Opinion piece - Cutting compo complexity will help reduce veteran suicide

The rate of veteran suicide is a national tragedy. It’s why we called for a royal commission.

Since 2021, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been investigating the factors that have contributed to such an appalling loss of life.

The very first recommendation made by the royal commission in its interim report was for urgent action to simplify and harmonise veteran compensation and rehabilitation legislation.

Anyone who has engaged with the veteran compensation system will tell you it is complicated and difficult to understand.

This is the result of decades of piecemeal change and fringe reform built on top of a century of different veterans’ entitlements legislation.

Veteran claims for benefits and support are currently assessed under three different pieces of legislation depending on the time someone served, and the nature of their service. Often veterans have had claims dealt with under all three pieces of legislation.

This complexity has directly contributed to delays, inconsistent processing, uncertain outcomes and claims backlogs.

The royal commission itself said the current system is “so complicated that it adversely affects the mental health of some veterans and can be a contributing factor to suicidality”.

Complexity and under resourcing saw us inherit a backlog of 42,000 veteran claims that had not even been looked at.

That backlog has now been cleared and all new claims are being looked at within 14 days of lodgement. It is now taking on average 55 days to process initial liability claims to decision.

But navigating the process is still complex, and not fit for purpose — it has left too many veterans in the lurch.

The royal commission called on the Government to act, and we have.

This week I introduced legislation into Parliament — the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 or VETS Bill — to consolidate veterans’ compensation, rehabilitation and other entitlements into a single ongoing piece of legislation, an improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA).

From July 1 2026, all new compensation claims will be determined under the improved MRCA, regardless of when or where the veteran served.

Enhancements to the MRCA in the VETS Bill include a new payment for severely impaired veterans of pension age, harmonised support for household and attendant care and improved payments for those travelling for treatment.

In addition, a higher funeral reimbursement amount of around $14,000 will be expanded to all service related deaths and the funeral allowance for other veteran deaths will increase to $3000.

This legislation will also open up gold card eligibility to veterans previously excluded from access, such as some of our national servicemen.

This legislation seeks to deliver a system that is easier for veterans and families to understand what they are entitled to, is simpler for veteran advocates to assist veterans, and enables the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to process claims quicker, so the veteran community can receive the benefits and supports they need and deserve in a timely manner.

Importantly, if a veteran is currently receiving benefits under an existing scheme, that will continue unaffected through grandparenting arrangements. No veteran will see a reduction to their benefits.

This year’s Federal Budget set aside an additional $222 million for veteran and family entitlements across the two years from commencement of this legislation.

These changes constitute the most significant change in the system in nearly 40 years.

This legislation has been developed in close collaboration with the defence and veteran community.

Our Government has undertaken extensive consultation with hundreds of veterans, advocates, experts and family members over the past 20 months to develop this legislation where I had the opportunity to hear directly from veterans, families and experts.

This is a once in a generation opportunity to get the system right for veterans and families.

A system that for too long has caused much unnecessary anxiety for the veteran community.

I am grateful to all the veterans, defence personnel, families, advocates and experts who have been involved in this process to date. Your frank and fearless feedback, has genuinely been vital in developing the pathway to, and the detail of, this legislation.

This legislation is a significant step in ensuring a better future for defence personnel, veterans and families.

This opinion piece was published in The West Australian, Thursday, 4 July 2024.

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