REPLY TO MINISTERIAL STATEMENT ON VETERANS AND FAMILIES

Serving as a member of the Australian Defence Force involves risk and sacrifice. We have in the past and continue to ask our serving personnel to put their lives on the line and to put the needs of the country before their own. We have in the past prepared and sent many to foreign lands to fight for our nation, and we continue to do this. During the course of their service, some have been significantly wounded or injured and will carry this with them for the rest of their lives—and, devastatingly, some have never returned.

 

In exchange for this service and sacrifice, our country needs to support our veterans and their families now and into the future, and the government provides this support through the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Known as the repatriation department and the department for repatriation compensation, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, as we know it, was established in 1976. For 41 years, their role has been to serve those who have served this nation and their families. The department exists, in part, as an acknowledgement of the commitment and sacrifice made by those who have put their lives on hold to serve our country. It exists to ensure individuals who have been wounded or injured while serving their country are not forgotten and to ensure we continue to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The department provides assistance to our veterans, which recognises the uniqueness of service and value of their sacrifice.

 

Our Defence personnel serve in the name of Australia, and, as a country, we need to ensure that their service and sacrifice, once they leave Defence, is still valued by our government, our parliament and our community. However, veterans across the country are telling me that this is not always the case. The actions taken by government and their agencies do not always result in veterans feeling that their service and sacrifice is valued once they leave Defence. Of course we do, as a country and as a parliament, value them, but we need to ensure that we consider carefully all the actions we are taking and what message we are sending to our veterans to ensure that they do feel like their contribution to our nation continues to be valued.

 

For many veterans I have spoken to, part of not feeling valued comes from their perspective that they have to fight so hard with the Department of Veterans' Affairs to have their claim for compensation recognised. While most of the feedback I receive from veterans indicates that once their claim has been approved they are mostly happy with the service provided by the department, the issues are at the initial stages, where people are fighting for recognition of conditions and are exposed to what they see as a lengthy, complicated and at times an overly-adversarial process, which can be exasperating and disheartening. Veterans have told me that the claims process can be frustrating and complicated. And for those suffering from poor mental health, the process itself can further exacerbate mental illness. This is why Labor committed, prior to the last election, to undertaking a First Principles Review of the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

 

Our proposal for a First Principles Review was a holistic end-to-end review of the department, based on a set of agreed first principles. The review was designed to examine the department and seek to rectify administrative, governance and process failings, to ensure the department is able to meet existing and future challenges in a clear and efficient manner. Most importantly, the review was designed to help re-establish veterans' and their representative organisations' trust in the DVA. It would ensure that we have a system in place which works for people who need it the most, and would ensure that our veterans are put at the centre. I believe a First Principles Review would help identify a pathway to a less contested and complicated claims process.

 

I recognise the government has taken a different direction and, instead, has chosen to review the department's processes, citing the core of the delays related to the antiquated and complicated computer systems, many of which are at risk of catastrophic failure. Labor welcomed the additional funding committed in this budget to improve the system. However, as I've stated on other occasions, I remain concerned that what is in the budget is not enough to properly rectify the IT issues and bring about necessary wider departmental reform. Eighty-five per cent of the funding contained in the budget will be delivered in the next financial year, which leaves the challenge of finding funding for future reform still in front of this parliament. Without long-term commitment, I believe this reform will not bring about the systematic changes that are required. Veterans are telling me this change is vital. A veteran who is wounded or injured in the course of serving our country should rightfully receive the support they need to continue to live a full and productive life. If we cannot fulfil this, then, as a country, we have not valued their sacrifice.

 

While there are a number of challenges that the department must overcome, I still believe that the DVA is best placed to serve the needs of our veterans. Many veterans have spoken to me about their concern that the Department of Veterans' Affairs would merge with the Department of Human Services. I understand these concerns, and I am pleased to hear the minister reiterate that this will not be occurring. The nature of military service is unique, and veterans deserve a department that acknowledges this and supports them.

 

Of course, responsibility to assist our defence personnel as they transition to civilian life does not exclusively sit with the Department of Veterans' Affairs; it also sits with Defence, especially for those who have been wounded and injured as a result of their service. Transition from the ADF to civilian life is an area where we need to do much better. The current process appears to be failing a proportion of our defence personnel and their families. If we don't improve transition, the act of transition itself can cause distress, inability to find work, and isolation caused during transition can lead to or exacerbate mental illness. This doesn't account for those whose service has had a greater impact on them who have been medically discharged.

