Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Madam President. My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. DVA requires doctors to provide medical evidence for liability and personal injury claims for veterans, but doctors are reporting that DVA is failing to pay for reports already completed and submitted. Not surprisingly, some doctors are now refusing to provide any more reports for veterans until their outstanding invoices are paid by the Department of Veterans' Affairs. This puts veterans in the middle of a payment dispute between DVA and their treating doctors. It is shameful, with claims that can't progress because the DVA needs medical evidence that isn't available, or they make a determination without it, or they force us into the hands of mlcoa, which is not our choice. This is causing significant distress to veterans and threatens to further reduce the pool of doctors willing to work with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. How many liability and personal injury report invoices are currently unpaid, and how many doctors are waiting for payment? I'm sorry I have to ask this in here, but I've been asking DVA for quite some time and they will not give me that answer.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Lambie, for your question, and, as the President indicated, welcome back. You ask a very specific question around the number of invoices that are presently being processed and any indication about the time taken to process invoices submitted by our medical staff to DVA. I don't have that information with me. If I can locate anything of that kind, I'll return to the chamber. More broadly, of course the government does want to see claims handled well and the experience for veterans improve. I think we've demonstrated our bona fides in coming to government and making very significant investments in the claims-handling architecture for DVA, because we recognise that the previous arrangements were totally unsatisfactory. This has seen very significant improvements in the time taken for veterans to be able to access benefits, because we want veterans to have a positive experience and we want our veterans to feel supported. As I've indicated, I don't have specific information about the issue that you raised, but if I do have anything I can return at some future moment.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, first supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) | Link to this | Hansard source

From the discussions I've had with doctors, I'm aware of dozens of outstanding invoices, and DVA is not engaging with those doctors to resolve the basis for withholding payment. My office has raised this issue with the minister's office on multiple occasions, yet veterans and doctors are still waiting. If a private business knowingly receives goods or services without paying for them, it might be considered theft. It's definitely not okay. Why does DVA consider waiting months for payments to pay their doctors acceptable?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, as I indicated in my response to your primary question, I don't have the factual information that you refer to in your question. I will return to the chamber if there is any further information I can provide.

Sue Lines (President) | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Lambie, second supplementary?

Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie Network) | Link to this | Hansard source

DVA has failed to pay medical practitioners for liability and personal injury reports, with some invoices outstanding for months. Why should doctors carry DVA's financial burden? Will the minister commit today to pay the outstanding invoices and the interest due on those invoices, as per the government's Supplier Pay On-Time or Pay Interest Policy?

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) | Link to this | Hansard source

Again, Senator Lambie, your question rests on a number of assertions around facts that I don't have available to me. I will say this. The government, of course, is committed to paying suppliers who provide services to Australians within all of the ordinary program requirements, including all of the requirements about integrity and record keeping and all of those matters. If I have any information about the specific matters you've raised, I will return to the chamber.