services, why are the veterans arcing up so strongly against it? That's a genuine question. Maybe it's not been explained well enough by the minister, who, I might add, gave a very fine speech at the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans event this morning at which the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency was established.

I commend the minister for this agency. I acknowledge his appointment of Brendan Cox as the inaugural chief executive for the Veteran and Family Wellbeing agency. I'm not just saying it here. I said it on Sky News earlier. I mentioned the fact that I said to Minister Keogh that he gave a very eloquent address. Where praise is needed, I will certainly be the first to give it. I commend him for that address that he gave this morning in the Senate courtyard.

I also acknowledge Mr Cox's years of service. He fought in Bosnia with British forces and also served in East Timor and Afghanistan as an outstanding Australian Army representative, somebody who is a Churchill fellow. That's how well credentialed Mr Cox is. That Churchill Fellowship, which was awarded in 2022, was to create a model of care for families supporting a veteran suffering psychological and/or physical injury. He investigated and evaluated examples of international best practice—having served with British forces as well as Australia's, he would certainly know this—in providing holistic support to defence families supporting a veteran with physical and psychological injuries as a result of their defence service.

Like the member for Solomon, I too had a very, very good meeting today with the Veteran Family Commissioner, Annabelle Wilson. It was 11 months ago today that she was appointed to that position. She too, like Mr Cox, is an outstanding human being. She is a widow. Her husband passed away. He was a member of the Australian Defence Force. We mourn her loss but we celebrate the fact that she is doing something as a legacy for her husband, her family, herself and the wider veteran community to bring about good change. Her roles and responsibilities include championing equity and accessibility for all veteran families, identifying systemic issues and advocating for reform, removing barriers to lasting change, escalating individual cases needing further attention and providing evidence based policy advice informed by lived experience. I can tell you she loves policy. I think she'd actually make an outstanding parliamentarian. I really do. As well, she's building strong partnerships through stakeholder engagement. She's doing all of that and so much more. She's produced a very good paper just in the time that she's been in the role since 18 August. She was appointed on 1 August 2025 and began work a few weeks later, and she's getting on with the job.

The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 will be supported by the coalition, and it will be supported for these reasons. It directly implements 15 recommendations of the royal commission. Let us not forget that it was the coalition who introduced the royal commission, who ensured that it began. I know that when the royal commission came to Wagga Wagga it heard some harrowing evidence, and not just in Wagga Wagga, where we've got tri-service. We've got the Kapooka Army Recruit Training Centre. We've got Airpower starting at Wagga Wagga; it says so on the hangar facing the airport, the Royal Australian Air Force having been established there during the Second World War, if not before. And we've got 80 personnel serving in the Navy. It's a long way from the nearest drop of seawater, but we've got a very visible and active RAN presence in inland Wagga Wagga. Who would have thought? But it's strategic, it's good, it's proper, and those men and women are playing a fine role in the ADF.

The objectives of this bill are to strengthen the health, wellbeing and safety of our personnel. They are objectives that each and every one of us would wholeheartedly agree with. We all share those values. We approach this debate, as we do anything related to the welfare and wellbeing of our veterans, with an open mind and in the spirit of constructive engagement, as the member for Herbert, who is the shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel, said earlier today in his contribution to this bill—although he did add that our support is somewhat cautious; he used that word. He said, 'It is support predicated on the requirement that these reforms deliver genuine, tangible improvements rather than simply adding more layers of administrative complexity to a system that many servicing personnel and veterans already find difficult to navigate.' He added, 'We must ensure that this legislation is effective, proportionate and capable of delivering the improvements that are needed, recommended and promised.' Truer words could not have been uttered, because at the heart of this bill is our veterans, and they need every bit of support.

That's why yesterday, when I sat opposite those much-credentialed and fine veterans from the RSL sub-branch of Cronulla, in the electorate of the member for Cook, they said they were very concerned about the changes to the cap, as are many veterans, particularly regional Australians, for whom services are not always as readily available as they are for those who happen to live in capital cities. Certainly when it comes to psychological welfare, and also the physiological services that that have been provided, we just need to be a little bit careful about making changes and then perhaps not explaining them as well as we should have.

The government tells us—and the minister has been quite clear on this—that it will do consultation over the next 12 months. That might all be well and good, and the government may well be undertaking that consultation as we speak, or beginning to. But that consultation should have been done six months prior to the budget being handed down. This is so typical of this Labor government—that it hasn't done the consultation with stakeholders prior to bringing legislation into the House of Representatives on so many occasions. Then we're left to deal with the fallout when something is not as it should be. Either it gets through the Senate and comes back, or it doesn't pass muster in the upper house, and we're left with legislation that needs adjusting.

A classic example this week was in the online space. That legislation needed to be updated, and the minister gave a press conference and gave an explanation while introducing the amendment as to why it was necessary. She shouldn't have needed to do that, because the legislation should have been right in the first place. I realise that in many areas of endeavour and many portfolio areas sometimes it is a moving feast, but if you do the work, if you do the background, if you do the consultation, if you take stakeholders on board with you—as we did when we were in the coalition and in government for nine years, we didn't have the messes to mop up that Labor seems to be having on such a regular basis. We did not have to go back and implement amendments and strategise about how we were going to handle the fallout, because we did our work, we did our research, and we took on board so many stakeholders.