 

Veterans have told me that, on the day of discharge, they feel that the gate is both physically and metaphorically closed behind them. This can be incredibly jarring, especially if they have not had the choice to leave. For many, they have told me they no longer feel valued and this can lead to questioning, 'What was it all for?' Imagine you have been a member of our defence forces for some time, and something changes in your life and you have to leave. Your access to base is immediately removed on the day. You are no longer a part of that community. You need to sign in like any other ordinary civilian in order to access the defence bank branch on that base. You have to leave your defence housing on the day of discharge, whether or not you have secure housing lined up. If you have sustained an injury, your payments from the Department of Veterans' Affairs may not start for some weeks or months, but your defence pay ends immediately. In addition, there's no continuity necessarily between the treatment you were receiving in Defence and the continuity of rehabilitation services outside of Defence, and you have to reorientate your life to find a new job without a good understanding of how your skills translate to civilian employment.

 

These actions and others during the transition process do send a message to our veterans that their welfare is no longer a concern of Defence and, by extension, no longer a concern of government, and, by extension of that, no longer a concern of the community. This period of transition is something we must do better. I acknowledge that for a majority of people their transition does occur without too many difficulties, and they do continue to live full and productive lives, but for some, particularly for those whose service has had a greater impact, we need to do better.

 

There are many elements of transition that require careful consideration and planning. This is particularly the case for those who, as I have said, have been medically discharged. Supporting individuals through this process does send a message that we continue to care and we continue to value them. There are many elements that contribute to a successful transition—the importance of strong social support, secure housing, financial security, family support, good physical health and fulfilling employment. As the minister has mentioned, fulfilling employment is a critical aspect of this. The government—and I do acknowledge the government's effort in this area—has instituted an industry-led board to look at how we can improve veterans' employment, and this is an important start, particularly as we do believe it is important to ensure employers understand the benefits of employing a veteran. As the minister said, this is not charity.

But if we only address one part of the puzzle, we will not fix the full picture. It is equally important that we work with veterans to find pathways to meaningful employment. We can assist them with advice and support, and by identifying skills and training gaps. To gain meaningful employment is critical to a smooth transition, and for those who would like to go onto further study, we should be proactive in helping them achieve their goals. One example that has been brought to my attention is that the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre uses time spent in the ADF, as well as rank, and converts this automatically to a university admissions score, allowing a transition to a university place.

 

I was recently talking to one veteran who told me that this automatic ability to access a university place had an extremely positive impact on his transition, because despite not finishing school at the time he went into the Defence Force, the skills that he had acquired in the ADF over a number of years were now recognised and he was currently studying law. This is just one example—a small example—of how supporting pathways for veterans should be replicated right across this country. Of course, university isn't for every veteran transitioning, but this is an important example of how we can assist those transitioning.

 

When an individual serves in the ADF, their family serves with them. Military families make sacrifices. We know that many service men and women are deployed internationally for months at a time, and this separation causes emotional stress for partners and children. When they are not deployed, there are regular re-postings to different bases around the country, meaning that these families, and these family units, may have to choose between uprooting their whole family and moving to another part of the country or living apart for some time. Post-service, particularly in the case where a veteran has been medically discharged, the impact can be significant not just on them but on their family as well. It is often the family who helps them through difficult times and supports them, and it is often partners who may become carers. It is the family who are often the first to recognise the signs and symptoms of poor physical and mental health and assist them to seek treatment. This critical role that family members play in supporting our current and ex-serving Defence personnel is often not acknowledged or appreciated as much as it should be by government and the community.

 

Greater support for families was an issue that was raised by a number of submitters during the current Senate inquiry into suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel. It was highlighted that family relationships are a common casualty of an individual's military service and/or the psychological wounds of one or more members of the family unit. However, these networks are often not able to support veterans themselves or each other, resulting in poor intergenerational outcomes. Many of these families highlighted how they felt overwhelmed and alone. This issue was also highlighted in the National Mental Health Commission's Review of services available to veterans and members of the Australian Defence Force in relation to the prevention of self-harm and suicide.

