Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in relation to the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2013. As we have heard, the bill will clarify the approval and authorisation arrangements for travel for treatment for eligible persons and attendants under the Veterans' Entitlements Act and the Australian Participants in British Nuclear Tests (Treatment) Act. In 2012-13, the department processed over 165,000 claims for reimbursement for travel expenses for treatment purposes. These travel expenses can include costs for transport, meals and accommodation for eligible persons and, when necessary, an attendant to accompany the eligible person. Rather than repeat all the details of the bill before the House—I refer those listening tonight to the comments from the Assistant Minister for Defence—I would like to refer briefly to a veterans related activity which I am sure enjoys bipartisan support in this place.

On Saturday night I had the opportunity to join with the Governor-General, Quentin Bryce, the Chief of the Defence Force, David Hurley, the War Memorial Director, Brendan Nelson, the Chief of Navy, Ray Griggs, and several other people of significance within the defence industry at a presentation of what can only be described as a unique and inspiring theatre production called The Long Way Home. The Long Way Home is part of a performing arts program to assist the rehabilitation and recovery of men and women in the ADF who have been wounded or injured or have become ill in service. This is an extraordinary production and I would urge those listening to the broadcast tonight to look out for opportunities to see it in their own city when The Long Way Home tours throughout Australia.

The moving and personal stories of the Australian Defence Force personnel who performed on Saturday night reflect a very recent Australian experience of time at war. The Long Way Home builds on other Defence programs and treatment options for ADF personnel who have been wounded or injured or become ill in service. The ADF members that were cast in this play have had direct access to specialised health support as well. It is hard for people who have not seen the production to actually understand what is involved, but there are 13 service men and women who have been working directly with the Sydney Theatre Company and who have shared personal and compelling stories with the playwright and been mentored by some of Australia's finest theatrical talent. It is a unique collaboration of Defence Force personnel who have been either injured physically or suffered from post-traumatic stress and have worked with talented actors and the resources of the Sydney Theatre Company to bring their stories to the stage. It is a remarkable collaboration and an Australian first. I give great credit first of all to these very brave men and women who are performing this inspirational play on stage. It is an incredibly raw experience for them to tell their stories through the script, which was prepared by the writer Daniel Keene and directed by Stephen Rayne from the Sydney Theatre Company.

As Saturday was the opening night, I suppose it was even more raw and emotional for the young actors involved. They were supported by their family and friends and their Defence Force colleagues. It was an emotional night for all involved. I would have to say that there would not have been a dry eye in the house during the course of the evening as they told their experiences. Great credit needs to go to our Chief of the Defence Forces, David Hurley, for having the courage to bring this concept to Australia. As General Hurley pointed out on the night, he had seen a similar program in the UK and wanted to bring it to Australia, but wanted to give it a uniquely Australian flavour. It certainly has that.

The Long Way Home is also supported by some particularly high-profile patrons, again crossing the boundaries between the arts and Defence. Australian actor Jack Thompson, who is no stranger to anyone in this place, and the Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith are the two patrons. It is part of the official Centenary of Anzac program as well.

This is a new and different approach for the ADF to assist with the rehabilitation and the recovery of wounded, injured or ill personnel. It builds on the more mainstream Defence support programs which are in place. It is an opportunity, I think, which Defence will probably explore even further in the future, because it is giving the participants the chance to improve their movement, their speech and their attention span, to build their self-confidence and to take their ailments out into the public eye and explain what they have gone through, through their own eyes and through their own words.

From Sydney, The Long Way Home production will tour to Darwin, then to Brisbane, Wollongong, Townsville, Canberra, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and that will occur over the next two months. Tickets—I will give a free plug—are on sale now, and I would encourage anyone in those areas to seriously consider purchasing tickets, supporting our ADF personnel and also gaining a better understanding of the trauma that they have been through.

I think it is fair to say that, while some of the participants obviously have suffered physical injuries, the focus of the play is the issue of post-traumatic stress disorder. There are a whole range of services which are available to our personnel who are suffering from PTSD. In addition to this activity, Defence will continue to implement programs and initiatives to reduce the stigma and the barriers, to improve access to treatments and encourage ADF personnel and their families to seek help as early as possible. I think The Long Way Home is going to be very successful in breaking down one of those barriers and breaking down those stigmas for personnel who may be suffering from mental health issues.

As I said earlier, it is very raw. It is an emotional event. It gives some real-life experiences. I think it will be of great benefit to Defence and also to the broader community to understand that these young men and women who we put in harm's way, who take up the uniform of our nation and put themselves in harm's way, are not robots, and they can be hurt. They can be hurt physically and mentally. I think this play brings it home very strongly to the viewing public. Their families and friends have already known about it. I think that, for us who have not had that direct experience of seeing the outcomes of severe physical or mental injuries, to see the personnel live their lives on stage is extraordinarily compelling. So I congratulate everyone who has been involved in the project.

The ADF will continue to support members with post-traumatic stress disorder and ensure that they have the full range of services available to them through both Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs. I would like to end my contribution tonight by commending the Australian Defence Force for taking the health and wellbeing of its veterans very seriously. I commend the writer of this production, Daniel Keene, who I mentioned previously; the director, Stephen Rayne; and everyone involved in the Sydney Theatre Company. Finally, I would like to commend Brigadier Alison Creagh, who was the project director, coordinator and commander of the ADF personnel involved in this project. I should not assume, but I do not think Alison has ever been so nervous as she was on the night, having her personnel up on stage. It was a whole different theatre of combat for her. Alison was very excited and relieved, I think, at the end, as was General Hurley. They were very proud to see their personnel up on stage reliving their stories. Of course, the greatest congratulations of all have to go to the ADF personnel who took to the stage, alongside only a couple of professional actors, and delivered a commanding performance which deserved and received a standing ovation.

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