Our veterans are more important and our veterans need the very best health and wellbeing and welfare. The government shouldn't be having to provide consultation on legislation that is either before the House or in the budget. You understand it with so many of them; they are triggered by things from their service. Rest assured, many veterans are not broken. They are not—they are contributing to civil society and getting back into the community and taking up jobs and doing all the sorts of things you'd expect them to be doing. Many of our finest Australians are people who've worn the uniform, and many of them are not broken. But for those who are, we need to be there for them. They had our backs when we sent them to conflict zones; we need to have their backs when they need it the most. They need it the most right now, and they should be having a $5,000 cap on allied health. They should not be having that without it having to be explained to them as to why this is necessary and then having to justify why they need it. The minister needs to come clear on why it's necessary and explain himself a lot better than he has been.

I would also like to mention the fact that I caught up this morning with David Johnson, who has been a fine Chief of the Defence Force. He is retiring—Admiral Johnston is—after 48 years of service, and we do thank him for those 48 years of service. That is extraordinary. We welcome Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond. He has been Chief of Navy, and he is very much going to fill the role well. We need the very best people as CDF. We need the very best people in our defence forces, and aren't we lucky we have them? But when they finish their service we've got to be there for them. We've got to be, and we need to make sure that every provision of health and wellbeing is there for them.

Ash Ambihaipahar (Barton, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise today to speak in support of the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. Before I turn to the details of this bill, I want to take a moment to share something with the chamber that speaks directly to why this legislation matters. This is very much in the lived experience of the community I proudly represent in the southern part of Sydney.

A few weeks ago I held the inaugural meeting of the Barton Defence Community Council. It's an initiative that I've started, and it was established in my electorate to bring together a lot of the veterans, ex-servicepeople, serving defence personnel and families in one room on a regular basis to be heard. We had representation from local RSL sub-branches and RSL LifeCare. We had people from LifeUnleashed by Integra Service Dogs Australia and Soldier On Australia. We had veterans who served decades ago sitting alongside families navigating the realities of defence life today. What struck me very importantly was not only the single stories that were brought up but the simple fact that people stayed back after the formal proceedings. For many of them, it was the first time in a long time that someone had organised an actual space and a form of engagement specifically to listen to them.

I want to thank the special guests at the event. They generously gave a lot of their time and expertise. Both the member for Hunter, Daniel Repacholi, the Special Envoy for Men's Health, and Sergeant Kirsty Claymore, a local CSS, brought much insight, candour and warmth to the conversation, and their presence reminded everyone—

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Sergeant Kirsti Claymore CSC brought insight, candour and warmth to the conversation that day. Their presence reminded everyone in that room that the issue really transcends electorate boundaries and political divisions. It is a national responsibility.

I established the Barton Defence Community Council because I believe that good policy starts with listening. God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason. The people best placed to tell us what is and isn't working are the veterans, the serving members and their families living it every day. The council gives Barton's defence community a standing forum to raise concerns, to connect with the services and organisations that support them and to know that their member of parliament is not simply present for ceremonial occasions but genuinely engaged in their wellbeing all year round.

It is in that spirit of listening, acting and taking seriously the responsibility we owe to those who serve that I rise to support the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. At its core, this bill is about information sharing. That might sound like a dry, technical phrase to some, but, for the families of those lost to suicide and for those currently serving who are silently struggling, it is anything but dry. It's about whether the right people in Defence and in the Department of Veterans' Affairs can see the full picture of a person's circumstances in time to intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. This bill creates the legislative authority for that information to move where it needs to move—between Defence and the DVA—underpinned by strong safeguards so that proactive support, early intervention and meaningful research and evaluation become possible rather than merely aspirational.

This reform does not exist in isolation. It is part of the Albanese Labor government's ongoing, deliberate work to implement the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide—a royal commission this government called for while it was in opposition, because we understood that the scale of veteran suicide in this country demanded more than sympathy.

On 2 December 2024, the government handed down its formal response to the royal commission's findings. Of the 122 recommendations made, the government agreed or agreed in principle to 104 of them, with a further 17 noted for continued consideration. By the end of the year, 32 of those recommendations had already been implemented. By the end of this year, we expect close to two-thirds of all recommendations to be in place.

These are not just numbers that I read into the Hansard for the record. Behind every recommendation is very much a story that the royal commission had heard from a veteran, a serving member or a parent or partner who lost someone they loved. I want to acknowledge, as I know many in this place have, the extraordinary courage of those who came forward to share their experiences with the royal commission. They did so knowing it would be painful, and they did so because they wanted to spare other families the grief they have carried. We owe them more than gratitude; we owe them a follow-through. The royal commission found, in unambiguous terms, that the absence of effective information-sharing between Defence and DVA was a fundamental barrier to protecting the health and wellbeing of our Defence community. Interim measures have helped bridge that gap while this legislative reform has been developed, but interim measures are not where this work should end. This bill is that next necessary step.

The bill implements 35 of the royal commission's recommendations, spanning health and wellbeing outcomes, suicide prevention, family support, transition arrangements and the modernisation of governance and accountability structures across Defence and DVA. At its core, the bill amends the Defence Act and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act to provide clear legislative authority for Defence, DVA and other Commonwealth agencies to collect, use and disclose information—including personal and sensitive information—for the purposes of research, analysis, evaluation, prevention and early intervention. These are significant powers, and they are rightly matched by significant safeguards. Compliance with ministerial guidelines and an alignment with the Privacy Act framework ensures that this is not information-sharing for its own sake but information-sharing in the service of saving lives.

