Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I don't doubt for a moment the member for Fisher's sincere interest in veterans in moving this motion, but the motion is disingenuous. As the member for Hasluck has, quite rightly, pointed out, we are dealing with and talking about a pilot program which would have ended on 30 June 2022 under the previous coalition government and was extended for a further 12 months until the end of June 2023. With all pilot programs it's very likely that they will come to an end, and the minister, quite rightly, has committed a whole range of resources to continue support for veterans across this country.

We have about half a million veterans throughout Australia. When you add their spouses, partners, siblings and other close family members, there are literally millions of people that may be impacted by the lives of those veterans. The reality is that too many veterans struggle through life. They struggle to adjust to civilian life once their service ends. We know that throughout the veteran community there are high rates of family breakdown, high rates of suicide, high rates of divorce, high rates of PTSD, high rates of homelessness and perhaps high rates of alcohol and other drug use.

There is considerable evidence that military service does change people's lives. It's a unique type of service and, quite often, those who engage in wartime activities experience horrific scenes. For many veterans, it's only their mates who served along with them who truly understand their struggles. When enlistment ends, many of them then have to deal with the bureaucracy of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, which more often than not simply adds to their frustration, leaving them disillusioned and feeling abandoned. They expect more from their governments than civic leaders turning up at commemorative events and military services, and there applauding their bravery and patriotism. All too often they are left to turn to local veterans support groups for the support they need. In my own region, it is volunteer groups like the Vietnam Veterans Association Northern Suburbs Sub-branch, the Para District Branch of the National Servicemen's Association, the RSL clubs, the Peter Badcoe Ex-Military Rehabilitation Centre and Operation Unity, and individuals like Dr Glen Edwards who, quite often, are there to pick up the pieces and lend their support and assistance to veterans when they need it.

The Albanese Labor government, however, is indeed committed to supporting our veterans and their families. I commend the minister, who is in the chamber right now, for the work he has done thus far and for the statement that he made in response to the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, where he outlined a whole series of strategies and support measures that arise from those recommendations that this government is committed to. More importantly, he has committed $234 million for 500 frontline DVA staff to deal with the backlog of claims. I note those claims have been reduced by 23 per cent in the last six months alone. He has also committed $46.7 million for 10 new veteran hubs across Australia—they will respond to the varied needs I referred to earlier on—and $24 million for the Veterans Employment Program.

Members opposite had been in government for 20 of the last 26 years. They've had considerable opportunities to address all the matters they now come into the chamber and raise. Indeed, looking at their track record, whether it was to do with the royal commission into veteran suicide, the awarding of the VC to Teddy Sheean—indeed, even in the last government we know there were reports their own minister was at odds with his own cabinet over support for our veterans. The government is getting on with the job, as it quite rightly should, to support our veterans. Yes, there'll be a further report when the final report of the royal commission is handed down, and I know the minister will do what he can to respond to the recommendations in that report.

See this speech in context