Jess Walsh (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Early Childhood Education) | Hansard source

I present two government responses to committee reports as listed at item 16 on today's Order of Business, and I seek leave to have the documents incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The documents read as follows—

Australian Government response to the Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee report:

Inquiry into the operation and appropriateness of the superannuation and pension schemes for current and former members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF)

26 June 2026

Introduction

The national superannuation arrangements are provided to preserve savings to deliver income for a dignified retirement, alongside government support, in an equitable and sustainable way. The ADF superannuation and pension schemes are designed to provide commensurate arrangements for ADF personnel, with special consideration to the unique nature of military service.

The superannuation and pension schemes for current and former ADF members are set out by legislative instruments. As noted by the Committee, there have been five ADF superannuation and pension schemes since 1948. The date a member joined the Permanent Forces, or continuous full time service, determines their superannuation scheme:

The Government notes that ADF superannuation schemes have evolved over time in recognition of the unique nature of military service, as well as changing social and economic conditions. The closure of individual schemes and the subsequent introduction of new superannuation arrangements were decisions of government, informed by recommendations from independent reviews. Successive ADF superannuation schemes were introduced to contemporise the superannuation offering, or to address structural limitations or deficiencies in earlier schemes that could not be adequately resolved through legislative amendment.

The fundamental design of the ADF superannuation schemes has been preserved to ensure the protection of accrued and promised retirement benefits, a longstanding practice and treatment that is consistent with other statutory defined benefit superannuation schemes. From time to time, minor legislative amendments have been made to address administrative or technical matters and to ensure ongoing compliance with relevant Commonwealth legislative requirements.

The operation and day-to-day administration of the ADF superannuation schemes is the responsibility of Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC), while the policy responsibility rests with Defence. Defence and CSC maintain a strong collaborative working relationship focussed on providing quality, empathetic and consistent support to ADF members, veterans and their families.

The Committee made four recommendations. Through a submission of additional comments, a further 10 recommendations were made by Senator Jacqui Lambie. The Government has prepared a formal response to both the Committee's four recommendations and

Senator Lambie's additional 10 recommendations.

The Government thanks the Committee for its work on this Inquiry, as well as those who provided submissions and appeared at the hearing.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1

2.98 The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider whether the current settings of Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefit (DFRDB) pensions are fair and equitable for all members.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

The settings of DFRDB pensions, including the use of static life expectancy tables and the permanency of a commutation election, have been reviewed on several occasions. This included an independent Commonwealth Ombudsman review in December 2019, the Investigation into the administration of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits (DFRDB) scheme. The Ombudsman observed that any changes made to the law governing DFRDB would have a potential unfair impact on those members who have already made an election. This observation was also made by the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (FADT) References Committee in an inquiry into the accuracy of information provided to DFRDB members, in July 2021.

The Government notes that the Committee concurred with the Ombudsman and FADT Committee conclusion, that changes to the DFRDB scheme would potentially create other unfair outcomes for those who did not commute or only partially commuted.

The Government notes that the DFRDB pension settings have not changed since the Commonwealth Ombudsman completed his 2019 report and is satisfied that the scheme is operating as intended.

Recommendation 2

3.35 The Committee recommends the Australian Government consider reviewing indexation methodology for all defined benefit military pension schemes, with a view to achieving consistency and equity.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

Defined benefit scheme design generally considers the benefits as a whole, while pension indexation is one component of the benefit design, the value of the pension itself, including service based benefit multiple and final salary or final average salary, are an important consideration. Changing one component of the benefit design without consideration of the overall basis and level of benefits provided would be inconsistent with the intentions of the scheme when the design was initially set.

The Government notes that the indexation methodology applying to defined benefit military pension schemes broadly aligns with the indexation standard applied nationally. The principal exception is the DFRDB and DFRB schemes, where from 1 July 2014, a different indexation methodology applied for members over the age of 55.

Both DFRDB and DFRB are closed, unfunded defined benefit schemes, not subject to the superannuation regulatory regime, and reflect the unique conditions of historical military service, which includes early compulsory retirement ages and limited benefit payment options. The Defence Force Retirement Benefits Legislation Amendment (Fair Indexation) Act 2014 amended the indexation methodology for the DFRDB and DFRB schemes to more closely align with Age Pension indexation arrangements. This was a discrete and targeted amendment, deliberately limited to these two schemes in recognition of their special characteristics.