The bill also establishes, for the first time, a dedicated legislative basis for defence health services, covering clinical governance, health monitoring, quality assurance and continuous improvement. This means the data we collect can be used lawfully and proportionately to improve the quality of care our defence personnel receive and strengthen suicide prevention efforts across the system. Importantly, this bill also turns its attention to defence families. It improves how information is shared and communicated between Defence and families and critically ensures that benefits and supports can continue for a former spouse or partner in the immediate aftermath of separation where family and domestic violence is present. This is about ensuring that no-one falls through the cracks at the exact moment they are most vulnerable.

The bill also strengthens integrity and safety around who serves in our Australian Defence Force. It prohibits people convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for serious, violent or sexual offences from joining the ADF. It introduces mandatory discharge for members sentenced by an Australian court to imprisonment. It consolidates the 'fit and proper person' requirements that underpin service, and it aligns substance-related separation processes with existing medical separation arrangements—recognising that these matters are often, at their root, health issues that deserve a health-informed response. Finally, the bill makes minor and consequential amendments to support the effective operation of the newly established Defence and Veterans Service Commission, ensuring that the broader architecture of reform coming out of the royal commission can function as intended.

Together, these reforms support a far more integrated approach across Defence, DVA, the new veteran and family wellbeing agency, and the Defence and Veterans Service Commission. They enable earlier, more effective information-sharing to support continuity of care, proactive outreach and smoother transition arrangements, including the earlier transfer of relevant information from Defence to DVA so that claims are processed faster, compensation reaches people sooner and individuals identified as being at increased risk receive tailored, timely support. This is what the royal commission asked of us: not piecemeal fixes, but a system-wide change that recognises that Defence and DVA must work as one continuous system of care, not two agencies operating in parallel with a gap between them where people can fall.

The bill directly implements 15 of the royal commission's recommendations and supports further focus on the health and wellbeing of our Defence and veteran community. That is meaningful, measurable progress. But I want to highlight to this House that progress is not the same as completion, and the work does not end with the passage of this legislation. The health and wellbeing of our defence personnel, our veterans and their families must remain a standing priority of this parliament, not fleeting. It must be reflected not only in the bills we pass but also in the community councils we establish, the conversations we have at RSL gatherings and the willingness of every member in this place to keep listening long after the cameras and formalities have gone. To the veterans and families of Barton who showed up to that first council meeting and to every defence family across this country still waiting to see whether reform translates into real changes in their lives, I say this: we support you and we have not finished.

I commend this bill to the House, and I call on every member of this parliament to treat the implementation of the royal commission's recommendations not as a tick-and-flick exercise but as a debt to be honoured to those we have lost and to the families we still have the duty to protect.

Joanne Ryan (Lalor, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

There are moments in this parliament when we are not simply debating legislation but answering a national moral obligation. This is one of those moments. The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is part of Australia's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. It speaks to service and sacrifice, grief and responsibility and the duty we owe to those who have worn the uniform of our nation. This bill is about making sure that when a person serves this country they and their family are not left to navigate a disconnected system alone. It is about making sure 'thank you for your service' is matched by systems that work when people need them.

The royal commission delivered its final report on 19 September 2024, making 122 recommendations. The Albanese government agreed or agreed in principle to 104 recommendations, and, significantly, this bill implements 15 recommendations and supports a further 20. These changes are a very good thing because they move us from a system that too often waited for people to fall through the cracks to a system built to see them, support them and reach them before crisis may turn to tragedy.

This bill matters because the royal commission made clear that the system supporting defence personnel, veterans and families have not always been connected enough, fast enough or human enough. Too often, people have had to tell their story again and again, and we know that leads to deepening trauma, while the system that should have supported them could not speak to itself. Information has too often been trapped in silos between Defence and DVA. These silos create delays and delays can mean claims held up, care interrupted, families unsupported and risks unseen. The failure this bill confronts is not a lack of courage from those who served but a lack of connection in the systems built to support them. This bill is about a system that can see risk earlier, can respond faster and can support people before that crisis becomes tragedy.

I also speak on this bill as the member for Lalor, representing communities across Werribee, Hoppers Crossing, Point Cook, Truganina, Wyndham Vale, Manor Lakes and Mambourin. These reforms matter in Lalor. They matter in my community because veterans and defence families live in these suburbs. They're raising their children in our suburbs, their kids are attending our schools, and they sit at kitchen tables trying to make sense of complicated systems.

I want to acknowledge the work of the Werribee RSL and the work of the Vietnam veterans, who've done such important work, and the wider network of local veteran organisations, volunteers, advocates and families who continue to support our veteran community. Their work reminds us that support for veterans is not only delivered through legislation but through local relationships, trusted community connections and people who keep showing up. This bill matters to them because, as they have relayed to me time and time again, it has often been a struggle to support young veterans, to connect those things for them, to interact with systems. This bill matters to a veteran in Werribee navigating a DVA claim while keeping work, supporting family and managing their health. It matters to the partner seeing the warning signs.

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It matters to the partner in Tarneit seeing the warning signs but not knowing who to call or what support is available. It matters to the family in Wyndham Vale facing transition, only to find that the information that is needed to support them is caught between agencies. It matters to children in Hoppers Crossing and Manor Lakes who live with the ripple effects of service long after the uniform has been put away. When systems do not connect, families carry the load. When records do not move, people fall through the cracks. When agencies cannot share information responsibly, risk becomes invisible.