 

The commission stated that they found that there was a lack of emphasis on the critical role that families play in the lives of current and former serving members, including in helping manage the risk factors for suicide and self-harm. They also noted that there is generally limited engagement with families by both the ADF and DVA. Not including families in a greater policy response ignores one of the greatest assets in assisting members of the ADF and veterans.

 

It is for this reason that Labor has recently committed, if elected, to develop a family engagement and support strategy for Defence personnel and veterans, a key recommendation of the National Mental Health Commission's review. This strategy will provide a national blueprint to include engagement of DVA and Defence with military families. It would also ensure that best practice support for families, Defence personnel and ADF members was consistently available across the country. After all, the greatest support for military families is greater support for our current and ex-serving Defence personnel. A family engagement and support strategy for Defence personnel and veterans seeks to address the lack of engagement and, importantly, acknowledges the critical role these family members play.

 

Acknowledging the part that military families play in the life of veterans continues to reinforce that we value those who put their lives on the line in service of our country. We are saying that we continue to care about what happens to you and your family post your time in the ADF. It also provides support to families to help manage those risk factors for suicide and self-harm. They, too, deserve our support and recognition.

 

The mental health of our veterans has very much been in the spotlight over the past 12 months, and rightfully so. Mental illness can be a significant impact of war and is a challenging area with wide-ranging impacts. It is vital that support is available to current and ex-serving Defence personnel as soon as it's needed. Over time governments have grappled with problems of how best to treat these invisible wounds, and it is for this reason that Labor welcomes the government's introduction and recent expansion of non-liability health care. Labor has offered the minister our support, not only in the creation of this program but ensuring that people are aware of this program and that it is available to everyone who has served one day in the ADF. This is an important commitment that we will continue to make.

 

Of course, while the recent announcement expands the ability of veterans to seek treatment, it does not guarantee access to clinical treatment, and this is particularly the case in rural and regional areas where clinical services on the ground don't exist and travel may not be desirable or possible. In addition, access to clinical services is being impacted by the government's indexation freeze on the DVA's repatriation medical schedule. The fee schedule, which is indexed in line with the Medicare rebate indexation, has remained stagnant and is acting as a disincentive for some medical specialists to provide treatment for veterans. This is a concern not just of Labor, but it has been a concern voiced by the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Psychological Association, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Australian Institute of Suicide Research and Prevention. The introduction of non-liability health care is an incredibly important step in addressing mental health for veterans, but it is vital that these other issues of access are addressed. Reinforcing this commitment to our veterans is particularly important.

 

In the time I have left I would also like to touch on the importance of the role that the Department of Veterans' Affairs plays in commemorations. As we approach the end of the Centenary of ANZAC, commemorations is certainly a critical role that the department plays, ensuring that we do not forget those who have served our country and those who have fought and died for us. In addition, I would also like to acknowledge the important role that the Australian War Memorial plays in providing a space for those to reflect on the nature of service and the sacrifice made throughout the course of Australian history. But of course commemorations couldn't happen without the support of the ex-service organisations in communities right around this country. Many of them do work that results in local commemoration services. Local ex-service organisations and sub-branches ensure that our local communities have the opportunity to come together on important occasions.

 

In many places, if it weren't for members of the ex-service community and their dedication, there wouldn't be a local commemorative service for our veterans, and people wouldn't be given the opportunity to pause and reflect on the nature of service.

 

Of course, commemorations are just one important part of what our ex-service organisations do on the ground. Ex-service organisations are working at the coalface, supporting veterans and their families. They also work with the department and the government to give voice to the concerns and issues affecting their membership. It is important to recognise that, for a number of different services and operations, it's our ex-service organisations that are best able to deliver advice and support. It is also vital that government and the parliament continue to work in a collaborative way with these ex-service organisations to ensure that there is no-one falling through the gaps.

 

I would like to wholeheartedly thank each and every group I've had the privilege to meet with. I appreciate your time; your dedication; and your feedback, especially about where we can do better, because that effort should never stop. And veterans are telling me the most important thing we can do is demonstrate that we value them. We value them during their time in defence, we value them during their time of transition and we value them as they spend their time in civilian life. This is something we must commit ourselves to doing.

 

I look forward to continuing my work with veterans and the ex-service community, with the government and with the department, to ensure that we are continually striving for the best outcomes for our ex-service defence personnel and their families.