Senate debates Questions without Notice
Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:12 pm
My question is to the Minister representing the Prime Minister, Senator Wong. Yesterday, Minister Keogh admitted, 'I got it wrong,' when he initially refused to meet veterans who'd come to Parliament House concerned about Labor's $5,000 allied health limit. This is becoming a habit. He got it wrong when Labor tried to impose a 20-year limit on retrospective Defence honours and was forced to withdraw that legislation after veterans revolted. He got it wrong when his government stripped funding from Invictus Australia only to restore it after another backlash. And he got it wrong when he withdrew longstanding travel support from Doug and Kaye Baird—the parents of Corporal Cameron Baird VC, MG—before reversing that decision as well. How many times does Matt Keogh have to admit he got it wrong or be forced into an embarrassing backflip before the Prime Minister loses confidence in this minister for veterans affairs?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
2:13 pm
I thank the senator for the question. If you would indulge me, I do want to take this opportunity, on the second question, to acknowledge our friends from Japan and Tonga who have joined us for this question time. I'm trying to be very polite because you are here.
But, Senator, I think that really is the same question that was asked, with different words but the same propositions, by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate. I understand the political point that is being made, but we don't agree with it. What I'd say to you is that, yes, the Prime Minister does have confidence in the minister. I would say to you that the minister has acknowledged what he has done wrong. I would say, also, that the minister has been very diligent in ensuring that the recommendations of the royal commission have been acted upon and are being acted upon. I can say—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
Just on a point of order on direct relevance, Madam President, I asked the minister about the—
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
pattern of behaviour from this minister.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
What we are concerned about is ensuring that our veterans are treated with the care and respect they deserve and that appropriate support is provided, which is why the government has made substantial investments in the Department of Veterans' Affairs. It's why the government has been consulting on the implementation of the recommendations of the royal commission, and it is why the government will continue to work with veterans to ensure that, in particular, the responses to the royal commission are implemented. To date, I advised the government has invested over $2 billion in funding to support initiatives in response to the royal commission. This is one of the most significant investments in veterans' wellbeing in Australian history and it has occurred under this government, this minister and, importantly, the Prime Minister, because we do believe that veterans should be respected and supported.
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:16 pm
Minister, again, look at the pattern: medals, backflip; Invictus, backflip; the Baird family, backflip; meeting veterans, 'I got it wrong.' And now veterans are again pleading with the government to reconsider its $5,000 allied health threshold. How many more times do veterans have to force Minister Keogh to do his job before the Prime Minister finds someone who'll do it properly in the first place?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
At the conclusion of your question, Senator, you noted the $5,000 threshold. I appreciate you may not have paid much attention to my answer previously, but I again would say that the veterans—people can criticise, but could we at least have facts—will continue to have access—
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I would appreciate it if Senator McGrath would stop shouting at me across the table.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Senator McGrath should stop shouting at me across the table
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
No, I'm in debate with Senator Wong
Sue Lines President
Senator McGrath, come to order.
Senator McGrath, I've asked you to come to order. You can either come to order and be quiet or leave the chamber. Minister Wong, please continue.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Thank you. What I was saying is that it is misleading to fail to recognise what I have now told the chamber on multiple occasions, which is that the advice I have is that veterans will continue to have access to allied health services above the $5,000 threshold where there is a clinical need.
James McGrath Queensland, Liberal National Party, Shadow Special Minister of State
The veterans are wrong?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
No, I'm saying what you said was wrong, Senator, not what veterans have said. (Time expired)
Bridget McKenzie Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development
2:18 pm
(): Minister, these aren't isolated mistakes. Again and again, veterans raise the alarm and Minister Keogh refuses to listen. Public pressure builds, and then your government retreats. At what point does the Prime Minister accept that the problem is no longer the individual decision but Minister Keogh's judgement as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs?
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
Well, I again would say that we believe—the Albanese government believes—that veterans should be treated with respect and should be provided with support.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Senators:
Opposition senators interjecting—
Sue Lines President
Order!
Opposition senators interjecting—
Senator McKenzie, which part of 'Order!' does not apply to you? Minister Wong, please continue.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I will start again. We believe those who serve our country should be—
Opposition senators interjecting—
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
I will start again. The Albanese Labor government believes veterans should be treated with respect. Veterans should be supported and cared for. We believe that those who serve our country should be treated with respect and care. This is driven, for example—
An opposition senator interjecting—
If I may—
Sue Lines President
I have called for order two or three times and been completely ignored. That is disrespectful to me as the President of the Senate. I've asked you to come to order or leave the chamber.
Penny Wong SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs
This is why we dealt with the chronic underfunding and underresourcing of the Department of Veterans' Affairs that occurred under you opposite, where 42,000 veteran compensation claims were not dealt with. Those who lecture now ought to remember what you delivered in government. (Time expired)