Schedule 1 of this bill strengthens information sharing to improve wellbeing, health and safety outcomes for Defence members and to limit the risk. The royal commission found that defence and veterans systems hold critical information but that information has too often been fragmented, delayed or unavailable when needed. This schedule creates a clearer legal authority for information to be used for research—

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This schedule creates clearer legal authority for information to be used for research, data analysis and evaluation relating to wellbeing, health and safety. These powers are balanced by privacy safeguards, including ministerial guidelines, de-identification where appropriate and alignment with the Privacy Act framework. This is information sharing for prevention, for early intervention, for continuity of care and for saving lives. For a veteran, this could mean that DVA receives information earlier so a claim can be processed more quickly. For a serving member leaving the ADF, it could mean transition support before the final day in uniform, critically, not months later when a crisis has already developed. A system that learns can change. A system that refuses to share what it knows is condemned to repeat its failures.

Schedule 2 of the bill modernises the legislative framework for defence health services. The defence health service system has a unique role because it must keep members fit to serve while also supporting their lifetime health, wellbeing and safety. The bill establishes for the first time a comprehensive legislative basis for defence health services. It clarifies who works in the system, what services are provided and how health information may be used.

Schedule 3 of the bill strengthens support for ADF families, and this is one of the most human parts of the bill. The royal commission made clear that families are not bystanders in the defence and veteran experience. Families are often the first to notice when something is wrong. They are often the first responders in the home, making phone calls, filling out forms, attending appointments and holding everything together. This schedule allows Defence to communicate more directly with families about available services, payments and supports where appropriate. It also includes an opt-out mechanism, respecting privacy, autonomy and choice.

Importantly, this schedule also addresses family and domestic violence. It ensures former partners of ADF members are not suddenly cut off from assistance where family and domestic violence is present and support is needed for safe separation. Family and domestic violence can involve control over money, housing, transport, information and the ability to leave. If a person cannot safely separate because the system cuts them off at the very moment they need help, then the system becomes part of the danger. Where a family might be managing financial pressure—for example, mortgage pressure—safe separation is not a slogan; it is a practical question about where a partner or child will sleep tonight, how they will get their children to school and who they can call for help. No-one should be trapped in violence because bureaucracy cannot recognise the reality of their life. No family should be made less safe because support ends at the very moment courage begins.

Schedule 4 of this bill strengthens requirements for service in the Australian Defence Force. It ensures people convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for serious, violent or sexual offences cannot join the ADF. It also introduces mandatory discharge for ADF members who are sentenced to imprisonment by an Australian court. These reforms are about integrity, safety, accountability and public confidence. The men and women who serve Australia deserve to serve in an institution where serious violence and sexual offending are met with clarity and with consequence. The uniform of this country carries honour, and the standards attached to it must be clear. The schedule also consolidates 'fit and proper person' requirements and improves end-of-service arrangements. It provides clear and fair processes, including safeguards where convictions are overturned or pardons are granted. This matters because the ADF is not just another workplace; it is an institution built on trust, on discipline, on responsibility and on the confidence of the Australian people. Accountability and fairness are not opposites. In a decent system, they stand together.

Schedule 5 of the bill makes minor amendments that support the operation of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission. These amendments support the independence, transparency and accountability of oversight mechanisms established following the royal commission. Oversight matters because reform cannot depend on goodwill alone. Reform must be built into institutions, measured over time, reviewed honestly and sustained beyond the moment of political attention. The defence and veterans system must be accountable not only for what it promises but for what it delivers.

The importance of this bill will not be found only in the words written on paper. Its importance will be found in the lives it helps, the families it helps reach and the harm it helps prevent. It will matter when a veteran lodges a claim and does not have to repeat the same painful story again and again. It will matter when a partner receives information before crisis point. It will matter when a family gets help navigating transition rather than being left to guess which agency is responsible. It will matter when data identifies a pattern early enough for intervention. It will matter when a clinician can speak honestly in a quality review so that the system can improve. It will matter when a former partner who experienced family violence can safely separate because support does not vanish when it is needed most. Most of all, it will matter when a person at risk is seen by the system before they disappear from it. Prevention is not just a recommendation or a policy idea when the risk is a human life.

I'm the proud granddaughter of a serviceman from World War I who fought at Gallipoli and at the Somme, and I am the granddaughter, also, of Kit McNaughton, who served as a nurse in World War I at Lemnos and in France. When she returned from that war, she joined others to fight for recognition of their service, so I have a critical understanding of how important it is to be a member of parliament working for our defence service personnel and for those veterans.

This bill sits alongside other reforms already progressed by the government, including the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission and the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency. It is part of a broader program of work to make the defence and veterans ecosystem more responsive, more accountable and more human. I acknowledge the work of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel in progressing these reforms and the ongoing work across government to respond to the royal commission with the seriousness, care and urgency it deserves. The royal commission forced Australia to look directly at grief. It forced us to confront the gap between the honour we express for service and the support we sometimes fail to deliver after service. We cannot say, 'Thank you for your service,' and then leave people to fight the system alone.

This bill does not do everything, because no single bill could. However, it changes the machinery of government so it is better able to act before it is too late. It gives agencies clearer authority to share information where that sharing supports wellbeing, health and safety. It strengthens Defence health services, recognises family, supports safe separation from violence, improves transition and continuity of care, strengthens integrity in the ADF and supports oversight and accountability. Most importantly, it says that the lives of serving members, veterans and families are not administrative matters but national responsibility.

