McKell Institute, Sydney

Good afternoon

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.

Introduction

It is a pleasure to be here today, and I thank you for the opportunity to address you.

Firstly, I’d like to congratulate the McKell Institute on the important work it does and the thoughtful, practical and innovative solutions it puts forward to contemporary public policy challenges.

Veterans’ Affairs isn’t a portfolio that is often given the opportunity to engage in broader policy engagement, so I appreciate the opportunity.

Today, I’d like to talk to you about some of the transformational changes that we, as a Government, are implementing to Australia’s veteran support system — supported by the most significant and sustained investments in veterans this century.

Indeed, from 1 July — just two weeks away — Australia’s veteran support landscape will undergo its most significant reform in generations.

A veteran support system with more than a century of history, founded to support wounded veterans and the families of those lost in the early years of the First World War.

A veteran support system steeped in history but in desperate need of an overhaul.

Let me provide some context.

Firstly, it is important to understand and dispel a myth that sometimes exist that somehow all veterans are broken. As the Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence & Veteran Suicide has said, the vast majority of veterans have successful careers in our Defence force and go onto lead successful careers and lives following their service.

We should rightly thank them for and commemorate their service and sacrifice for our nation, but they are not broken.

Understandably though, it is also very important in my role that I focus on those that need extra support.

Back in 2022, when I became the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, it was, in many respects, a baptism of fire.

At the time, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was underway. And what we were hearing — through deeply confronting evidence and submissions — was that too many of our Defence personnel and veterans had not been supported in the way they deserved by successive Governments.

The Royal Commission made it abundantly clear that significant, cultural and systemic change was required — within Defence, within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and across Government more broadly.

The rate of veteran suicide is a national tragedy. It’s why we called for a Royal Commission. And it is why this Government has taken very seriously the responsibility to act on its recommendations.

Recommendations that went to the lifetime wellbeing of a veteran, rather than a single point in time.

Recommendations that focused not just on pay outs but rather making sure a veteran receives the best, holistic supports they need, throughout their lives – from the day they sign on the dotted line, throughout their career in Defence, through their transition from service into civilian life and long, long after their uniform was hung up for the last time.

Recommendations that sought to set a veteran up for success, not break them before they’ve had the chance to even have a crack.

Recommendations that took into account not just the impact of the unique nature of military service on the Defence force member but on their family as well.

The need for a different approach

We’ve been grappling with that challenge since the moment we were handed the Royal Commission’s Interim Report, just a couple of months after winning Government in 2022.

Then of course there was their Final Report in September 2024 – a report of not just 122 recommendations, but seven volumes of detailed explanations as to not just what we needed to do better, but why… to save lives.

Central to that task was one of the most significant challenges handed down by the Royal Commission in its Interim Report—to simplify and harmonise the veteran compensation and rehabilitation system.

A recommendation they deemed too urgent to wait for that Final Report.

A recommendation triggered by a backlog of almost 42,000 veteran claims that hadn’t even been looked at in DVA.

One of our first moves as a Government was to resource DVA with the funding and the staff that it needed to get through those claims.

This has seen DVA be the best resourced that it has been in three decades and the services, rehabilitation and compensation going to our veterans increase by 50 per cent from the last Government to our Government; from around $10 billion each year to $15 billion this year.

Ultimately, though, we want Australians to be attracted to serving our nation in our ADF, and confident that they and their families will be respected and well supported by their leadership, their mates and the broader Defence organisation, as well as being safe in the knowledge, that whatever may befall them during their service, they will be properly looked after, and their service acknowledged, respected and commemorated by a grateful nation. 

The Challenge: A System That Needs to Be Simpler

For our veterans, there was a systemic issue we needed to grapple – we needed to make the support system simpler.

Anyone who has engaged with the veteran compensation system knows that it can be a nightmare.

It can feel complex and challenging to navigate, particularly when people are seeking support at a vulnerable point in their lives.

This system is the result of decades of adding new legislation along with piecemeal change and fringe reform built up over a century of veterans’ entitlements legislation.

Right now, veteran claims for benefits and support are 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, claims backlogs and frankly, confusion.

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.”

This finding underscores the importance of simplifying how support is accessed, so the system works with veterans not against them.

