QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (14:27): Thank you, Senator Lambie, for your question, and, as the President indicated, welcome back. You ask a very specific question around the number of invoices that are presently being processed and any indication about the time taken to process invoices submitted by our medical staff to DVA.

I don't have that information with me. If I can locate anything of that kind, I'll return to the chamber. More broadly, of course the government does want to see claims handled well and the experience for veterans improve.

I think we've demonstrated our bona fides in coming to government and making very significant investments in the claims-handling architecture for DVA, because we recognise that the previous arrangements were totally unsatisfactory. This has seen very significant improvements in the time taken for veterans to be able to access benefits, because we want veterans to have a positive experience and we want our veterans to feel supported.

As I've indicated, I don't have specific information about the issue that you raised, but if I do have anything I can return at some future moment. The PRESIDENT: Senator Lambie, first supplementary?