To veterans and Defence families in Lalor, I say: your service, grief, frustration and advocacy have not been ignored. To those who gave evidence to the royal commission, I say: your courage is now part of the law-making of this nation. To families who carry in their hearts names that should still be spoken at birthday tables, graduations, weddings and Sunday lunches, I say: this parliament heard you. We cannot bring back those we have lost, and that is the heartbreak at the centre of this, but we can honour them by refusing to let the same failures continue. We can build systems that see people earlier, that listen to families, that share information responsibly and that understand that transition is a vulnerable chapter in a human life, not simply a date on a form.

A nation that sends people to serve must not leave them to suffer alone. A parliament that hears the evidence must not look away. A government that accepts responsibility must act. The measure of our gratitude is whether our systems are there when the uniform comes off, when the injury is invisible, when the family is frightened and/or when the person who served reaches out for help. This bill will be remembered as part of a pathway whereby Australia will not only honour those who serve but build a future where every veteran, every serving member and every family can be seen, supported and able to look forward with hope. I commend this bill to the House.

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

I would like to commend the previous speaker, the member for Lalor, for that fantastic speech. The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 marks another important milestone in the Albanese government's response to the landmark royal commission into veteran suicide. Few issues examined by this parliament carry the same gravity and responsibility as the challenge of preventing suicide among serving personnel, veterans and their families. Behind every recommendation of the royal commission sits a person, a family, a story and, in far too many cases, a profound loss that should never have occurred.

The royal commission heard from thousands of Australians who shared deeply personal experience about their service, their transition to civilian life, their interactions with government systems and the support they received when they needed it most. Many recounted extraordinary acts of courage performed in service to our nation. Others spoke of circumstances where systems designed to support them fell short of what they deserved. Every contribution made to the royal commission came at a personal cost. Veterans, serving personnel, partners, parents, children and loved ones relived painful experiences so that future generations might be better supported than they were.

This parliament owes them more than gratitude. As well, it owes them action and reform. Most importantly, we owe them a commitment that the lessons of the royal commission will not gather dust on a shelf. The Albanese Labor government has approached this responsibility with the seriousness it deserves. Long before entering government, Labor called for the establishment of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide because we recognised the scale of the challenge confronting the defence and veteran community. Upon coming to government, we continued to support the work of the royal commission and committed ourselves to implementing meaningful reform.

On 2 December 2024, the government released its formal response to the royal commission.

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That response reflected both the significance of the findings and the determination of the government to drive lasting change across Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the broader support systems that serve military families. The government accepted the overwhelming majority of the commission's recommendations. We agreed or agreed in principle to 104 of the royal commission's 122 recommendations. A further 17 recommendations were noted for continued consideration and detailed policy development. Those figures demonstrate a government determined to act rather than delay. They reflect an understanding that reform cannot be achieved through rhetoric alone.

Delivering meaningful change requires legislation, investment, administrative reform and sustained commitment across multiple portfolios and agencies, and progress is already being made. By the end of 2025, 32 recommendations had been implemented. By the end of this year, it is expected that approximately two-thirds of the royal commission's recommendations will have been implemented. That represents substantial progress on one of the most significant reform agendas affecting the defence and veteran community in recent history.

The legislation before the House today is a critical part of that work, as it translates recommendations into practical reforms. It strengthens the legislative framework that governs how Defence and Veterans' Affairs support current and former personnel. It builds stronger foundations for early intervention, continuity of care and suicide prevention. Most importantly, it seeks to ensure that government agencies are better equipped to identify risk, provide support and respond effectively when individuals and families need assistance.

One of the clearest findings of the royal commission was that enhanced information sharing is fundamental to improving health, wellbeing and safety outcomes. The commission identified circumstances where information that could have supported an individual was held within one agency but not available to another. It highlighted situations where fragmented systems and administrative barriers prevented timely intervention. Evidence presented throughout the inquiry demonstrated that support services work best when agencies are able to collaborate effectively and share relevant information responsibly.

Effective care depends upon continuity, early intervention depends on awareness, and prevention depends upon understanding risk before a crisis occurs. The royal commission recognises these realities and recommended substantial reforms to improve information sharing across Defence and Veterans' Affairs. While a number of interim measures have already been introduced, permanent legislative reform is necessary to provide certainty, consistency and accountability. That is precisely what this bill delivers. The bill directly implements 15 recommendations of the royal commission. Beyond those direct measures, it further supports 20 additional recommendations. Taken together, the legislation enables and supports 35 recommendations that are focused on improving the lives of serving personnel, veterans and their families.

This bill establishes needed reform across information sharing, health services, family support, service entry and exit arrangements, and governance structures. The legislation is structured across five schedules. Each schedule contributes to a broader objective of strengthening wellbeing, improving safety and reducing the risk factors that can contribute to poor outcomes. Schedule 1 focuses on information sharing. Schedule 2 modernises the defence health services framework. Schedule 3 strengthens information sharing and support arrangements for defence families. Schedule 4 reforms service entry and exit provisions. Schedule 5 improves governance and accountability measures. Together, these reforms create a more integrated and responsive system. They recognise that suicide prevention is not the responsibility of a single agency. It requires coordinated action across Defence, Veterans' Affairs and other government bodies working towards common objectives.