The Government considers that the 2014 Fair Indexation Bill delivered a reasonable, proportionate and carefully scoped reform, and is satisfied that these arrangements appropriately recognise the distinct nature of the DFRDB and DFRB schemes. Accordingly, the Government does not consider that these arrangements should be extended to other military schemes, including the MSBS and ADF Cover, which should continue to closely align with national indexation arrangements.

Recommendation 3

4.123 The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider whether current definitions are adequate, particularly those of 'spouse' and 'mutually dependent', to accommodate couples living apart due to experience of PTSD, other service-related mental illnesses, and domestic and family violence.

Response:

The Government agrees with this recommendation.

The Government agrees to review the current definitions that determine eligibility for reversionary spouse benefits under the ADF defined benefit schemes, having regard to their alignment with broader Government superannuation arrangements for death benefits, and to ensure that relevant terminology is clear and easily interpreted.

The Government notes that Defence remains committed to preventing and responding to family and domestic violence through the Defence Strategy for Preventing and Responding to Family and Domestic Violence 2023-2028 and the associated Action Plan released in December 2024. These initiatives set out practical measures to improve safety, support and system-wide responses for Defence members and their families.

As part of this commitment, Defence is working to strengthen its understanding and response to systems abuse, which can include misuse of organisational processes to further control or harm others. This work is being informed by both lived experience and recommendations from inquiries such as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which recognised the strong link between family and domestic violence and broader wellbeing risks, including suicidality.

Recommendation 4

4.127 The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider allowing Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme members to roll over their Employee Benefit to another superannuation fund of their choice.

Response:

The Government agrees with this recommendation.

The MSBS employee benefit is portable and the Government notes that portability of the employee benefit is an important feature of the MSBS and agrees that the extant provisions are fit for purpose.

The Government agrees to ensure that clear information around portability of MSBS employee benefits is available to members so they can easily understand their options.

Additional Recommendations from Senator Jacqui Lambie

Recommendation 1

1.17 The Australian Government undertake a targeted review of the commutation provisions contained in the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973 to rectify the deficiencies and ensure it aligns with the messaging provided to service personnel at the time of its introduction.

Response:

The Government disagrees with this recommendation.

This recommendation is substantively addressed under Committee Recommendation 1 and accordingly refers to its response to that recommendation.

Recommendation 2

1.18 Where evidence demonstrates that defective administration materially influenced retirement decisions resulting in financial detriment, the Australian Government provide appropriate remedial actions for affected DFRDB members, including Act of Grace payments or other compensation measures.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

The Government notes there is a current mechanism under the Compensation for Detriment caused by Defective Administration (CDDA) Scheme where DFRDB complainants have access to this particular service.

The Government notes that following a recommendation from the Senate Foreign Affairs and Defence Trade References Committee in their 2021 inquiry, Defence implemented a more tailored approach for DFRDB CDDA claims. This increased assistance in navigating the claim process and addressed particular issues raised during the Inquiry.

Recommendation 3

1.23 The Australian Government update the life expectancy tables relied on by the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973.

Response:

The Government disagrees with this recommendation.

This recommendation is substantively addressed under Committee Recommendation 1 and accordingly refers to its response to that recommendation.

Recommendation 4

1.29 The Australian Government commission an independent review of military pension indexation arrangements to determine if reliance on Consumer Price Index-based indexation remains appropriate and whether alternative benchmarks, such as wage growth measures, should be utilised instead to ensure equitable retirement outcomes.

Response:

The Government disagrees with this recommendation.

This recommendation is substantively addressed under Committee Recommendation 2 and accordingly refers to its response to that recommendation.

Recommendation 5

1.34 The Australian Government implement a coordinated whole of government education and awareness strategy to provide former and current ADF members with accessible information about military superannuation and pension arrangements.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

The Government notes that defined benefit schemes can be complex, particularly where they interact with non-superannuation benefits available to veterans and their families.

The Government notes that Defence has made significant changes and improvements to support veterans through their transition from the ADF, and there is ongoing work to build on these changes through implementing recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency is set to open on 1 July 2026 and will expand on current services. The agency will support serving ADF personnel, veterans and their families to prepare for transition to civilian life and navigate the veteran support ecosystem. The agency will provide alternate referral pathways for ex-serving members that support the integration between Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) and third party providers such as CSC.

The Government notes that Defence also supports improved financial literacy through tailored education and resources provided by the ADF Financial Services Consumer Centre (www.adfconsumer.gov.au), with a focus on encouraging personnel to understand their overall financial wellbeing, of which superannuation is one component.

