Doorstop Interview – Hobart, Tasmania

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
Doorstop Interview
Hobart, Tasmania
December 9, 2025

SUBJECTS: Hobart Veterans’ and Families’ Hub Opening

MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL MATT KEOGH: Look, it's wonderful to be here in Hobart with Senator Carol Brown and with RSL Tasmania for the formal opening of Veterans’ Hub here in Hobart, one of the key Hubs of their Hub and Spoke Model around Tasmania, the Albanese Government was very happy to be able to contribute $5 million towards the Veteran Hub here in Tasmania, operating on that unique model, making sure that there are locations close to where veterans are, no matter where they are in the state of Tasmania. We have the highest population of veterans per head of population of any State here in Tasmania, making sure they can get access to a wide variety of services, whether they're provided by RSL Tasmania directly or by other ex-service organisations through this Hub here in Hobart, or through the Hub in Launceston or the various spokes across Tasmania, it's incredibly important to make sure that our veterans are being properly supported.

JOURNALIST: And what are the unique needs of Tasmania when it comes to supporting veterans?

KEOGH: So there's a number of unique things about what we see with the veteran population here in Tasmania. It is our highest population of veterans per head of any state in Australia. But what we also see is it's a very dispersed population. They're not just in the capital cities, they're out in all the towns and villages across Tasmania, which means being able to get access to services is sometimes a bit more difficult. So having not just key Hubs like here in Hobart and in Launceston, but making sure that services will be provided through spokes in different towns is really important that to make services accessible to veterans.

JOURNALIST: And how effective have these hubs been interstate?

KEOGH: We’ve seen the Hubs have been really effective because one of the problems that we confront all around Australia is that there are such a plethora of services available to support veterans, some very niche, some quite broad, some very small organisations, some large organisations, but that can make it difficult for veterans to understand where to start, where do they go to access the right service, and what is the right support that they need? So having Hubs that a veteran can access, and here, through the Veteran Hub in Tasmania, there are navigators that a veteran can either walk in and speak to or call on the phone or get on the email that will connect them to the right service by understanding what's their background, what's their service history, what are the things that they might be confronting or needing, and then connect them to the correct services to support them. That navigation pathway is incredibly important. We see that operating not just here but through all the different veteran and family hubs that we've opened across the country.

JOURNALIST: What sort of role does a Hub like this in the service it provides play in reducing rates of veteran suicide?

KEOGH: Certainly, I think the Hubs like this provide two really important roles. The first one is actually that the existence of the hub, making sure people are aware of these Hubs, not just the veterans themselves, but their families and the broader community, serve as a way of making sure that veterans  understand that there is service and support to help them, that they're not on their own when they might be feeling at their lowest point, that there are services here to support them in their time of need, and having navigators like we have here in Tasmania to connect them to the right service that they may need when they need it. But the other key thing is being able to have central locations here in Tasmania, multiple locations that a veteran knows they can go to, or they can get on the phone, or they can access via email that will connect them to what they might need. And that's important for the veteran. It's also important for the family members as well, to connect family members the services and supports that they may need as a family, recognising that there are unique impacts on the families of veterans through the service of their veteran family member, but also for the veteran themselves, being able to navigate systems can be complex and difficult. The Hubs provide those support services either directly or connect them to the right service. And here in Tasmania, where you've got not just advocates that support them with DVA claims for accessing healthcare or compensation, but also social workers that help with accessing other clinical supports or the employment support services that are available here, and even the programs of just social connection. And when we look at rates of suicide, and being able to prevent suicide, social connection is so really, really important, and having those programs running through the Hubs and Spokes here in Tasmania is really important.

JOURNALIST: Thank you. Happy to take other questions.

KEOGH: Sure

JOURNALIST: Does Anika Wells use of taxpayer entitlements meet public expectations?

KEOGH: I think what we've seen is that the use of entitlements has been within the rules, and Anika has addressed those in full detail on the weekend, as has the Prime Minister and other ministers. I don't think there's much for me to add to what people have already said about those matters.

JOURNALIST: Do you think Ministerial travel rules need to be, I guess, re looked at, to be more aligned with public expectations?

KEOGH: Well, I think, as I said, this has been already addressed by the Prime Minister and other Ministers already. I don't think it's going to be helped by additional comment by me to the same effect.

JOURNALIST:  Thank you.

ENDS

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.