A central feature of the bill is the creation of clear legislative authority for information sharing. The legislation enables Defence, the DVA and other Commonwealth agencies to collect, use and disclose information for research, analysis, evaluation, prevention and early intervention purposes. When covering areas of sensitivity such as this, the bill contains robust privacy safeguards to ensure information is handled appropriately, while ministerial guidelines will govern the exercise of these powers. The reforms align with established Privacy Act principles and broader privacy protections.

Achieving the right balance is essential. Government agencies require access to information that can help identify risk and support vulnerable individuals. At the same time, Australians rightly expect strong protections for personal and sensitive information. This legislation delivers both objectives. Better information sharing is not an administrative exercise; it is a practical reform with real-world consequences. When agencies can identify emerging risks earlier, support can be offered sooner. When information follows an individual through different stages of service and transition, continuity of care improves. When researchers and policymakers have access to better data, future interventions become more effective. These outcomes can save lives.

The bill also strengthens arrangements between Defence and DVA during periods of transition from military service to civilian life. Transition to civilian life represents a significant change for many personnel. I've seen this happen many times. While countless veterans make that transition successfully, the royal commission identified circumstances where individuals experienced challenges accessing support during this period. Delays, administrative complexity and fragmented information systems can create additional stress at a time when support is most important. The reform contained in this bill addresses those concerns directly.

Earlier transfer of relevant information from Defence to DVA will support more timely claims processing. Improved access to information will assist compensation arrangements and tailored support services. Agencies will be better positioned to proactively engage with individuals identified as being at increased risk. These changes support a more coordinated and person centred approach to transition. Rather than expecting veterans to navigate multiple systems independently, government agencies will be better equipped to work together on their behalf. That represents a significant cultural and operational shift.

Another important aspect of the bill concerns defence health services. The legislation establishes a dedicated basis for defence health services and modernises the framework governing their operation. Contemporary health care requires clear governance structures, strong quality assurance mechanisms and robust clinical oversight. The reforms contained in schedule 2 reflect those realities, as they provide legislative support for clinical governance arrangements, health monitoring activities and quality improvement initiatives.

A modern defence force requires a modern health system. Personnel serving in uniform deserve healthcare arrangements that reflect contemporary clinical standards and best practice. Enhanced governance contributes to better outcomes for patients. Improved monitoring supports early identification of emerging issues. Stronger quality assurance promotes continuous improvement across the health system. The bill also enables lawful and proportionate use of health information to improve service delivery and support suicide prevention initiatives. Evidence based decision-making depends upon access to quality information. These reforms strengthen the capacity of defence health services to identify trends, evaluate interventions and improve performance over time.

Support for defence families forms another significant component of the legislation. The royal commission repeatedly highlighted the vital role families play in supporting serving personnel and veterans. Partners, parents, children and carers are often the first to recognise changes in physical and mental wellbeing. They frequently provide practical and emotional support throughout periods of service, transition and recovery, yet families themselves can experience significant challenges. Improved information sharing and communication arrangements will help families remain connected to relevant support systems.

Greater recognition of family needs strengthens the broader wellbeing framework surrounding defence personnel. Particular attention has been given to circumstances involving family and domestic violence. The bill ensures that benefits and support arrangements can continue for former spouses and partners in the immediate aftermath of separation, where family and domestic violence is present. These provisions support safer separation outcomes. They recognise that access to support can be especially important during periods of heightened vulnerability. This represents a practical reform designed to assist individuals facing difficult and often dangerous circumstances.

The legislation also addresses integrity and safety requirements associated with service in the Australian Defence Force. Public confidence in defence depends upon maintaining high standards of conduct and character. Service in uniform carries unique responsibilities. Australians rightly expect those entrusted with those responsibilities to meet appropriate standards. The bill strengthens existing arrangements in this area.

Individuals convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for serious violent or sexual offences will be prohibited from joining the ADF. Mandatory discharge arrangements will apply to members sentenced by an Australian court to imprisonment. Existing 'fit and proper person' requirements are consolidated and clarified. Substance related separation processes are aligned with existing medical separation frameworks. These measures promote consistency, transparency and fairness. They also reinforce the principle that service in the Australian Defence Force is both a privilege and a responsibility.

Alongside these substantive reforms, the bill contains amendments that support the operation of the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission. Governance and accountability in these areas matter and effective oversight strengthens public confidence and improves institutional performance. The royal commission identified the importance of independent scrutiny and clear accountability arrangements. The reforms contained within this legislation support those objectives.

Collectively, the measures before the House represent practical change rather than symbolic change. They are informed by evidence. They respond directly to the findings of the royal commission. They seek to address systemic challenges identified through years of detailed examination and testimony. Most importantly, they focus on outcomes through greater information sharing, earlier intervention, stronger continuity of care, improved support for families, enhanced governance, safer service environments and more effective transition arrangements.

Each reform contributes to a broader objective of reducing harm and improving wellbeing across the defence and veteran community. No single piece of legislation can resolve every challenge identified by the royal commission. The tragedy of veteran suicide demands humility as well as determination. Lasting reform for veterans requires sustained effort over many years. It requires governments, agencies and communities to remain focused on implementation long after reports are handed down and headlines fade.

What this bill demonstrates is a commitment to continue that work by the Albanese government. It demonstrates a willingness to translate recommendations into action. It demonstrates an understanding that the health and wellbeing of defence personnel, veterans and their families must remain a national priority. This legislation represents an important step on that journey. Through stronger information sharing, modernised health frameworks, improved family support, enhanced transition arrangements and better governance, it delivers meaningful reforms that will help build a more responsive and effective system. The Albanese Labor government remains committed to implementing the royal commission's recommendations and ensuring that genuine change follows from its work.

