Radio Interview - 4BC Brisbane Radio - Drive with Gary Hargraves

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
4BC BRISBANE RADIO
DRIVE WITH GARY HARDGRAVE
WEDNESDAY, 3 JULY 2024

SUBJECTS: Veterans Legislation Reform (VETS Bill); War Memorial Vandalism.

HOST, GARY HARDGRAVE: Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh he joins us from our Canberra studio. Minister, you've introduced the legislation I'm sure you're gonna get the support. Are you happy with where you're at?

MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL, MATT KEOGH: It's great to be with you again, Gary. And yes, I did introduce the legislation this morning and all accounts so far is that this legislation should receive support as it works its way through the Parliament, and I think that's as it should be. You mentioned the Royal Commission before this is the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, and in its Interim Report, it found that the veterans’ entitlement system is so complicated that it actually adversely affects the mental health of some veterans. So it was very clear we needed to act on this.

HARDGRAVE: And I'm so glad you have because it's important that this is done and it's important. It's bipartisan as it should be. I've got to say there should never be a question about helping our veterans and we all know budgets can be can be problematic and challenging, but that area, that portfolio that you're in this this is critical stuff we owe all of those who served our Nation in times of war and in uniform in times of peace. We owe them a debt of gratitude. We should be making sure this legislation works.

MINISTER KEOGH: Absolutely. And for people who don't know at the moment, there's three different pieces of legislation that cover veterans’ entitlement they've built up for over a century since the First World War, and it's incredibly complex and for veterans making a claim, sometimes their claims are dealt with under not just one but two or three pieces of legislation, which makes it complex. It also makes the system very slowly to be able to process those claims. And so what we're doing here with this legislation I've introduced today is to harmonise and simplify the system and primarily we do that by moving to having only one piece of ongoing legislation for veterans’ claims. It means that for veterans that have already received their benefits had their claims process, they'll continue to get what they're already getting. No one goes backwards under these changes, but all new claims or if a veteran has a condition that gets worse, they will deal with that under the new legislation or under the ongoing piece of legislation now that's the 21st century Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act. It's the legislation that most claims are dealt with under now. But importantly, we're going to make some enhancements to that as well, making sure that things that sit in some of those other pieces of legislation properly are reflected in the one ongoing piece of legislation but in a harmonised way, making it easier for veterans to know what they're entitled to because that just in itself is stressful enough, meaning that the advocates that work supporting veterans with their claims, makes it easier for them but also makes it easier for the Department to process the claims which delivers on the key outcome. That veterans and families get the benefits get the support that they need, and frankly that they deserve in a timely manner.

HARDGRAVE: And you committed last time we spoke to try and deal with the backlog. So what have you been able to do over the last month since we last spoke?

MINISTER KEOGH: So we have had ongoing success with that I think when I spoke to you last I was talking about how the backlog of claims which when we came into government was some 42,000 claims with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs that no one had even got to looking at yet. There is now no backlog. The backlog is eradicated if you put in a claim to DVA now it will be looked at by someone within 14 days. And even more impressively, now from the period from December through to now we are averaging total time to process an initial liability claim - which gets you access to all your health care and all of those issues – that’s averaging 55 days.

HARDGRAVE: Yeah -

MINISTER KEOGH: Now some do take longer of course because they're complex, they need additional reports and we're obviously working closely with veterans to make sure we can move as quickly as possible. But that average of 55 days is an important outcome in speeding up these processes getting through claims making sure veterans and families get the support they need in a timely way.

HARDGRAVE: So Matt Keogh, Minister let's face it, introducing legislation is the beginning of the process. You've got a parliamentary debate potentially on this. Everyone will want to have a say or you've got to deal with the parliamentary business. I sat on that committee at one stage when I was down there and let's face it, we want to get this thing through. We don't want any argy barge, we want this done and dusted so that it's law at a time well ahead of an election.

MINISTER KEOGH: And you're right it's certainly not the end of the process introducing the legislation but it's also not been the beginning. Because since the Royal Commission's Interim Report in 2022, we have been undertaking extensive consultation. We have had roundtables around the country - I've attended many of those in person. We've had webinars, which I also attended. We've convened groups of experts, as well as advocates to make sure we were hearing from people working on the frontline with this legislation. So we were tidying up and fixing up the issues that people are dealing with every day. But you're right, there's still a way to go. And crucially, you know, I've been having really positive engagement with the Shadow Minister and the Opposition with representatives of the other parties with cross benchers and that's a very good sign. We would expect it as you would know it's the usual course for there to be a Senate inquiry into significant legislation but there is so far in my engagement commitment from people to try and get this done by the end of the year. That is absolutely my hope. But as you also know Gary having been down here yourself sometimes the parliamentary processes take a bit longer. So recognising that, recognising that it's important that once the legislation is passed, that it's important veterans understand what these changes mean. It's important that we train advocates and adjust the systems within DVA the cut in period when this will start will be 1 July 2026 gives us enough time to get the legislation through and to make sure everyone knows how it works. But so far, very positive sounds from everyone across the Parliament and I hope it remains that way.

HARDGRAVE: Yeah well I hope so. I mean, we've talked a little bit about the lack of upper house here in Queensland, earlier on the program the upper house in Canberra with the way some of the Greens have been acting this week after that disgraceful desecration of Vietnam and Korean War Memorials in Canberra over the weekend. I hope they don't muck around with this because I don't want any veteran put under any further pressure. They're going through enough already.

MINISTER KEOGH: Well I certainly hope so that they don't slow this up as well Gary, and I did speak today in the Parliament about how concerning it was to me and I think to many people that the Greens didn't support the motion in the Senate, which was condemning those people that had vandalised war memorials here in Canberra. A motion with the same wording was passed today in the House of Representatives as well and I was very happy to be able to move that motion and to have it receive full support across the house. Because for anyone who's been following this and this isn't the first instance of this occurring either I might point out whether it's the Australian War Memorial, which is the centre of our national commemoration, or whether it is a small suburban or country town memorial. These are sacred places for the Australian community. They represent the lives of those people that have put on the Australian uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice as well as those that fought with them. And, of course, they remind us of the families that now have a ever present hole in their family, for their child, for their partner, for their parent that is no longer with us. And what's crucial here is we reflect upon, what did those people put on that uniform for it was to defend our values as a nation, including the values of democracy, freedom of speech, the ability to even go and protest peacefully in our country is all about what these memorials stand for. And so it just makes it all the more abhorrent what has happened here by vandalising war memorials.

HARDGRAVE: As you and I both know, desecration is not a sign of free speech. It's vandalism, it's a criminal act, and they should be dealt with but Minister, that's for others to deal with, not you and I appreciate your time. Thank you for coming into our Canberra studio and talking to us. Matt Keogh.

MINISTER KEOGH: My pleasure, Gary, thanks for having me.

HARDGRAVE: Matt Keogh is the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs.

END 

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608