Matt Keogh

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister reported that recruitment numbers had reached over 8,000 in the current year, the highest in 16 years, and that separation rates had dropped to 7.4 per cent. He highlighted investments in healthcare, housing, education, and a continuation bonus. He noted that recruitment timelines had been accelerated to under a year, with critical roles taking as little as 150 days, compared to over a year under the previous government.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government had engaged extensively with RSL and other veteran organisations. He explained that the measures were designed to increase access by removing treatment cycles and ensuring continuity of care. He claimed to have received support for the program from the veteran community and ex-service organisations. The Minister affirmed his commitment to continuing engagement to ensure the program delivers improved access.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government was committed to implementing the Royal Commission's recommendations, including establishing the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission. He argued that the current measures increased fees for allied health professionals, addressing recommendation 71. The Minister framed the changes as improving access for the veteran community rather than cutting support.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister acknowledged concerns from women veterans about gaps in support within a system designed primarily for male members. He stated that the Department of Veterans' Affairs and Defence were conducting complex consultations to develop the strategy. The Minister emphasized the importance of getting the strategy right and thanked those engaged in the work.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister affirmed the importance of the covenant and acknowledged past failings in the system across multiple governments. He stated that the government was working to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and improve support systems. He noted that rebuilding trust in the Department of Veterans' Affairs was an ongoing process requiring continued investment and collaboration with the veteran community.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister stated he had had many engagements with the CEO and her organization. He clarified that while he had not had a direct conversation with her specifically about the discussion paper, the government had announced it would consult with the veteran community to ensure no gaps in service provision. He expressed anticipation for receiving feedback from her and other ex-service organizations.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister acknowledged the tragic circumstances faced by the veteran and expressed understanding of his feelings. He stated that the Navy had apologized for past conduct. He expressed regret that the veteran held a negative view of him but reiterated his commitment to improving the support system for serving personnel and veterans.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister stated that he respected the positions put to him by veterans but did not repeat the content or detail of private conversations in parliament. He maintained that his previous answer stood and declined to elaborate further on the specific meeting.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister acknowledged he had been wrong to delay the meeting but denied the characterization of disrespectful behavior, stating he had shaken hands with attendees. He emphasized that the government's intention was to ensure no gap in care while improving access and payments to providers. He noted that a consultation process was underway to refine the changes to allied health services, including a $5,000 threshold with alternative approval processes for complex needs.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister explained that the changes were designed to improve access by attracting more practitioners and reducing the need for continual referrals. He stated that the $5,000 threshold would apply to the majority of veterans, with an alternative approval process for those with complex clinical needs. He noted that a discussion paper would be released shortly to facilitate consultation with veterans and service providers.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister stated that the government had committed nearly $170 million to increase fees for allied health providers and was removing the 12-session treatment cycle. He clarified that the $5,000 figure referred to a threshold for engaging with the veteran community, not a cap on services. He noted that he was unable to meet with the veterans that day but was finalizing a discussion paper for broad consultation to ensure seamless service delivery.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister explained that the cap replaces the previous system requiring veterans to return to GPs after 12 referrals, benefiting nine in 10 veterans. He stated that for the remaining one in 10, the government is engaging to ensure appropriate care while maintaining system integrity. He also highlighted significant increases in fees paid to allied health professionals to ensure continued service provision.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government was increasing allied health fees and scrapping the treatment cycle that required new referrals every 12 sessions. He explained that the $5,000 allocation replaced this cycle, but any veteran with a clinical need to exceed this amount would be able to access additional services. The Minister noted that the median use was $1,900, and around one in 10 veterans might exceed the cap. He committed to consulting with the veterans community to establish an approval system for additional services.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister described the Memorial as a sacred place listing over 103,000 names of those who died in conflict. He explained that the expansion allows for the telling of stories from modern conflicts such as Afghanistan and peacekeeping operations. He noted the project involved nearly 2,000 workers, including veterans, and included the largest geothermal system in the Southern Hemisphere. He stated that the Memorial remained open during construction. He looked forward to the completion of pre-1914 galleries and an interactive learning centre by 2028.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister acknowledged the business case provided by the member and noted that hubs were being delivered as committed in the 2022 and 2025 elections. He stated that from 1 July, changes to veterans entitlement legislation would simplify the system from three complex systems to one. A new veteran and family wellbeing agency would also be established from 1 July to coordinate support. The Minister indicated that submissions for further hubs, including the Bathurst proposal, would be reviewed after the new agency was operational.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister confirmed that the Defence and Veterans Workshop will remain onsite at Derwent Barracks following community feedback and consultations led by the Assistant Minister for Defence. He noted that the government has implemented 32 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide recommendations and aims to implement two-thirds by year-end. He emphasized that the divestment of the site is being managed carefully to ensure the workshop continues to serve the veteran community.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister highlighted investments in the Department of Veterans' Affairs to clear claim backlogs, with initial liability claims now processed within months. He noted the implementation of 32 Royal Commission recommendations and the establishment of a new wellbeing agency. He also mentioned increased fees for GPs and allied health professionals to improve access for veterans and a review of travel funding for Victoria Cross recipients.

