Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025

Stage by Stage

Summaries in reported speech - not a transcript. In date order, both chambers.

1. Thursday 27 November 2025 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   The Minister for Veterans' Affairs introduced the bill to establish standalone legislation for the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission, fulfilling a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The legislation aims to strengthen the independence and powers of the commissioner, including explicit recognition of veterans' families and enhanced witness protections. The bill incorporates recommendations from a Senate committee review and ensures the commission can hold agencies accountable for implementing suicide prevention reforms. The debate concluded with the motion being adjourned.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned.

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2. Wednesday 11 February 2026 · House of Representatives

   Second Reading

   Members debated the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025, which established an independent statutory oversight body to implement Royal Commission recommendations on veteran suicide prevention. While the Coalition supported the legislation's objectives, they criticized the government's initial process and moved an amendment to advance the first implementation review deadline from December 2027 to September 2026. Government members defended the bill's strengthened powers, witness protections, and inclusion of veterans' families, emphasizing the necessity of independent oversight. The debate concluded with bipartisan agreement on the need for systemic reform despite historical disagreements over the legislative timeline.

   Outcome: The bill was read a second time and passed.

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3. Wednesday 11 February 2026 · House of Representatives

   Consideration in Detail

   The debate centred on an amendment moved by the Coalition to require the first implementation assessment of royal commission recommendations by 30 September 2026, rather than the bill's original date of 2 December 2027. The shadow minister argued that earlier reporting would strengthen accountability and allow for timely assessment of reform progress. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs opposed the amendment, stating that the commission was already conducting inquiries and that the proposed date would interrupt ongoing work. The amendment was defeated in a division.

   Outcome: The amendment was not passed, with 47 votes in favour and 86 against.

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4. Wednesday 11 February 2026 · House of Representatives

   Third Reading
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5. Tuesday 3 March 2026 · Senate

   First Reading
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6. Tuesday 3 March 2026 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Senate debated legislation to establish the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission as a standalone statutory entity, fulfilling a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Assistant Minister Anthony Chisholm argued that the bills would strengthen the Commissioner's independence, powers, and transparency, while formally recognising the role of veterans' families. The legislation incorporates recommendations from a Senate committee review and aims to drive system reform to reduce suicide rates within the Defence community. The debate was adjourned without a final vote recorded in the transcript.

   Outcome: The debate was adjourned.

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7. Monday 30 March 2026 · Senate

   In Committee

   The Senate debated amendments to the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025 during consideration in committee. Senator Lambie moved an amendment to require annual inquiries into the implementation of royal commission recommendations, which was supported by the Greens and Senator Pocock but opposed by the government and the coalition. The government and coalition argued that annual reviews would divert resources and that the bill already provided for comprehensive reports in 2027 and 2030. An opposition amendment to bring forward the first report date to February 2027 was passed with government support. The bills were subsequently agreed to and reported.

   Outcome: The opposition amendment to set the first report date to 5 February 2027 was agreed to, and both bills were agreed to and reported.

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8. Monday 30 March 2026 · Senate

   Second Reading

   The Senate debated legislation to establish an independent statutory oversight body for defence and veteran services, implementing a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Senators from the Coalition, Greens, and Labor parties supported the bills, noting they improved upon earlier rushed legislation by providing greater independence, stronger powers, and standalone legal status. Cross-party amendments were discussed regarding the timing of reporting requirements, with the Greens and Coalition advocating for earlier or annual reports compared to the government's proposed timeline. The Minister confirmed that the commission had already been operational since September 2025 and that these bills formalised its structure and enhanced its accountability mechanisms.

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9. Monday 30 March 2026 · Senate

   Third Reading
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10. Tuesday 31 March 2026 · House of Representatives

    Consideration of Senate Message

    The House considered a Senate amendment to the Defence and Veterans' Service Commissioner Bill 2025. The amendment advanced the deadline for the commissioner's first report on the government's response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Both the government and the coalition supported the change, which moved the reporting date from December 2027 to February 2027. The amendment was agreed to without opposition.

    Outcome: The amendment was agreed to.

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