QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Mr KEOGH (Burt—Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel) (15:07): I thank the terrific member for Tangney for his important question, and I acknowledge the service of his son in our Australian Defence Force as well. The Albanese government's commitment to delivering for veterans and families has been seen across our term of government.

But, even all the way back in opposition, we saw the rates of Defence and veteran suicide, and we called on the previous government to hold a royal commission. We saw the backlog of some 42,000 veteran claims sitting in the Department of Veterans' Affairs not even being looked at under the previous government and we committed to 500 additional staff for DVA. We delivered that in government.

We received the interim report of the royal commission only months after coming into government in 2022. We delivered a response from the government in September 2022. We took action on all of the recommendations in that report.

We delivered proper resourcing to the Department of Veterans' Affairs, making it the best funded it has been in three decades. We cleared the backlog of claims early, so veterans and families could get access to the services and supports that they deserve and that they need. We oversaw an increase in funding going to veterans' services and compensation of some $15 billion.

Meanwhile, the opposition wanted to cut the extra staff that we had added to support our veterans. We passed the VETS Act, simplifying and harmonising three complex pieces of legislation, supporting our veterans to create one simpler scheme. That was the biggest change to veterans legislation in a century.

We received the final report of the royal commission in September 2024, and we delivered the government response in December 2024—one of the fastest government responses to a royal commission ever—because we take these issues seriously. Within a year of the royal commission, we implemented what it said was its most important recommendation—establishing a legislated oversight body, the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission.

We've implemented eight other recommendations as well already, and work is underway on a further 110 of the recommendations. We're also rolling out veterans and families hubs across the country and delivering the Veteran Employment Program. We are also doing the work to make it easier for veterans and families to be able to lodge claims with DVA, and we've delivered the first combined Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Meanwhile, the only commitment that's coming out of the opposition leader and her shadow treasurer is to cut back government expenditure, something that would go to the heart of the support that is delivered to our veterans. Unlike the fluff and puff from those opposite with their fear and misinformation, the Albanese government is actually delivering for veterans and families.

The SPEAKER: I give the call to the honourable member for Gippsland. Mr Thompson: Don't go anywhere, Matt. The SPEAKER: The member for Herbert will leave the chamber—completely disrespectful.

The member for Herbert then left the chamber.