RSL Australia - Better together dinner

Australian War Memorial, Canberra

Good evening.

I want to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

I also acknowledge all those who have served, or continue to serve our nation in uniform, and the families who support them.

There are too many dignitaries in this room to mention you all by name – so I just want to say – it’s great to see you all!

I want to place on record my appreciation for the work the RSL does across the country to support our veterans and families of veterans.

Be it providing advocacy support or evolving to service the veterans of today… just like the Ringwood RSL who I met last week, they’ve just set up an e-gaming facility… it’s great to see RSL’s innovating, working to stay relevant and welcoming as they look to draw in younger veterans and families of veterans.

I also want to formally congratulate my old friend the Hon Peter Tinley AM on being elected the RSL National President.

You’ve really hit the ground running since taking on the gig and I look forward to continuing to work with you and the wider RSL to deliver benefits to the veteran community.

Tonight, I would like to provide an update on some of the important work the Australian Government has underway to improve the services and support we provide to the veteran community.

First and foremost is implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Fifteen months on from our response to the Final Report, significant progress has been made not only within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Defence but across government.

We’ve already implemented 32 recommendations, including the recommendation the Royal Commission deemed the most important – the establishment of an independent oversight body – the Defence and Veteran Service Commission – that has been up and running since September.

By the end of 2026, we’re expecting two thirds of the 122 recommendations of the Final Report to be implemented.

Two significant reforms will commence on 1 July this year.

Firstly, the Australian Government is investing $78 million to establish a new Agency focused on veteran and family wellbeing within DVA.

The Agency will have a renewed focus on successful transition from military to civilian life, community connection and improving wellbeing outcomes.

As many of you know, when a member leaves the ADF, it can be a time of great vulnerability.

Initially, the Agency will focus on supporting at-risk veterans transitioning from the ADF, with the view to expanding capability as the Agency grows.

The new Agency’s vision, purpose and functions have been determined through extensive consultation and co-design with veterans, families of veterans, ex-service organisations and providers.

The Agency will be a connection point if you will, making it easier to navigate the diverse veteran support system so people can access what they need – be that an advocate, mental health support, or details on the next BBQ at their local Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.

The Agency implements Recommendation 87 of the Royal Commission’s Final Report and provides for the coordinated delivery of related Recommendations 80, 81 and 86.

As part of this, funding has been committed over three years from 2026–27 to further support the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs program to improve their ongoing financial sustainability.

This funding will support and leverage the great work of the Hubs, through the development of formal partnership agreements with the lead organisations, with the aim of improving the Hub network’s long-term viability and ensure that integrated wellbeing supports continue to be provided to veterans and families of veterans.

I acknowledge the tremendous support provided by, and through, many RSL branches and sub-branches right across the country to ensure the success of the Hub network, and I thank you for your partnership, investment and ongoing support for this wonderful initiative that has already made a positive impact on so many lives.

Secondly, on 1 July my next baby is due - the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 will come into effect.

Since my very first day in this job I’ve been hearing the same thing from our veteran community - the veteran compensation system has been a nightmare to deal with for decades.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, in their interim report, made the same observation - the complex and difficult to navigate tri-Act system was contributing to poor mental health outcomes for the veteran community – it was deemed a contributor to suicidality.

On 1 July 2026 we’re banishing that nightmare to the history books, once and for all.

The VETS Act will see a better and simpler veterans' entitlements system, enabling veterans and families of veterans to access the supports they need and deserve, faster.

From 1 July all new claims for compensation and rehabilitation will be assessed under one single piece of legislation—the improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 - the MRCA.

It means that we will be better able to provide the services and supports the veteran community needs, and it will be easier for veterans and families of veterans to understand their entitlements and get the support they need, when they need it.

This has been years in the making, and I want to thank you all for your input along the way.

This reform, the most significant for the veteran support system in a century, was shaped in collaboration with the veteran community.

We’ve been consulting on what’s needed and how to pull this off since 2022.

I’ve greatly valued the opportunity to hear frank and often fearless feedback from around the country as we drafted what was to become “the VETS Act”.

Progressing this ambitious program of reform would not have been possible without the cooperation, contribution and united purpose demonstrated by current and former serving veterans, families, advocates, experts, and a range of ex-service organisations.

I want you to be assured that when the changes come into effect, no veteran or family member will see an interruption or reduction in payments or benefits they’re currently receiving.

As part of the transition, the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) will close to new claims for compensation on Tuesday, 30 June.

Veterans outside of the eastern states – I’m looking at you team WA - should also be aware that the deadline is 11:59pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.

