Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I'm proud to rise and support the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Budget Measures) Bill 2022, which directly responds to recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. It also addresses recommendations of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade, and it's coming off a lack of action of the previous coalition government. The former Prime Minister raised many hopes amongst veterans, for years promising change, but those hopes were cruelly cut down time and time again. This bill is filling in the gaps and mending the broken trust that ex-service personnel have felt after nine long years of being left behind by the previous government.

We're here to change that and are finally legislating on something that should have been acted on before we reached this crisis point. We've consistently shown up for veterans, even when we were in opposition. We've always done what we can. And we will always staunchly back more support for our veterans. It's not just about patriotism, it's actually about getting things done.

We instigated an inquiry during the previous government to try and get the now opposition to act for veterans. Despite their coming from bipartisan committee, the government still didn't act on those recommendations. Honestly, I feel sorry for those opposite who are passionate about veterans affairs, because we did work together in the last parliament to try and make substantial change. Yet nothing got done because the leadership couldn't deliver. When the Senate committee's findings were introduced to the parliament in the middle of last year they were ignored by the previous government. Calls from veterans groups and members of the veterans community were ignored. Calls from within their own party room were ignored by the previous government. The advice that came through from the committee wasn't even that radical. It suggested just a moderate increase, something that could have easily been instigated. There were reports of understaffing and a backlog of claims, something that could have easily been fixed with legislation. But the previous government were just unable to do the job to address this.

Now Labor is here, finally delivering on the findings and promises of this inquiry. It was Labor, despite being in opposition, that started the Senate inquiry into veterans affairs, and it will be Labor who finally delivers for the veteran community.

We proudly took the policies behind this bill to the election. We know that the previous government were all announcement and no delivery when it came to these things. Labor is here doing the things that matter for those who have served. When those opposite were in office they had the chance to provide better support to veterans. While we welcome their support for the bill now, why did we have to wait so long? That's the question veterans ask.

This legislation will increase both the fortnightly payments and the services available to veterans. We are tackling the staffing issues that have led to hundreds of thousands of claims not even being looked at, because of how understaffed the department was before we came to power. Labor is moving quickly with DVA to make sure it is adequately equipped to help veterans and get through the current backlog. We're doing this through a range of measures. We are investing $233.9 million to hire 500 new staff at DVA to provide more support in getting through claims; committing $24.3 million to provide increased support to veterans who are having their claims processed and to improve future capacity to prepare for when there may be an increase in claims; and committing $15.5 million to support DVA's continued engagement with the royal commission.

We are moving quickly to fulfil our election commitments and we urge the parliament to do the same. The quicker we approve these administrative capabilities, the quicker support will be given to those in the community. The fact that this has taken so long and that these administrative issues have gotten so bad is a real testament to the previous government. When you change the government you change the nation. They had their head in the clouds with no regard to the boots on the ground.

We are tackling the effects of the cost-of-living crisis that most veterans are especially vulnerable to and we are giving them support and security. We're committed to doing this by increasing the TPI payment by an extra $1,000 a year from the beginning of next year. This will mean $38.46 will be added to the fortnightly payment. That is on top of the biannual indexation increases. There will also be an increase to the temporary special rate payment under the VEA.

These are promises that we took to the last election. I am proud to stand before you today and say that Labor is delivering these promises. Some of those opposite should take note of how this is done in case they are ever back in government again. Through this bill the Albanese government provides better support for veterans and their families by improving the claims process, simplifying legislation, giving proper financial compensation and providing more overall support for veterans. This will have a massive effect on those who have served and their families. It will help some 27,000 veterans and their families, which is why we are working hard to get this through. The sooner the support comes the better. I think both sides of the House should agree on that.

This legislation will have overarching effects on all communities in Australia and throughout all of our electorates. It will provide supports and a boost to all veterans in our communities, which will have only a positive impact. In my electorate of McEwen this legislation will help some 1,409 DVA clients and 622 people who receive VEA pension benefits. This support to the members of our community who have served this country with exceptional honour and bravery will have huge positive impacts across our community.

For a wider look, this legislation will affect some 255,000 veterans Australia-wide. The legislation will help over 86,000 dependants who receive benefits from these schemes. No-one will lose out from this legislation. We just need to get it done. This legislation will provide ex-service personnel with stability and support for them to help reintegrate into civilian life. This is our way of doing what we can to help pay them back.

I'm very passionate about getting this legislation through as quickly as possible, as I've seen the need for this system to be fixed. The system has been beyond capacity. In another debate yesterday I reflected on working with veterans in the McEwen community. I was contacted by Len. Len is a veteran in our community. He had been waiting over 1,000 days just to have his claim heard—not even approved; just heard. By any stretch of the imagination that's appalling. That is a result of what we had under the Morrison government. Veterans were left behind. It's appalling. It's not what should be happening. I know there are those on opposite who genuinely care and who know that this is a problem. I don't think any of us sitting in this room today would say that it's fair and reasonable, especially to those who have given so much for our community.

The DVA has had a real problem with the way it has been working with veterans and how it supports them. Due to a lack of funding to the department and being so understaffed, it just could not get through the claims. He's in the room, and he'll probably get a shock that I'm being nice to him, but when I spoke to Minister Keogh, he made sure that Len's claim was not only assessed but approved within 24 hours. That is what happens when you are proactive. Len said to me on the phone: 'The sad part is it was approved using the same information that I had given DVA 1,000 days ago.' Nothing had changed. It was just that he hadn't been given the opportunity to have his claim looked at, but now, not only was it looked at but it was addressed. The importance of that can never be underestimated. For three years this poor fellow had been under the stress of waiting, not knowing if he was going to get support that was owed to him. He is not alone. He is one of many who go through this situation, and he's one of many who have been suffering because of the backlog of work at DVA.

I know that members on both sides want to see that veterans are looked after. We cannot see veterans of today going through the problems that faced Vietnam veterans. We have that lesson to be learned—we know that—and we have to do all we can to fix that. We, as a parliament, make decisions that send young men and women out and sometimes bring them home broken. We have an obligation to do what we can to fix that. It is not a partisan thing. I know the member for Riverina, over there, is passionate about this, and I know he supports the idea that we have—he has Kapooka, so he might have seen the odd soldier come through there daily. He knows what goes on, just as we know what goes on, and we have a job to do. I know that if the parliament works together we can get on with that.

This is a commitment we have to make to veterans. This legislation will bring some of the change that is sorely needed in the veteran community. I know there are many other veterans who are in a desperate situation. We have to do everything we can to work together to get this sorted out as quickly as possible. When you talk to organisations like Save Our Services you see them doing a great deal of work to help veterans who have got out of the armed services transition to civilian life by getting them jobs in construction, because the one thing that comes through, when you talk to a lot of veterans, is they don't feel valued anymore. Giving them the dignity of employment and support and the help they need is vital in giving these guys opportunity.

I've mentioned Save Our Services before, with Jeb in Sunbury, who felt so bad that on Anzac Day he was going to give me back his medal. Nothing turned my stomach more than that. This guy gave everything, came back injured and could not get the support he needed. Fortunately, he didn't go through with it, and I'm grateful he didn't. That's not where our support should end. It's why we should be supporting this bill. We've begun the work, beginning with the hiring process to help get claims through. Let's get this legislated so we can get this job done, because the wait and lack of action have been disappointing for those sitting in parliament—on both sides, as I've said. I know people on that side who are disappointed with what has happened. It's disappointing for us who have a big interest in defence and veterans, but it's even worse for those who have been all but forgotten in the past decade. Together as a parliament, let's do the right thing and get this legislation through for people who have given us so much. I commend the bill to the House.

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