And that is why reform could not wait.

It is also why the Government has backed this reform with significant and sustained investment — to ensure the system is not only simpler, but better resourced to support veterans and families.

The Government Response: Commitment to Reform

In October 2022, I announced the first of three consultation periods, calling on the veteran community to share their experiences and views.

The message we heard was consistent, clear and compelling: The system needed to be simpler. It needed to be fairer. And it needed to be easier to navigate.

Any reform had to deliver simplicity going forward, while also protecting the rights of those already in the system.

This informed a proposed pathway for simplification that featured:

• establishing an improved Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) as the sole ongoing scheme
• closing out the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986 (VEA) and Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 (DRCA) to new compensation related claims
• and grandparenting all existing arrangements to ensure there is no reduction in entitlements currently or previously received by veterans.

In February 2023, we began public consultation on this proposed pathway.

It resulted in the exposure draft of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024.

We then undertook significant further consultation on the Bill with the veteran community.

These multiple rounds of consultation were critical to ensuring the legislation was fit for purpose, that we could land it exactly where we needed to.

The Australian Parliament passed the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmo­nisation) Act 2025 – the VETS Act – in February last year.

The new, enhanced Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 (MRCA) will come into effect in just a few weeks on 1 July and will be the single ongoing legislative basis for entitlements.

The VEA and DRCA will close to new claims for compensation on Tuesday, 30 June.

This will allow for all new claims for compensation to be made under the improved MRCA from 1 July, replacing the current multi-Act system.

It will make it easier for veterans to know what support is available for them.

It means veterans and families of veterans will be able to access the supports they need and deserve, faster.

It will also provide clearer, fairer and more consist­ent compensation outcomes.

Various entitlements will be enhanced, while allowances and other payments which had operated differently across the three Acts will be standardised, and for many enhanced, from 1 July. 

The simpler system will also help claims advocates to better support veterans and help DVA to process claims in a consistent and timely way.

When the changes come into effect, no veteran or family member will see an interruption or reduction in the payments or benefits they’re currently receiving.

This is the biggest reform to Australia’s veteran support system in more than a century — and it has been shaped by those who use it.

In two weeks’ time, we will have one clear, consistent framework instead of a fragmented, multi-Act system.

This reform is about removing complexity and reducing stress.

Importantly, we’re also strengthening access to treatment—so veterans can receive care earlier, including while their claims are being assessed.

This means people can start getting the support they need without unnecessary delay — supporting recovery and improving their long-term wellbeing.

And it means veterans can focus on what matters most — their health, recovery and wellbeing — supported by a system designed to respond earlier and more effectively.

The Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency

Coupled with access to treatment is ensuring wellbeing supports.

Another transformative change coming to the veteran support system on 1 July is the establishment of the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency.

Recommendation 87 from the Royal Commission called for the establishment of a dedicated wellbeing agency to support serving Australian Defence Force personnel, veterans and their families.

Critics at the time said that this new body had been proposed to address the lack of trust in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to adequately support veterans as they left service.

It was harsh… but it was probably true.

Despite the many veterans who – and this will be a surprise to some – take the time to write to me or tell me directly how wonderful the support they have received from DVA is, unfortunately that experience is not universal, as many other veterans also tell me directly or via comments on social media.

Trust has been lost.

DVA also weren’t equipped with what was needed to make sure the right supports hit the right people at the right time in terms of legislation or resources.

DVA were seen as a clunky, combative insurance agency, not a safe place where people can feel they can ask for help. 

The Royal Commission found that transition from the ADF to civilian life and some years afterwards is one of the most vulnerable periods of life for a veteran and their family.

It found that services are often focused on responding to claims rather than prevention and early support.

And for services that did have these priorities – they were near on impossible to track down due to the plethora of competition in the market – well-meaning ex-service organisations, not for profits, healthcare providers…. You’d have to be a genius to know where to start.

Our expanding Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network has started to help with that in key locations.

The new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency is about moving to a simpler wellbeing system for veterans and families of veterans that is accessible nationally.

The new Wellbeing Agency will have a renewed focus on successful transition from military to civilian life, community connection and improving wellbeing outcomes — supporting veterans with continuing their life of service as a civilian, while removing gaps between Defence and DVA supports.