For those reasons, I commend the bill to the House.

David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report does not just make harrowing reading; it is a cry for leaders in government, Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs to arrest the deeply tragic rate of suicide and suicidality among serving and formerly serving members of the Australian Defence Force. The numbers are confronting. The latest three-year suicide rate during 2021-23 was 26.4 deaths per 100,000 per year for ex-serving males, 16 for permanent males, 15.2 for reserve males and 10 for ex-serving females. We know that behind every number is a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, a son, a daughter, a friend. My community in Hughes is home to a significant veteran community, ranging across the Sutherland Shire around the Holsworthy Barracks and Moorebank, out to the Macarthur region in areas like Macquarie Fields and Glenfield. I'm sure that many know the gut-wrenching feeling of losing a loved one to suicide.

In opposition, we acknowledged the national tragedy of veteran suicides and have supported the work of the royal commission since coming to government. In December 2024 our response accepted the overwhelming majority of the commission's 122 recommendations. By the end of this year, we will have implemented two-thirds of these recommendations, and the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is a critical step in facilitating or directly fulfilling 35 recommendations. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is the result of years of hard-fought advocacy by the family and friends of military personnel who have taken their own lives, as well as current and former ADF members fighting for better outcomes. More than 50 inquiries and reviews with over 750 recommendations relevant to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving ADF members went into the work of the commission, and its reporting is a watershed for unveiling the reality that the families and friends of those lives lost to suicide know personally only too well.

While suicide is a complex personal and public health issue, there is a vast body of credible research on the risk factors for suicidality. As explained in the royal commission's report, ADF members are often placed in high-risk environments in service to their country. They are expected to live and work in extremely physically and mentally demanding situations and are exposed to high levels of stress, ranging from combat related deployments to domestic operations, natural disaster responses and humanitarian peacekeeping missions. Training can involve physically intensive live-fire exercises, explosives and training that simulates warlike conditions. These experiences are critical to ensuring that ADF members operate at the highest standards of performance and that our soldiers are able to act with maximum lethality in combat situations. The Australian Defence Force prides itself on the virtues of mateship, mentorship, discipline and service, and experiences in the ADF evoke these strengths of character. These positive aspects of military service are also protective factors against suicide and suicidality, instilling a sense of purpose and camaraderie amongst members. However, risks and protective factors can interact in ways that are often difficult to understand, with several diverse components often at play. What is clear is that the prevalence of suicide and suicidality in the veteran community is significant and that it is unacceptable. It is a burning platform, and our government has not wasted a day in advancing the large body of work required to implement the royal commission's recommendations.

The bill in consideration today is a large stride forward, directly implementing 15 recommendations and facilitating the implementation of 20 others. These include the direct implementation of recommendations 22, 61, 62, 64, 78, 80, 87, 94, 102, 106, 107, 108, 115, 116 and 121, as well as supporting recommendations 2, 5, 8, 14, 33, 39, 58, 59, 60, 65, 67, 68, 72, 74, 88, 98, 103, 113, 114 and 122. These recommendations are broadly focused on enhancing health, wellbeing and safety outcomes by improving information sharing and modernising governance arrangements. These include aspects such as the establishment of a brain injury program, transformation of research into outcomes, support for service members to transition into civilian life, a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing, improvement in the timeliness of information-sharing between Defence and DVA for claims processing, and much more.

The information-sharing provisions permit ministers to authorise the collection, use and disclosure of information concerning current and former ADF members by entrusted persons. Better information-sharing allows for a more integrated approach across departments and agencies, allowing continuity of care and for effective interventions to be made sooner. It will enable claims to be processed more efficiently, which is a measure of great importance to many veterans in my community. We have already made substantial progress in fixing the mess left to us by the previous government, under which a backlog of 42,000 claims were never even looked at. That wasn't an accidental oversight. It was a predictable outcome from a party that holds the gutting of Public Service jobs and wage suppression as a proud part of its DNA.

Our government was elected on a commitment to properly resource the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Thanks to the Albanese Labor government's increased staffing and resources for DVA, all new liability and incapacity claims are now allocated for processing within a two-week time frame. This is not just about abstract efficiency gains. It means that veterans are able to receive support when they need it, in a timely and compassionate manner, closing gaps and delays in service and saving lives.

The bill also provides a framework for the defence health system, including the provision of defence health services. The new powers are carefully balanced by privacy safeguards and guidelines. It inserts a new clause in the Defence Act focused on health and wellbeing support for veterans and their families and amends the Military Rehabilitation Compensation Act to give the Repatriation Commission more powers to provide wellbeing supports for ADF members transitioning into civilian life.

This transition point into civilian life was identified by the royal commission as a particularly high-risk moment. It is critical that our safety nets and support systems work as effectively as possible to facilitate veterans as they transition back into the civilian community. The royal commission found that while systems can hold information critical to the support of veterans wellbeing, deficiencies in integrated information-sharing between relevant bodies can result in agencies operating in silos, producing delays or gaps in access.

No veteran should fall through the cracks because of agencies not talking to one another. That's why schedule 1 of this bill allows entrusted persons to collect and use relevant information to support a veteran's health and wellbeing. The other measures in this bill are also important, relating to the determination of benefits to former partners of Defence members in circumstances of family and domestic violence, clearing up a system that, previously, could be too difficult and draining for victims to navigate. This legislation ensures that Defence and DVA are better equipped to intervene early and effectively when members, veterans and their families are at risk, saving lives before it's too late.

