Stuart Robert (Fadden, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

The Veterans’ Affairs Legislation Amendment (2015 Budget Measures) Bill gives effect to three budget measures that benefit the defence and ex-service community. These benefits begin with enhancements to the Veterans Vocational And Rehabilitation Scheme, operating under the Veterans Entitlements Act. In that line, let me thank those who have contributed to the debate and those who have spoken on what is an important bill in the life of our veteran community. The enhancements within the bill, in the scheme, will expand the range of services available to include medical, management and psychosocial services. These additional services can further assist a participant's recovery through comprehensive individually tailored rehabilitation interventions that can include treatment monitoring in case management, pain management, family education and counselling to assist a participant to adjust to their disability. Further enhancements to the scheme will result in recipients of special and intermediate rate disability pension being able to retain more of their pension and a more favourable pension adjustment regime for participants who start the scheme but experience prolonged absences from the workforce. These enhancements to the scheme are aimed at encouraging the participation of more eligible veterans and members so they can benefit from the substantial long-term health benefits that are associated with rejoining or remaining in the workforce.

The beneficial measures in this bill continue with the streamlining of the appeal process under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act—MRCA. This will be of benefit to future, current and former members of the ADF covered by MRCA. Under the current arrangements, a claimant may seek a right of review through either but not both the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission or the Veterans' Review Board. They then have a second right of review to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The bill will streamline the appeal process under the MRCA by creating a single first-tier appeal path directly to the Veterans' Review Board. This will supply the process for claimants by removing the complexities that are created by different time limits for the submission for appeals, the different times taken to determine the review and the impact of the choice of appeal paths and entitlements to legal aid and the awarding of costs for appeals that progress to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. The streamlined single appeal path is strongly supported by the veteran and ex-service community.

Finally, the bill will amend the Defence Act to enable the repatriation of the remains of eight service dependants buried in Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia if requested to do so by the families of the deceased. The change in government policy in January 1966 meant that, whilst most veterans killed in action in Vietnam were repatriated to Australia for burial, 24 were buried in Terendak Military Cemetery in Malaysia. On 25 May this year the Prime Minister offered to repatriate the remains of these and a number of other Australian servicemen and some service dependents buried in Terendak Military Cemetery. The amendments will enable the War Graves Regulations made under the Defence Act to authorise the repatriation of the eight service dependants if requested to do so by their families.

These 2015 budget measures contribute to the government's strong commitment to recognising and meeting the needs of current and former members of the Australian Defence Force and their families, and I strongly commend the bill to the House

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

Message from the Governor-General recommending appropriation announced.

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