Perin Davey (NSW, National Party, Shadow Minister for Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Let's be clear: we should all be thanking the Labor Party for us still sitting here at 20 past eight at night when we could have had the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025 dealt with at 10.30 this morning. It's a non-controversial bill that absolutely has the support of both sides. We've even had the minister in the other place commending the government for their approach to this bill in a non-controversial, bipartisan manner. And yet it then comes to this place, and we have the Labor Party playing games with it instead of rushing it through in a non-controversial way first thing this morning. It could have been done and dusted, and here we are tonight.

We will be supporting this bill. This bill fixes a problem that was faced. It will sort things out.

We have seen the massive floods up in Townsville, and we know the amount of defence housing up in far North Queensland and in the Townsville area. What we don't want are any question marks over their insurability and the Defence Services Homes Insurance scheme, which is currently administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs and provides vital home building insurance to all current and former members of the Australian Defence Force and, can I make it clear, for defence force families, widows and widowers.

It is vital that we get this bill through. I'm grateful that it is non-controversial; I just wish we didn't have to play games.

David Shoebridge (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That was a somewhat odd contribution from the coalition, who tried to politicise a non-controversial bill, by pulling it out with an urgency motion earlier in the day. The main complaint being that it would be dealt with at eight o'clock instead of 10 am in the morning. Of all the things to get uptight about, that's not one.

The Greens are going to support this bill, but we're asking for some transparency from the government. What we have with this bill is an attempt to retrospectively validate the actions of the Commonwealth government, acting as an agent for a private insurer, since 1990. This Defence Services Home Building Insurance used to be provided directly by the Commonwealth, but then it was privatised in 1990. When the insurance product was privatised in 1990, the defence service insurer continued to appear to be providing it. They sort of badged up the private insurance and sold that badged up insurance as though it were a Commonwealth product.

It turns out that, in that rush to privatise in the 1990s—it was a Labor government, of course—they forgot to check whether that was lawful or not. It turns out that, at some point between 1990 and 2025, the government—whether it's this government or a former government—found it was unlawful. So we have been asking for some clarity about when that advice was first given and how long the government has known this was operating unlawfully, and we appreciate the minister providing that advice and clarity in response.

I also note that this comes about through Labor's privatisation, which is no doubt loved by the coalition. Between them, there's nothing they don't want to privatise. It turns out, once again, they've got themselves in a muddle. But, because we're worried about the individual veterans and because we are worried about individual families, we will support the validation so that the whole thing doesn't fall over.

Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Emergency Management) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This bill will formalise longstanding Commonwealth practice, by providing an express legislative authority for the Commonwealth to continue to provide general insurance or act as an authorised representative of a third-party insurer. This means that the Department of Veterans' Affairs can continue to provide general insurance products for Australian Defence Force members, eligible veterans and their families.

The bill will retrospectively validate past activities undertaken by the Defence Services Homes Insurance as an authorised representative of a third-party insurer and also authorise the scheme to continue to carry out such activities in relation to more than 32,000 current policyholders, including granting it the authority to renew policies. The Albanese Labor government is committed to supporting veterans and their families, and Defence Service Homes Insurance is just one of those supports currently available.

I would like to thank all senators for their contribution to the debate on the Defence Service Homes Amendment (Insurance) Bill 2025, and for their acknowledgement of the important role defence families play in supporting our defence personnel.

I note the question raised by Senator Shoebridge in his remarks. I do not have that answer with me at this time. I represent the minister, rather than being the primary minister myself. I will endeavour to seek that information and provide it to you on another occasion.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.