Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

First, I would like to thank Senator Davey and Senator Shoebridge for their contributions to the debate on the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures No. 2) Bill 2023. I again acknowledge the continuing tradition of bipartisan support for veterans, and I thank the Senate for this important amendment bill. This legislation will enhance the support and services available to veterans and their families. Supporting veterans and their families is one of our key priorities, and that is why the recent budget had such a significant focus on rebuilding the Department of Veterans' Affairs in order to ensure the foundations are laid to improve access to services and support for veterans and their families. This bill also enhances support for ADF firefighters who served prior to 2004. It also extends the treatment of certain income from specified employment programs as exempt income for income support means testing, and it extends the availability of rent assistance for veterans and their partners who are overseas but unable to return to Australia due to exceptional circumstances, such as those experienced in recent years with COVID-19. Additionally, this bill expands eligibility for access to services under the Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support Package, which is available to families in crisis. We expanded this package through legislation last year to a much wider cohort of veterans and families. Now it will also pick up grandcarer families, a gap we identified and funded in the May budget.

The Albanese Labor government is committed to establishing the strongest foundations to support our service personnel, veterans and their families, and I commend the bill to the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.