Answer from Anthony Albanese; Matt Keogh; Tony Burke

The Prime Minister stated that the government had cleared a backlog of 42,000 veteran compensation claims, with claims now processed within 14 days. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs added that the budget included $169.7 million to increase allied health provider fees, with physiotherapy rates rising from $75.10 to $110 in July 2027. He explained that the $5,000 limit replaced a treatment cycle constraint, and veterans with genuine clinical need could exceed it.

Answer from Anthony Albanese; Matt Keogh

The Prime Minister stated that the budget included significant additional investment in veterans' affairs, including $800 million in response to the royal commission into veteran suicide. He noted that the government had addressed a backlog of claims by increasing public servants. The Minister for Veterans' Affairs added that an annual monetary cap for allied health services was introduced to remove overservicing, while increasing fees paid to allied health professionals by $169 million to improve access to care.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister said the government was putting over $203 million into strengthening DVA's integrity controls and broadening access to free advocacy services. He pointed out that private advocates had been levying steep fees and commissions. Funding for the Building Excellence in Support and Training Grants Program had been doubled, with three-year certainty given to veteran groups to hire and train advocates. This action responded to recommendation 99 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister announced a veterans and families hub in the Tweed and highlighted improved claims processing and access to medical and psychosocial support. He stated that the Department of Veterans' Affairs had been chronically underfunded and underresourced under the previous government, with six ministers in nine years. He credited his predecessor for acknowledging the dire situation and criticized the opposition for prioritizing political advantage over veteran needs.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister highlighted record Defence investments, including warships delivered ahead of schedule, autonomous Ghost Shark submarines, missile production in Australian factories, and counterdrone capabilities. He also mentioned the acquisition of stealth fighters and increased long-range strike capabilities for the Navy.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister announced the launch of new direct recruitment roles for space operator officers and specialists. He explained that these roles support satellite communication, missile detection, and intelligence. He noted that Defence recruitment had reached its highest level in 15 years and separation rates were at historic lows.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister argued that the member was misleading the House by implying the tribunal's actions affected the previous government's decision. He stated that the previous government had rejected the tribunal's recommendation for Teddy Sheean and established a separate process due to pressure from veterans and the opposition. He clarified that an application for honour could still be brought to Defence and an inquiry conducted, regardless of the tribunal's modernization efforts.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that around 6,000 veterans were at risk of homelessness annually, with 1,500 homeless on census night. He explained that $30 million in election funding for veteran housing and support services was blocked in the Senate by the Coalition and Greens. This delay held up $24 million for infrastructure projects and $6 million for expert care. The funding was finally rolled out in June last year, supporting eight organisations for housing and five for wraparound services.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister acknowledged the importance of holistic wellbeing care as highlighted by the Royal Commission. He noted that 17 veterans and families hubs had already been opened, with locations selected based on veteran concentration. He confirmed that the government had accepted the recommendation to establish a specialist wellbeing agency within the Department of Veterans' Affairs. He agreed to meet with the member and local RSL sub-branches to discuss delivering appropriate services and support to the veteran community in that area.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The minister reported that the government had eliminated the DVA claims backlog and passed legislation to simplify veteran entitlements. He noted that the government had agreed to 104 of 122 recommendations from the final report and established a taskforce for implementation. He highlighted the establishment of the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission and a new wellbeing agency within DVA.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the Department of Veterans' Affairs was the best resourced in decades, with 640 additional staff hired since 2022. He reported that the backlog of 42,000 unallocated claims had been cleared, reducing allocation time from 200 days to 14 days. He noted that claims lodged had increased from 66,000 in 2021-22 to 89,530 last year, with 148,294 decisions made in the first eight months of the current year. He warned that the opposition planned to roll back these staffing levels, which would threaten the processing of claims.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government had cleared a backlog of 42,000 claims by hiring more permanent staff. He noted that initial liability claims were now determined in a few months. He warned that the opposition's plan to cut public service staff would lead to new backlogs and delays, citing the DVA secretary's warning that reduced staffing would slow decision-making.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government had engaged 500 additional staff to address a backlog of 42,000 claims, resulting in faster processing times. He identified the opposition's proposals to cut staff in the Department of Veterans' Affairs as a threat that would leave veterans worse off by reducing support services.

Answer from Matt Keogh

The Minister stated that the government had hired 500 additional claims-processing staff, reducing wait times and processing over 100,000 claims in the last financial year compared to 53,508 in 2021-22. He noted that veterans had received $13 billion in benefits. He warned that the opposition's plan to cut 36,000 public service roles would jeopardise these services.