Veterans and families of veterans may be reaching out to ESO advocates to help them make the decision on when it might be best to lodge a claim for their personal circumstances – before or after that cut off.

For any advocates who join us in the room I really encourage you to get across the detail.

Informative videos are available on DVA’s advocacy website and there’s a lot of information to read up on including an overview of the changes and detail on specific topics like family compensation and expanding presumptive liability.

Our progress to implement the Royal Commission’s recommendations reflect a significant shift across the whole veteran eco-system to a deeper focus on the wellbeing of veterans and the families of veterans across their lifetime.

We recognise that fostering wellbeing is one important protective factor against suicide.

Consistent with the findings of the Royal Commission, DVA is applying a greater focus on early intervention and prevention, working closely with the Department of Defence to identify risks earlier and act sooner.

This includes using insights from claims decision making to support Defence’s proactive approaches, and making it easier for veterans to access treatment and rehabilitation as early as possible to improve wellbeing.

We are also investing in better provision of treatment and rehabilitation for veterans to reduce the impact of injury on them and improve their lifetime wellbeing – making sure we’re getting in early before a condition becomes chronic.

Many of you will be aware we’ve been working to strengthen the integrity of the veteran support system to ensure veterans and families of veterans receive safe, high quality services and that taxpayer dollars are going towards supporting veteran wellbeing rather than those looking to take advantage.

We’re investing more than $203 million to strengthen DVA’s provider integrity capability, support free veteran advocacy services, combat fraud activity, and support the operations of the new Institute of Veterans Advocacy.

As you’re aware, we’ve now doubled funding for the Building Excellence in Support and Training (BEST) Grants Program – making some significant improvements to support for ESOs providing free advocacy services.

These changes address Recommendation 99 of the Royal Commission, which called for the Government to improve veterans’ advocacy by funding professional, paid advocates.

The BEST Program has been redesigned to provide greater stability and future funding certainty for ESOs who employ professional advocates.

Grant agreements under the BEST Program have been lengthened from 1 to 3 years, which means that successful applicants under the current round will receive funding until 2028–29.

The process to apply has also been made easier.

All of these changes are about reducing red tape and providing certainty for ESOs.

Allowing them to focus on employing, retaining and training highly skilled, professional, free advocates, for the benefit of the veteran community.

The improvements to the BEST program also respond to a recent Senate Inquiry into the veteran advocacy sector – thank you to those of you who contributed to that Inquiry.

It highlighted the urgent need to increase the capacity and capability of free-to-the-veteran advocacy services and supported further government investment.

The significant increase in funding and improvements to the BEST Program will mean the veteran community will have better access to free advocacy services all over Australia.

Applications for this round close on 15 April and will not reopen until 2029 so, please get your applications in!

Public consultation is also still open on how we can best regulate the veterans’ advocacy sector.

A public consultation paper is available on the DVA website and I really encourage you to put your views forward. Submissions close on the 8th May.

I’d now like to turn to the establishment of an ESO peak body, which was Recommendation 89 of the Royal Commission.

The Australian Government is committed to doing everything it can to support the formation of an ESO peak body but can only recognise this objective if the ESO sector itself grasps the opportunity.

I’m pleased to acknowledge Mr Nick Booth who is in the room tonight.

I know Nick has already been engaging with you and other ex-service organisations across the nation on what a National Peak Body might look like.

I ask you all to be ambitious, think strategically and consider how a peak body might strengthen coordination across the large and diverse ESO sector and amplify a collective voice for change.

This is an opportunity for all of us to think beyond current structures and find new ways of working together, not just to improve support for the veterans and families of today but also the needs of those to come.

Finally, I’d like to enlist your support in helping to dispel the ‘broken digger’ narrative.

Peter’s been doing a great job spreading the word on his social media – but it’s up to all of us to double down.

Not all veterans are broken. The vast majority live meaningful, purposeful lives after military service, they contribute to the community and thrive post-service.

And for those who do need assistance, we must make sure that is fit for purpose.

Veterans should be seen not just for what they’ve done, but for who they are—and what they can do.

They are not just former service personnel—they are work mates, mentors, educators, advocates, leaders, family members and volunteers and it’s vital that we, as a society, recognise that and provide the right support so veterans can continue to contribute long after they hang up their uniform.

Thank you for the opportunity to join you tonight. I look forward to continuing to work closely with you on the critical issues affecting the veteran community.

Together, I am confident that we can embed the significant changes needed to better support the veteran community.

I also wish you well with your discussions and deliberations.

Thank you and enjoy the evening.

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.