Radio Interview - ABC Sydney Drive

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
ABC SYDNEY
DRIVE WITH RICHARD GLOVER
WEDNESDAY, 28 AUGUST 2024

SUBJECTS: Veteran Legislative reform, Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

HOST, RICHARD GLOVER: Matt Keogh was in attendance at the event at which Nick Kaldas and the other commissioners spoke. He's the Minister for Veterans Service and he's on the line for us. Matt, good afternoon.

MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL, MATT KEOGH: Good afternoon, Richard, great to be with you.

RICHARD GLOVER: 57 inquiries, 800 recommendations, all of it for nothing. Will this be different?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, certainly it's already been different, Richard, and this inquiry is very different. The Royal Commission. When I was a new Minister just over two years ago, the Royal Commission handed down its interim report and we accepted the recommendations there and we got on with implementing those changes that the Royal Commission included in its interim report. And it provided that interim report because it regarded those matters as being urgent. And that included getting through the backlog of some 42,000 claims that were sitting with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. And we were able to do that a month earlier than the Royal Commission asked us. And now we're undertaking the large task of reforming the legislation that supports our veterans' entitlement system, harmonising it, simplifying it, and making it easier for veterans to use.

RICHARD GLOVER: I think it's fair to say you have personally received a lot of credit and a lot of applause because you have actually got onto that waiting list and reduced it, which is, you know, I'm sure. Well, I know, included the hiring of lots of extra staff and has been an achievement on the board. Nevertheless, there are still things to be done, and I know from talking to Nick Kaldas that he's still worried that the very top brass of the military are still resistant to some of these ideas. What's your feeling about that?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well, certainly we called for this Royal Commission when we were in opposition. We've been very supportive of the Royal Commission and engaging with it. And that's why, as soon as we got that Interim Report, we got about implementing the recommendations that were in the Interim Report, and very much we're looking forward to seeing the recommendations that we'll receive in nearly two weeks time. The final report. We just had the summing up final hearing, as you said this morning, which was a great bringing together of over three years worth of work of the Royal Commission, not just hearing from experts and from senior military and government people, but really importantly, listening to the lived experience stories of veterans, of mothers, of wives and husbands that have suffered through defence and veteran suicide, and making sure that they will listen to. And we heard their stories, some of them, today at the final session of the Royal Commission. And it's those things that will be motivating government in making sure that we can get on with the job once we get this final report from the Royal Commission to improve this situation and make sure that we're tackling what is really a national tragedy, the rate of suicide amongst the veteran community.

RICHARD GLOVER: Yeah, absolutely it is. You're doing some in the next few weeks, some forums with veterans yourself. What are you hoping to get out of that?

MINISTER KEOGH: Absolutely. So, yesterday was Adelaide, and I've literally just stepped out of the one we're doing here in Sydney to speak to you, which is talking to veterans about a lot of change that we've already implemented over the last two years, but especially about the legislative reform that's before the Parliament. Now, this is to move from having three very complex pieces of legislation, when sometimes veterans have to be covered by all three, to having one ongoing scheme for all new claims being brought forward by veterans. 
So, explaining what we're doing there, explaining the enhanced enhancements we're making to the legislation as well, how we're harmonising benefits which is all about making it easier for veterans to know what they're entitled to, the advocates that support them, making it easier for them to support veterans, and, of course, making it easier for DVA to process those claims quickly so veterans get the benefits and the supports that they need in a timely way.

RICHARD GLOVER: You would have heard Nick Kaldas say to me last week that one of the central recommendations was the establishment of a permanent body to monitor progress. Will you do that?

MINISTER KEOGH: Well certainly, I understand the very strong desire, not just from the Royal Commission, but from the veteran community across the board about that sort of recommendation. We'll get the report in a couple of weeks time. We don't know the detail of what they're proposing there, so I can't speak to any particular recommendations, but I very much understand where they're coming from.

RICHARD GLOVER: All right. But give me a sense. Do you detail willing, money willing, is this something you'd like to see?

MINISTER KEOGH: I think we certainly need to make sure, as you mentioned, right at the top, there's been numerous inquiries, both independent Senate inquiries, other inquiries that have gone on for a long period of time, and people haven't seen the change that needed to happen. We're going to get this report from the Royal Commission. We're a government that's committed to following through on that, and if this is part of what they're recommending, then we want to make sure that we put in place what's required so that recommendations are being implemented and that there's some follow up on that as well. 

RICHARD GLOVER: I know you've got to go back to your meeting, which is the most important thing of all. Matt, thank you so much.

MINISTER KEOGH: Thank you so much, Richard.

RICHARD GLOVER: Matt Keogh, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, who is in the wake of the Royal Commission, now holding these veterans forums. There's one on, that he's just taken a moment out of to speak to you. But these veterans forums, which he hopes will see if they can make the recommendations and what the - I think to simplify and harmonise veterans compensation legislation among other matters.

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