The Albanese Labor government's record of investment for Defence and veteran communities is profound. It extends from system-wide changes to make it easier for veterans to access support to early interventions and to on-the-ground facilities to support health and wellbeing. My electorate of Hughes spans across southern Sydney, from the edge of the Royal National Park through the Shire and Holsworthy over to the Macarthur region, including suburbs such as Ingleburn and Glenfield. It is home to more than 3,600 current serving and former ADF members. It hosts the Holsworthy Army Barracks, a range of proud RSL sub-branches and veterans' social groups.

Our community will soon be able to access a new veterans and families hub at the historic Bardia Barracks site on the former Ingleburn Military Army Camp. Ingleburn holds a rich heritage for our Defence community, and Bardia Barracks is a proud part of this story, having been a major training camp for infantry units in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. During the 1990s, many buildings were ravaged by fire and units began to be transferred to other military camps. It had been vacant since the turn of the century and had recently been occupied by the Ingleburn Military Precinct Association, catering for RSL sub-branches, school visits and historical tours.

The new Bardia veterans and families hub will preserve this cherished history with a museum of local military history while being repurposed to provide extensive new support for veterans' wellbeing and access to services. Over 19,000 veterans across south-west Sydney will benefit from this new hub that will form part of an integrated support system for ADF members, veterans and their families. This is a significant investment in the wellbeing of our local defence community and a celebration of their immense contribution to our local area and to our country. It's a project that the member for Werriwa was a fierce advocate for when Ingleburn, Bardia and Macquarie Fields were part of the Werriwa electorate. The hub will provide services and support related to wellbeing claims, social connection and pathways to health, employment, housing and community services. The bill before us today sets the legislative framework by which new services and facilities like the Bardia veterans and families hub can most effectively operate. When service providers are linked and effectively communicate with each other, veterans engage with a more holistic support network that is more likely to make effective interventions and facilitate improved long-term wellbeing.

From today, 1 July, we are also launching the Veteran and Families Wellbeing Agency with $78 million in funding to support veterans and their families as they transition out of service. This brings the Albanese Labor government's total spend on veterans' health care, support and compensation to $15 billion. That's $5 billion more than the Morrison government spent in their last year of office. This spending is carefully targeted with the establishment of a national veterans data set as part of this plan to better inform evidence based policy evaluation and service delivery.

RSL sub branches, peer support networks and local coffee groups are often the first point of contact for veterans doing it tough. In my electorate, there are many fantastic groups that provide a sense of camaraderie and shared experiences. The families and carers who support those living with physical and psychological wounds of service also provide unparalleled love and support for these veterans. The information-sharing provisions in this bill support them by allowing the Public Service and other relevant actors to perform their role more effectively and strengthen the broader ecosystem of support.

The reality is that for far too long, too many veterans have put their lives at risk in the highest level of service to our country, only to struggle to adapt to civilian life while navigating a dauntingly complex support system. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide shone a light on the consequences of these critical safety nets failing to catch veterans when they needed help the most. Not only have the Albanese government voiced their ambition to fix this system, we have acted and we are delivering. For those who give everything, it is the responsibility of this government, of Defence and of community leaders to work hard at improving and strengthening the support system for our veterans, and to act at pace to reduce the tragic rate of suicide and suicidality in our defence community. The Albanese government takes this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and is committed to improving outcomes for our veterans. I commend this bill to the House.

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

I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the debate on the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. This bill reflects the Albanese government's ongoing commitment to responding to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. On 9 September 2024, the royal commission delivered its final report, making 122 recommendations. The government agreed to or agreed in principle to 104 of those recommendations. I'm really pleased to see that this bill is progressing rapidly through the House with the support of the opposition. It's important that we progress this at pace. This bill directly implements 15 recommendations of the royal commission and supports the implementation of a further 20 recommendations focused on improving health and wellbeing outcomes, improving suicide prevention and information sharing, supporting defence families, enhancing transition, continuity of care and modernising governance and accountability arrangements.

Broadly, the reforms put forward are about people—the current and former serving members of our Australian Defence Force and their families—and making sure that they are all looked after when in need. Our priority is their health, wellbeing and safety. We can better support them through the reforms in this bill—through improved information sharing and better integration across defence, DVA and other portfolio agencies, including the newly established, from today, Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency; through establishing more robust frameworks for defence health services by enhancing family supports; and, vitally, through ensuring people who have been imprisoned for serious violence and sexual offences can never serve in our Defence Force.

Together with other reforms we're implementing from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, this bill delivers further practical, system-wide change aimed at reducing harm, supporting families and ensuring defence is better equipped to intervene earlier and more effectively when members, veterans and families are at risk. We're working to make sure defence and DVA systems are contemporary and fit for purpose and that those systems have the wellbeing of our people at the forefront.

I want to thank the opposition and the crossbench for their engagement on this bill to date, as well as the many ex-service organisations that we've been engaged with and everyone who's contributed to the debate on this bill in the House for sharing their own experiences of engagement with our ex-service community, veterans and families. I look forward to the support of the entire parliament in the future as we progress this bill through the Senate inquiry and its passage through the parliament so that we can get on with the business of implementing these 35 recommendations supported by this bill. I commend the bill to the House.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.