Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024

Senator DAVID POCOCK (Australian Capital Territory) (17:53): At the request of Senator Lambie, I move: At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate notes that: (a) it is the intention of the bill that no veteran will be worse off from the passage of this bill; (b) the bill must fully protect the rights and entitlements of veterans while ensuring there will be no reduction in any form of compensation; (c) improvements are needed in the navigation of government processes to ensure veterans can access the support and services they need without unnecessary obstacles; (d) it is essential to expedite claim processing times to reduce delays that can adversely affect veterans' financial stability and overall wellbeing; (e) veterans are treated differently to those receiving support under the National Disability Insurance Scheme; (f) the Government is implementing its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide as a matter of priority; (g) the Department of Veterans' Affairs Medicinal Cannabis Framework has been designed to align with current medical research and best practice to support the health and wellbeing of veterans, including for the treatment of chronic pain management, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and palliative care indications, as well as other health conditions where standard treatments have not been effective, with a focus on improving quality of life and facilitating return to work, and the department will continue to consider research into appropriate usage for other conditions; and (h) there is a need to consider veteran healthcare pricing arrangements and system design to help better incentivise providers, simplify administrative arrangements, ensure greater fiscal sustainability of veteran healthcare arrangements, and promote better veteran health outcomes".

Question agreed to. Original question, as amended, agreed to. Bill read a second time.