Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

HINCH () (): My question is to Minister Payne, representing the Minister for Veterans' Affairs. This weekend marks the start of the Invictus Games, a great event for wounded and sick veterans. A few months ago you acknowledged the mistreatment of veterans by Veterans' Affairs and committed to improving the culture of that organisation. What's been done between then and now to change the way the department treats those who put their lives on the line serving our country? Have guidelines been updated? Have cases been settled without dragging vets through the courts?

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Hinch for his question. I have had a long and passionate interest in the Invictus Games since their inception and, most particularly, in my previous role when I worked closely with the team that represented Australia in Toronto last year. I look forward to seeing the extraordinary efforts of those who are representing Australia in my home city of Sydney, starting this coming weekend. Through the issues that Senator Hinch raised previously, and certainly through issues that had otherwise been drawn to the attention of the department, I know that there has been a focus from the new secretary, Liz Cosson, who has extensive experience and background in military service as a veteran herself, on the importance of effective, efficient, supportive and caring processes for working with and managing the challenges that many veterans face as they exit the ADF and take up new roles in life. Whilst I don't have with me specific examples to provide for Senator Hinch, I met with Secretary Cosson following the senator's previous questions on these matters. I am confident that she is diligently engaged in that process with the senior officials and the leadership of her department, and I undertake to seek further information from her and to provide that to Senator Hinch on notice.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

A supplementary question, Senator Hinch.

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister, I'm happy for you to take this question on notice but I would like an answer. I'm wondering how many disability support claims are still out there and yet to be settled between DVA and veterans. You know we've had cases where hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent on outside lawyers taking on the veterans.

Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't have that specific detail available to me today, but I will take that on notice.

The PR ESIDENT: Senator Hinch, do you have a final supplementary question?

Derryn Hinch (Victoria, Derryn Hinch's Justice Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I forfeit the second supplementary for previously published reasons.