I’m pleased to share with you today the appointment of Brendan Cox as the inaugural head of the Agency.

Brendan is a veteran himself, serving 28 years before he transitioned to work in the private sector and then spending a decade as CEO of Legacy Brisbane supporting veterans and families, as well as being a Director of the Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation, which has been working on research into veteran physical and mental health.

As I said, when a member leaves the ADF, it can be a time of vulnerability.

We want to make sure veterans who are leaving the military, going back to their community or a new community and that are feeling vulnerable, don’t fall through the gaps that can so easily emerge.

Initially, the Agency will focus on supporting at-risk veterans during this time of transition.

From 1 July, the Agency will provide a clear and accessible entry point for veterans and families of veterans through information, navigation, coordination and referral services, particularly for those on the journey from military to civilian life.

In two weeks’ time, veterans and their family members will be able to access support through a new website, service directory and helpline, with three levels of support: self-navigation, guided navigation and more tailored coordination for people with more complex needs. 

The Agency will make it easier to navigate the diverse veteran support system so people can find what they need – be that an advocate, mental health support, or details of the next BBQ at their local Veterans’ and Families’ Hub.

As with the legislation reforms, the vision, purpose and functions of the new Agency have been shaped through extensive consultation and co-design with veterans, veteran families, ex-service organisations and providers.

Importantly, the agency will not duplicate existing services… there’s enough of them out there already.

Instead, its role will be to connect the system together, ensuring veterans receive the right support at the right time.

At its core, the Agency will help connect the system together — reducing fragmentation and helping people access support earlier.

This signals a broader shift by DVA, toward earlier intervention, better coordination and stronger wellbeing outcomes, and reflects the increasing degree of specialisation and co-ordination, rather than competition, in the veteran services sector.

Royal Commission Progress

The implementation of these two critical Royal Commission recommendations on 1 July underline the significant progress the Government has made in responding to the Royal Commission.

We’ve already implemented 32 recommendations of the 122 in the Final Report, including the one the Royal Commission deemed the most important – the establishment of an independent oversight body – the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission (DVSC).

The DVSC has been up and running since September last year and we recently appointed Penny McKay as its inaugural Commissioner.

The DVSC ensures accountability, and that reform is sustained over the long term. It has already begun its first inquiry into the Government’s implementation of our Response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations.

By the end of this year, two thirds of the Royal Commission’s recommendations are expected to be implemented, with work progressing on the remainder.

This progress is the result of intensive and collaborative work not only within DVA and Defence but across Government.

Of course, I wish I was standing here today telling you I’ve fixed it.

I’ve eradicated veteran suicide, fixed Defence culture and eradicated military sexual violence.  Job done, onto the next challenge.

But there IS more work to do, and we are determined to keep the momentum going, because one veteran suicide is one too many.

Our recent Budget allocated more than $770 million to enable us to continue to deliver on the Royal Commission recommendations, including a number of major initiatives to support the lifetime wellbeing of our current and former Defence personnel.

It included $169.7 million, to increase fees for allied health providers delivering services to veterans from 1 July 2027.

This measure will see increased payments to providers who deliver services such as physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy and podiatry to veterans.

The funding will significantly increase the choice and availability of allied health services for the veteran community, it’s the largest investment in veteran allied health provider fees in more than 20 years.

It’ll mean we remove the much maligned and annoying 12 session Treatment Cycle, the constant merry go round of appointments for referrals, in place of a $5,000 threshold that allows veterans to see a suite of allied health professionals, and have that reviewed holistically if they’re getting close to that limit.

By way of comparison, the median, average veteran use of allied health services is $1,900 per year.

Too many veterans have been navigating a fragmented system, seeing multiple providers with no single view of whether their care is working.

That has created opportunities for over servicing, where financial incentives have too often outweighed what is in the veterans’ best interests. It has seen veterans receive care and treatment but not the results and solutions they could be.

This change will come in on 1 July 2027.There’s more than a year to work through the ins and outs of how these new arrangements will operate, and we will do that work with the veteran and medical community.

I want to make it very clear that we will continue to support veterans whose care needs go beyond the limit where there is a clinical need.  
In the recent Budget, the Government also allocated $16.6 million to the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission to conduct an independent inquiry into military sexual violence in the ADF.

