House debates Questions without Notice

Minister for Veterans' Affairs

Wednesday, 19 August 2026 House of Representatives

Angus Taylor

Angus Taylor Hume, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition

2:52 pm

Prime Minister, yesterday the Minister for Veterans' Affairs admitted he got it wrong in refusing to meet with veterans to discuss Labor's cruel cap on allied health services. He also got it wrong in trying to put a use by date on medallic recognition. He got it wrong in refusing to support the Invictus Games and he got it wrong in cutting funding for the family of fallen Victoria Cross hero Cameron Baird VC MG. Why won't the Prime Minister sack this incompetent and disrespectful minister?

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

Order! The member for Corangamite will leave the chamber under 94(a). She's on a warning. It's highly disorderly to interject on anyone, particularly the Leader of the Opposition during his question. The rules apply to everyone in this place. The Prime Minister has the call.

Anthony Albanese

Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister

2:53 pm

I have every confidence in the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. Indeed, I consider it to be one of the great privileges of my time in this place that I, as Prime Minister but previously as well, get to engage with those men and women who wear our uniform, who serve in our name and who deserve our total respect at all times for what they do. Our veterans stepped up for us, and we must step up for them. I spoke earlier today about my first experience overseas, back in 1986 with those extraordinary veterans led by Weary Dunlop. Since then, every single conflict has seen Australia's men and women serve with honour, with dignity, and they deserve our respect.

Now, the minister inherited a system where the former minister for veterans' affairs, the member for Calare—you will recall the actions that he had to take.

Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Milton Dick

Milton Dick Speaker

The Minister for Infrastructure is warned. The Prime Minister has concluded his answer.