Recommendation 6

1.35 The Australian Government should strengthen coordination between the Department of Defence, the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation to ensure that information provided to members is consistent, accessible and easy to understand.

Response:

The Government agrees with this recommendation.

The Government acknowledges the importance of strengthened coordination between Defence, DVA and CSC to ensure information provided to members is consistent, accessible and easy to understand.

The Veteran Transition Action Plan sets out the actions that key Australian Government agencies aim to achieve to improve transition outcomes. The plan includes a range of priorities and success factors including financial wellbeing actions across key agencies.

The Government notes there is ongoing work between Defence, DVA and CSC, including implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Recommendation 7

1.36 The Department of Defence provide professional financial advice to all ADF members at key career points such as recruitment, mid-career service and transition to civilian life to ensure an accurate understanding of applicable military superannuation or pension schemes.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

The Government acknowledges that there are key milestones throughout an individual's career at which important financial decisions are required, and that ADF members should be equipped to make those decisions.

The Government notes that Defence provides a financial benefit to support ADF personnel to access independent financial advice, within 24 months of the date of transition. This benefit is designed to reduce the cost of obtaining advice and in turn ensure that professional financial advice is accessible for eligible ADF personnel.

The Government notes that Defence also supports improved financial literacy through tailored education and resources provided by the ADF Financial Services Consumer Centre (www.adfconsumer.gov.au), with a focus on encouraging personnel to understand their overall financial wellbeing, of which superannuation is one component.

Recommendation 8

The Australian Government review section 37 of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973 for relevance and necessity, with the aim of ensuring all applications are referred to the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation for independent assessment, without requiring the opinion of the Chief of the Defence Force.

Response:

The Government agrees to this recommendation.

The Government agrees to review section 37 of the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Act 1973, with an aim to streamline the retrospective invalidity application process for DFRDB members.

With a view to improving consistency across the ADF superannuation schemes, and timeliness of claims processing, the Government will expand the review of section 37 of the DFRDB Act to include section 51(6) of the Defence Forces Retirement Benefits Act 1948.

Recommendation 9

1.48 The Australian Government revise reversionary pension arrangements across military superannuation and pension schemes to ensure that surviving spouses and dependants retain eligibility when they are living apart from a member due to illness or safety concerns.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

The Government notes that this recommendation is substantively addressed under Committee Recommendation 3 and accordingly refers to its response to that recommendation.

Recommendation 10

1.51 The Australian Government provide sufficient resourcing for the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation to ensure its claim management team is appropriately staffed to process claims in a timely manner, consistent with the needs of serving and former ADF members.

Response:

The Government notes this recommendation.

The Government notes Defence and CSC will continue to work together on prioritising resources to improve claims processing times and the overall standard of service provided to veterans, consistent with the needs of serving and former serving ADF members.

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Australian Government response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security report:

Review of the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a state sponsor of terrorism under the Criminal Code

June2026

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that the Government consider whether sufficient resources have been allocated to law enforcement and security agencies to enable them to appropriately respond to information about Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) activities in Australia, including in relation to financial flows, the display of prohibited symbols and intimidation and harassment by the IRGC of Australian residents who are critical of the Islamic Republic regime.

The Australian Government notes this recommendation and will continue to consider appropriate resource allocation for law enforcement and security agencies to respond to Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps activity in Australia.

The Australian Federal Police remains agile and flexible in the use and reprioritisation of resources. Australian Federal Police resources are focused on protecting the community and disrupting threats and crimes that undermine Australia's sovereignty, social cohesion, democracy, financial systems and future prosperity. The Australian Federal Police prioritises high value, high impact targets with a national security connection. Investigations into terrorism financing, prohibited symbols and intimidation and harassment of Australian residents by state sponsors of terrorism are taken very seriously by the Australian Federal Police. These investigations are complex and are underpinned by specialist capability such as intelligence, forensics and financial analysis.

The Government also maintains a list of prohibited state sponsor of terrorism symbols, including those of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which are publicly available on the Australian National Security website (www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/).

Recommendation 2

To promote continued reporting by community of information about Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) activities in Australia, the Committee recommends that the Government consider how communication can be improved, including in relevant languages other than English, to provide assurance to the community that reports to the National Security Hotline are acted upon by relevant authorities.

The Australian Government agrees to this recommendation and will continue to consider any communication enhancements to promote community reporting of potential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps activity in Australia through relevant channels.

