From the Minister
The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel
When we say ‘Lest We Forget’ at the end of the Ode, we mean it. We will remember them. We do remember them.
Across the globe on Remembrance Day we all paid tribute to those who have served our nation in war, conflict or in peacekeeping operations. As part of those commemorations I had the honour of representing Australia in the United Kingdom, in acknowledgement of the historic and enduring relationship between our nations, participating in multiple services.
I attended the National Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday and delivered the address at the Remembrance Day ceremony at the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park.
The Australian memorial in London is something special. It highlights just how far-reaching the impacts of the First and Second World Wars were. Etched on the granite of the memorial are the names of the towns where Australians who served in both wars were born. There are 23,844 towns.
It reminds us no Australian community was left untouched. Nor was any community in the United Kingdom. Our personnel have stood shoulder to shoulder for decades, and continue to do so.
I also took the opportunity to mark Remembrance Day itself with Aussie Army personnel participating in Operation Kudu in the UK, training Ukrainian troops to defend their nation. It was a surreal experience holding an informal ceremony together – Australians and Ukrainians – at the 11th hour in the training area woodlands, to pay our respects and reflect upon what is to come.
At home, this Remembrance Day also marked the 30th anniversary of the interment of the Unknown Soldier in the Australian War Memorial’s Hall of Memory. The Unknown Soldier serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made in times of war. He is all of them and he is one of us.
Lest we forget.
The trip also provided me an opportunity to meet with the UK Veterans Minister, peak ex-service organisations, veteran wellbeing researchers at King’s College, veterans and service providers at a veteran housing service, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. All of these engagements, as well as those in relation to my Defence Personnel portfolio, were very valuable and helpful for informing the work we are doing here at home.
On the home front, I’m pleased that we continue to make progress in improving the lives of veterans and families.
In the last two Budgets, the Government provided $322.3 million to employ and retain additional staff at DVA to get through the claims backlog and make sure it doesn’t happen again. One of the key game changers is the expansion of the use of Claims Support Officers across the country. These staff support veterans and families by making sure they have all the information required for their claim before it is submitted for formal assessment.
The Government has also budgeted $341.1 million to fund the modernisation and sustainment of the IT systems within DVA to support the processing of those claims.
Under the Albanese Government, DVA is now better funded than it has been in three decades, and the benefits of this are showing. In September of last year, DVA’s claims backlog had peaked at 45,226 claims yet to be allocated to a delegate for decision. At the end of October this year, it’s down to 16,723 – that’s a 63 per cent drop from that peak, and it is continuing to fall, with Initial Liability claims to all be with a delegate by the end of this year, and compensation claims to all be with a delegate in early 2024.
The Government committed $46.7 million to fund the delivery of 10 Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs in the areas where there is the highest concentration of veterans around the country. This year, I opened the Mates4Mates operated Hub in Darwin and the Caboolture Brisbane North Hub operated by Lives Lived Well. The eight additional Hubs are all progressing and I’ll have more to say on those soon.
The Government is also rolling out our $24 million Veterans’ Employment Program to better recognise the pre-existing capability veterans have and make it easier for them to be more universally competitive in the labour market. The program includes the establishment of a Business Advisory Service, a Recognition of Prior Learning Program, and we’ll be rolling out a campaign next year that will promote the diverse and valuable experience and skills of veterans to employers.
I recognise that for many of you it’s become increasingly difficult to access a GP that will service you on a veteran card. From 1 November the Albanese Government tripled the “Veteran Access Payment” in an effort to encourage more GPs to service veterans. We have also streamlined and reduced the paperwork for GPs. I encourage you to share this positive initiative with your GP.
The Government has now taken action on all 13 recommendations of the interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, many outlined above. Significant work also continues on its first recommendation to simplify and harmonise veteran rehabilitation and compensation legislation.
This is not a small project. We’re working to harmonise a century’s worth of legislation to move from three active schemes – each under their own separate legislation – to a single ongoing scheme under one piece of legislation.
Thank you to all those who participated in consultations earlier this year. Hearing your lived experience makes a big difference. The Government is aiming to get an exposure draft of legislation out for another round of consultation early next year, and I will be calling on you all in the veteran community once again to weigh in and make sure we get it right.
To all of you in the Defence and veteran community, I hope you stay safe this holiday season and have a very Merry Christmas and New Year with loved ones!
Image: Attending the Remembrance Day Service at the Australian War Memorial in Hyde Park, London