PRIVATE MEMBERS' BUSINESS
Mr CONAGHAN (Cowper) (17:15): I move: That this House: (1) notes the: (a) Government's decisions in the 2026-27 budget which fail to adequately support Australia's veterans and their families; and (b) introduction of a $5,000 cap on allied health services, which places significant limits on veterans' access to essential rehabilitation, mental health and ongoing care; (2) acknowledges that many veterans rely on ongoing and specialised allied health support, and that imposing a cap on these services will place many veterans at risk of delaying treatment and worsening health outcomes; (3) further notes with concern the lack of targeted funding and support for families of veterans, despite their critical role in caregiving, recovery and long-term wellbeing; (4) recognises that veteran families often experience emotional, financial and social pressures which are not adequately addressed in the budget; (5) condemns the defunding and discontinuation of veteran support and education programs, which have provided essential services including mental health support, transition programs, community connection and education programs; and (6) calls on the Government to immediately scrap these decisions and commit to properly funding services and programs to ensure veterans and their families receive the support, respect and care they deserve.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Ms Aldred ): Is there a seconder for the motion? Mr Birrell: I second the motion and reserve my right to speak. Mr CONAGHAN: Every Australian knows that taxpayer dollars should be allocated to policies that best enhance our chances for a prosperous future, that align with our Australian values that protect our sovereignty and our people—coincidentally, the very things that our brave men and women in the armed forces signed up for: our values, our sovereignty and our prosperous future.
On that note, I'd like to acknowledge the member for Solomon and his service to our country. He's sitting in the Chamber at this time. I have the privilege to represent a region that is home to more than 9,000 veterans and their families.
It is the largest cohort in New South Wales. Over the past seven years, as their local MP, I've had hundreds of individual conversations with them and heard firsthand about the challenges that they may have or have, having served our country and returned to everyday civilian life. The consistent piece that I hear from them is that we have to remove the barriers to support and any treatment that they may need in the future—those supports that they earned and so much deserve.
That is why the proposed introduction of a $5,000 cap on veterans' allied health services from 1 July 2027 is so baffling. To me, this is cruel and unusual punishment to those who served our country. This punitive cap will apply to physiotherapy, psychology, exercise physiology and occupational therapy, which are the most basic levels that our veteran community can access to manage pain, recover from injury, deal with trauma and be able to function day to day while rebuilding their lives.
How can putting a cap on these services help our veterans? It makes absolutely no sense. I don't know which bureaucrat thought of this for saving money, but it's not going to work; it's going to cost lives and livelihoods.
It's going to cost veterans like Richard Snape from Port Macquarie, better known as Bruce. Bruce served his nation proudly for 20 years in the military, including time served in the Vietnam War. Bruce endured significant injuries over his 20 years of service and has subsequently been classified with an 80 per cent level of permanent impairment.
He currently attends two sessions of exercise physiology and one approved pilates session every week as a preventative measure for further degradation of his condition. These weekly sessions play a critical role in maintaining his current quality of life, but Bruce is now understandably frightened for his future. He very eloquently said to me: A country that fails its Veterans weakens the very pact that underpins service.
You cannot ask Australians to serve, sacrifice, and carry the cost of duty, then place a cap on their recovery when they come home injured. In my case, as I am aging and my capabilities deteriorate, I am more dependant on my weekly sessions than ever. I am anxious about my future should this cap come into effect.
My physical therapy not only keeps me going in body, but also in mind. I don't want to think about my prospects without it. And there are thousands of these stories around Australia.
The questions each one of my affected constituents has posed are: What happens when a veteran has reached their cap amount? Will they be forced to choose between care and the cost of living? Will they be able to continue to see their trusted clinicians?
And will you, Labor, bear the responsibility for what happens next? Now, I note that the minister has said DVA will fund allied health services above this cap, but I ask these questions: How will that process work? What are the definitions for valid clinical needs?
How can veterans apply for their claims to be considered once they've hit their cap? How long will the process take? And, while they're waiting for determination, will they be unable to access care if they cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs?
There are three things that our federal budget should strive for, and it's time this government canned this policy.