Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

I'm not able to comment on the Minister for Veterans' Affairs' particular remarks. I'm not sure to what Senior Lambie is referring, to be honest. But clearly in the operation of government, whether it's the Department of Defence or the Department of Veterans' Affairs, there are things that we do well; there are things that we can always do better. I think it's important for government to be able to acknowledge that, and that's one of the reasons I referred to our efforts to ensure a seamless transition for those who are wishing to leave Defence into the veteran space, whether they are a client of the Department of Veterans' Affairs or not. It is very important for us to acknowledge the service that those men and women have given and what they have given to their country—not just them but their families—and to make sure that we support them as best we are possibly able to in the time after they leave the Defence organisation.