STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator BLYTH (South Australia) (13:30): This morning, I had the privilege to stand with veterans, clinicians and organisations from across Australia as they launched the coalition of veterans' voices. They have come together because veterans are still fighting a system that is supposed to be supporting them. Their message this morning was clear: scrap the $5,000 allied health cap, give veterans the choice over their medical and assessment providers and fix a claim system that leaves veterans waiting far too long for the help that they need.

The $5,000 cap should concern every single Australian. The government has effectively put a dollar limit on the support our veterans can receive after service. From 2027, that cap will apply to psychology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and rehabilitation—the services veterans rely on to manage the physical and mental injuries they carry from serving our country.

For a veteran with a complex PTSD, chronic pain or serious service related injuries, $5,000 will not last anywhere near 12 months. If this cap cuts veterans off from the care they need, many have told me that they won't be a burden. This is going to cost lives.

We've just had a royal commission into defence and veteran suicide, and we know what happens when veteran support becomes too difficult or too slow to access. It should not take more veterans' lives for Labor to take this seriously. This cap is dangerous, and it is insulting to those who have served our country.

Veterans, clinicians and advocates travelled from across the country to stand with those who served, yet Labor minister for veterans' affairs Matt Keogh refused to meet with them, and that is a disgrace. I was proud to stand with the coalition of veterans voices this morning and colleagues from across the spectrum, excluding Labor. When we ask men and women to look after us, we must return that courtesy.

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