The Royal Commission recommended this Inquiry take place, recognising much work had been done by Defence in this area and that it had not had time itself to delve into these issues in detail.

The Inquiry will commence later this year.

But in kicking off that Inquiry, we’re doing what’s right.

We won’t stop anyone who wants to share their story of sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force from doing so.

The Government will not enforce non-disclosure agreements, including any non-disparagement requirement, between the Commonwealth and current or former ADF members in relation to sexual violence, if they wish to speak about their experience with the Inquiry or make a submission to the Inquiry.

For too long there’s been a perception of a culture of cover up.

Too many people have felt powerless to speak out against those who have harmed them.

That cannot continue.

We need this Inquiry to get to the bottom of what has been happening.

That’s why these experiences must be brought into the open. 
People deserve the opportunity to be heard.

Every time I meet with victim survivors I am reminded of the human cost.

Their stories always stay with me… and they strengthen my resolve to ensure no one else has to endure what they have. 

Long before entering politics I chaired the board of my local domestic violence refuge. My Mum was a family lawyer. My Dad worked in child protection.

No part of me wants to be part of a system that is seen to tolerate, excuse or perpetuate violence against women. 

And, we can’t make systemic improvement without knowing what is actually happening to people.

We need this Inquiry to dig deep, uncover the truth, and deliver the recommendations needed to ensure real and lasting change.

Because if we don’t combat the issues in service, we’re not going to combat the issues that follow and we’re not going to eradicate veteran suicide.

What are we seeing now?

We’re seeing a very necessary shift across the whole veteran eco-system to a deeper focus on the more holistic wellbeing of serving personnel, veterans and families of veterans across their lifetime.

Because that is a key protective factor against suicide.

We’re focused on early intervention and prevention, working to identify risks earlier and act sooner.

This includes using insights from DVA claims decision making to support Defence’s proactive approaches… subtext – we’re working to stop people from being injured in service in the first place.

But for those who need it, we’re making it easier for veterans to access treatment and rehabilitation as early as possible to improve their overall wellbeing.

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

Veterans bring capability, resilience and a strong sense of service, and we are seeking to empower veterans and families of veterans to live meaningful, purposeful lives after military service.

As a Government, we are committed to supporting them to continue to contribute and thrive long after they hang up the uniform.

To date, the Government has provided over $2 billion in funding to support initiatives in response to the Royal Commission — representing one of the most significant investments in veteran wellbeing in Australia’s history.

This investment is having a real impact and is improving outcomes for our veteran community.

Conclusion: A System That Works for Veterans

In closing, the reforms we are delivering represent a turning point.

We know the system has evolved over many decades — and that there are opportunities to make it simpler, clearer and more consistent for those who rely on it.

Unfortunately, at times, it has contributed to the very harm it was designed to address. The Royal Commission made it clear that change was needed — and we have acted.

From 1 July, we are delivering a simpler system, with a single, clearer pathway to support so veterans and their families can get help faster.

Our veteran community will also benefit from better coordination across services and a stronger focus on wellbeing.

Importantly, these reforms continue to shift the focus of the system — from one primarily centred on compensation, to one that prioritises earlier access to treatment, recovery and lifelong wellbeing.

These changes have been years in the making.

These reforms are the most significant to the veteran support system in more than a century and they have been shaped in partnership with the veteran community.

I thank the many veterans, Defence personnel, families, advocates, experts and ex-service organisations who have given their time, insight and experience to help us build a simpler, more effective system.

These reforms are about restoring trust.

They are about ensuring that those who have served our country receive the care, dignity and support they deserve.

And they demonstrate the Government’s ongoing commitment — through reform and through investment — to build a veteran support system that is simpler, more responsive and focused on wellbeing at every stage of life for those that need it.

And for all our veteran community, we will continue to thank them for and commemorate their service to our nation.

As we grapple with the most complicated set of strategic circumstances we have confronted as a nation since the Second World War, we cannot lose sight of the fact that it is our people that are our most important capability.

We must protect them and look after them,

Acknowledge the debt that we owe them,

Ensure they are supported after their service,

And know they have the trust, support, respect and gratitude of all Australians.

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