Interview, Afternoon Briefing, ABC News, Greg Jennett

E&OE transcript 
Interview
ABC News

GREG JENNETT: Now back here in Canberra, new Ministers are still going about the process of reading in on the jobs that they've been given and meeting the bureaucrats who they'll be directing over the next three years or so. Matt Keogh is among this week's newly sworn Ministers, in his case, responsible for veterans affairs and defence personnel. Matt Keogh joins us now in the studio. Congratulations. First of all, Matt, obviously a career highlight. The responsibility sits heavily. I imagine in this moment it's a.

MATT KEOGH: Huge honour to become a Minister in a new Albanese government. And you're right, especially in the area of veterans affairs and defence personnel, which is really important when we're talking about looking after people leaving defence our veterans, the families that support them, making sure that they get the service that they need and the support that they require is hugely important. We've seen some big problems in this area under the last government, so there's a lot of work to be done.

GREG JENNETT: Yeah, it's a big job at any time. And we might talk about the next load that comes with it. That will be the interim findings of the Royal Commission in a moment. Can I just start, though, with the structure of where your position fits within the government? There's been some chatter, some might say criticism in defence circles. The Australia Defence Association is one. I note that the RSL has also broached this topic about why Veterans Affairs is not fully-fledged in cabinet. Not your call, but what reassurance do you offer to these groups that you can give their interests, the heft that is necessary outside of cabinet?

MATT KEOGH: Well, I think the key thing to recognise is that veterans affairs, defence personnel, as they sit within the broader defence portfolio, are represented not just by Defence Minister, but with Richard Marles, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, which shows you the degree of importance given to the whole area of the portfolio. And Richard and myself are both very clear about the importance of this part of the portfolio and making sure that it is strongly represented. And of course, I'll be involved in any cabinet deliberations that touch upon these areas as well. And Richard and I have already started having discussions around the issues affecting veterans in Australia, and I think everyone can have no doubt that they're going to be very strongly represented.

GREG JENNETT: I think, according to its statement anyway, from the RSL, you've given that assurance directly.

MATT KEOGH: I have. I've spoken with the President of the national RSL, and as I've been speaking with a number of stakeholders today and will be continuing to do so over the coming days and weeks. And I want to be very accessible to working with them and making sure that they are always getting the representation they need within government and making sure we're delivering on the supports that our veterans not just need but deserve.

GREG JENNETT: And look, just finally on this line of criticism. Another aspect to it, I suppose, is continuity. How much change there is in the defence portion of the Ministry, as announced by Anthony Albanese. Technically, none of you had the shadow responsibilities there. But how do you counter that, at least in Richard Marles’ case, he did for a large period of time over the last three years, if not the full three years? Sure.

MATT KEOGH: And I was, though, a Shadow Minister within the broader portfolio, and so issues affecting veterans and people working within Defence was something that, whilst not directly my responsibility at that time, as the Shadow were things that I was clearly very aware of and across. The former shadow Minister in this area, Sean Newman, did a lot of great work, good friend of mine, and we've been discussing as well hand over of information and so forth. So I don't think people need to be concerned. It's clearly an issue that I've had to be aware and across before coming into the portfolio directly.

GREG JENNETT: Fair enough. Well, why don't we look at the task ahead of you now? We do know that by August, early August this year, you'll start to get the interim findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and veterans’ suicides, as we see from aged care, Royal commissions and many others before them, it's highly likely that with it will come some sweeping recommendations for change and or investment. How prepared are you, even though you can't know what's in it for sweeping changes?

MATT KEOGH: Well, we're absolutely prepared that if they're the sorts of recommendations that we would anticipate, that these are things that we would be looking to implement as a government. I don't want to pre-empt exactly what the Royal Commission says, but there's no doubt that there's been significant issues and we've seen some great advocates from the parents of veterans that have committed suicide and people in defence that have committed suicide, which is absolutely terrible, and we want to make sure that we bring this to an end. It's something the Royal Commission I discussed with the Secretary of Defence and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs today. We know that this is going to be a top-of-mind issue of deep importance, and once we get those interim reports, we'll be able to look at how we can implement those.

