Michael Ronaldson (Victoria, Liberal Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

The Abbott government is very proudly putting over $12 billion into veterans' affairs in the 2014-15 budget; $6.5 billion in pensions and income support; and $5.4 million in health services. This is $12 billion, and this figure is very important because, if you look at the quantum of that figure, that is the same quantum of Labor's legacy of debt—$12,000 million is the same amount we are spending on veterans' affairs. This is the magnitude of the legacy that has been left those opposite.

I want to go through some of the budget commitments today for Senator Bernardi. We are delivering of course on our DFRB/DFRDB indexation commitment opposed by those opposite for three long years—delivered and delivered in full. We are putting $1 million back into advocacy funding—again, ripped out from those advocacy services providing services to veterans all over this nation, the length and breadth of this nation, and just ripped out by the former minister. We are expanding mental health services for veterans. We are recognising— (Time expired)