Australia's National Security Hotline is the central point of contact to report concerns about possible signs of terrorism and foreign interference in our community. The Hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and a Translating and Interpreting Service is available to callers. Callers can remain anonymous, and every piece of information is treated seriously. Operators know what to do with information provided. Where necessary and permitted by law, they pass information on to law enforcement and security agencies for further analysis. The Hotline provides a reporting function and cannot provide advice or information on specific operational or intelligence matters, including the status or outcome of a caller's report.

The National Security Hotline Online Report is also available for individuals to complete an online form to report possible threats to national security, including possible terrorist and foreign interference activities. Individuals can choose to remain anonymous, and while it is currently only available in English, the Department of Home Affairs (the Department) is working on offering this service in more languages. The webform can be found on the Australian National Security website (https://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/what-can-i-do/report-suspicious-behaviour/national-security-hotline-online-report).

More information on the National Security Hotline is available on the Department of Home Affairs website (www.homeaffairs.gov.au/about-us/our-portfolios/national-security/security-coordination/national-security-hotline) or the Australian National Security website (www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/what-can-i-do/report-suspicious-behaviour).

The Department manages a network of Regional Directors, Counter Foreign Interference Partnerships officers and and Community Liaison Officers who engage with a wide range of multicultural community stakeholders in all states and territories in Australia, providing a mechanism for information exchange.

The Department has also established an online Counter Foreign Interference Community Support Hub (Support Hub) available at www.cfi.gov.au. The Support Hub includes resources to assist communities to identify what activities constitute foreign interference and how to report foreign interference.

The Support Hub is a key Government initiative to combat foreign interference in Australia, including by encouraging communities to report suspected foreign interference.

The Support Hub includes a page on how to report foreign interference to the National Security Hotline and what happens after you make a report, including explaining National Security Hotline processes (www.cfi.gov.au/report). This page details that reports made to the National Security Hotline can be made anonymously and are passed to law enforcement and security agencies for consideration. The page also details that while individuals will not receive feedback or updates after making a report to protect the security of investigations, all information provided, no matter how small, may assist investigations.

The Department has worked with the community to codesign the Support Hub, tailoring it to the needs of everyday Australians seeking support when foreign interference presents a threat to their lives.

The Support Hub will expand in 2026 to include content tailored to various diaspora communities, including 23 language translations.

The Support Hub complements the Government's publication Countering Foreign Interference in Australia: Working together towards a more secure Australia, published in January 2025. The publication spells out the threat to Australia from foreign interference, how individuals and organisations can protect themselves, and how to report. This document has been published at homeaffairs.gov.au in 23 different languages.

The Department's work complements broader, ongoing community engagement across government, including through the Australian Federal Police.

The Australian Federal Police is focused on early identification of harm, working with community and partners to empower and inform crime prevention, social cohesion and resilience efforts. The Australian Federal Police is committed to continuously learning from and building on community partnerships to ensure communities are safe, resilient and empowered, being aware and protected from threats before they occur.

Through its Community Liaison Teams, the Australian Federal Police continues to maintain a strong engagement with the community to help Australians by:

The Community Liaison Teams deliver information sessions and crime prevention education on serious issues that affect our culturally and linguistically diverse communities and diaspora. These engagements also focus on early identification of emerging global and national threats that may impact our social cohesion and prosperity.

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that, in enforcing criminal offences and implementing any migration decisions related to the listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a state sponsor of terrorism, Australian Government agencies distinguish between genuine members and supporters of the IRGC and persons who were involuntarily conscripted into the IRGC as part of compulsory service in Iran.

The Australian Government agrees to this recommendation and will continue to support agencies in distinguishing between genuine members and supporters of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and persons who were involuntarily conscripted into the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for compulsory service in Iran.

Protections currently exist in the Criminal Code and, in enforcing any criminal offence, the Australian Federal Police (in consultation with Commonwealth and State partners) considers each case on its merits with regard to procedural and general fairness when deciding on appropriate treatments and investigative strategies, including whether to initiate a prosecution.

In enforcing criminal offences, the application of the offence will depend on the particular factual circumstances, and defences may also be available under the relevant legislation. For example, a person is not criminally responsible for an offence if they carry out the conduct under duress. In some instances, this may be applicable to conscription to an entity.

In relation to migration decisions, all non-citizens who wish to enter or remain in Australia must satisfy the character requirements of section 501 of the Migration Act 1958. A person can fail the character test for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:

Prior compulsory service in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps does not automatically result in visa refusal. All visa decisions are case by case, based on conduct, associations and security risk. Any visa refusal consideration on this basis would be subject to natural justice provisions.