GREG JENNETT: And in those early scoping conversations, do you envisage major structural changes in the delivery of services? Because whether it be in Australia and it's very pronounced in the United States, there does seem to be these bottlenecks between what we might broadly describe as a bureaucracy and the actual veterans on the front line needing a clinical or needing clinical care. Do you envisage a big shift in the way they go about businesses?

MATT KEOGH: Well, certainly we've already looked at made commitments in this election to issues like an additional $200 million in funding to the Department of Veterans Affairs to give them the 500 additional staff to work through that backlog of claims that's sitting with them, that's now around 60,000, which is just absolutely terrible. Also our commitment to defence and hubs to support veterans and their families with a more accessible, friendly way of accessing those services, as opposed to having to go through a Department that's in a capital city. So, we're already thinking about and committed to things that we think we can change that will make service for veterans and defence personnel that need compensation better. And we, of course, want to see how we can support those that are suffering mental health concerns and leading to the worst outcomes, which is what this Royal Commission is looking into to see how they can be best.

GREG JENNETT: So it might be a question of scale, building upon some concepts, as you say, you've already foreshadowed, but -

MATT KEOGH: There may be some elements of scale. It may be, as you said, there needs to be some changes to the way some of these departments operate, but we need to see what comes out of the Royal Commission.

GREG JENNETT: Okay. What about on the personnel front? Just remind us of Labor's position about the growth of the ADF up to, I think initially 80,000 that received bipartisan support. And how do you go about that?

MATT KEOGH: Yeah, so absolutely it receives our support because I think, as everyone is aware, we're trying to increase the capability of our defence force with a changing geostrategic position that we've got in our region right now, really demanding that. And we've got a lot of new equipment coming on board over the coming decades, but we need to make sure we've got the personnel to be able to drive that. Now we would say the government should have really been on this a lot earlier. The previous government should have been on this a lot earlier than they were. We need to work on not just recruitment, but also retention. It's why we want to work with defence members and their families about how we can improve their experience as a part of Defence so that we're not losing them, because keeping them is going.

GREG JENNETT: To be well, exactly. I think the former government spoke about that, particularly the length of postings and deployments, trying to give more family stability. Is that front and centre, or do you have other ideas?

MATT KEOGH: Something we committed to at the election is actually not just looking at deployment cycles, but looking at availability and access to housing really important and not just doing it, but working with people in Defence, working with their families, learning from veterans experience as well, so that we can make sure we deliver those better outcomes. So we're more likely to keep the great skill and experience. We talk about sovereign capability a lot from industry and equipment. Our people are greater sovereign capability in Defence and we need to make sure we keep them and we grow them.

GREG JENNETT: All of which is made harder in a tight employment or jobs market, I imagine will the price go up on this exercise the recruitment side of it anyway if not the retention because of the fact there are so many job choices out there at the moment.

MATT KEOGH: It certainly makes it more difficult when we're in a low unemployment market to attract people into Defence but Defence is a lot more than just the normal parts of employment. There's a beautiful and wonderful culture within Defence. People are able to be part of a much bigger family and as I was discussing with people in Defence just today that is something that often people don't appreciate and we can look at ways in which we can make the Australian public at large more aware of the great opportunity that is having a career in Defence and supporting people's family. So when you sign up you're not just there on your own, it's families that come along for the ride as well. Improving that experience will go a long way to help you and you're happy.

GREG JENNETT: With the use of private sector recruitment. I think there have been some reviews that have said it's been grand on that scale. What would a Labor government do on that?

MATT KEOGH: Look across the board. Jim and Katie have been very clear about this that we're doing an audit and review of all of this outsourcing and bringing in a Labour hire and contracting out of services because frankly it's costing government a lot more money than the value we're deriving out of a lot of it. And without going into specific contracts or providers that's something we do want to get across to make sure we're getting best value for money and best outcomes.

GREG JENNETT: Well, one thing we do have on the first full day for you Matt Kia, is you're going to have a pretty busy timeline of it in a very important portfolio. Thanks for sharing some initial thoughts and Congratulations once again on your appointment to the job.

MATT KEOGH: Thank you very much, Greg. I look forward to it.

END

Media contacts:
Stephanie Mathews (Minister Keogh’s Office): 0407 034 485