Jordon Steele-John (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Lambie, move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) Anti-Poverty Week is from 13 to 19 October 2019, and 17 October 2019 is the United Nations Day for the Eradication of Poverty,

  (ii) individuals who have served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) have a right to be able to access comprehensive support services to enable them to reintegrate into civilian society,

  (iii) recent estimates suggest that Australian veterans experience homelessness at a rate almost triple that of the general population,

  (iv) factors such as age, poor mental and physical health, substance use and abuse, lack of access to support services, length of military service and accessibility of the housing and job market increase the likelihood of recent veterans experiencing homelessness, and

  (v) recent research suggests that, despite services being in place for veterans, the information provided by the ADF and the Department of Veterans' Affairs as to entitlements is insufficient, and that understanding and accessing these entitlements remains unnecessarily burdensome to veterans and their families; and

(b) calls on the Federal Government to:

  (i) ensure ADF personnel are comprehensively informed of their entitlements prior to discharge, provide increased information as to how to access services and invest in current services to ensure they are able to adequately support the veterans and military families who need them, and

  (ii) work with veterans' advocacy groups to develop a national strategy for the elimination of veteran homelessness as part of a national homelessness strategy.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

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

Leave is granted for one minute.

Jonathon Duniam (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government is concerned about any instances of homelessness in the veteran community and is committed to developing a more robust evidence base on this issue. Significant investments have been made to address the causal factors of homelessness, including major improvements to transition support employment programs, free mental health care for anyone with one day's service and immediate financial support for vulnerable veterans with mental health claims. The government is working closely with Defence, veterans and their families, and other stakeholders on new mental health strategies and an action plan, which will include further strategies to support those who are homeless.

Question agreed to.