STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Mr McCORMACK (Riverina) (16:12): There is no more important policy position being discussed in this parliament today and for the past couple of weeks than the allied healthcare cap being placed on our veterans. For the past fortnight, I've been going right around the country. I've visited every state and territory to hear from veterans, to do something the minister won't: listen to the people, listen to the veterans.

I've heard from hundreds upon hundreds of them who want the cap to be scrapped. They cannot understand why a $5,000 arbitrary figure has been placed on their allied health. Last Thursday I returned home to Wagga Wagga for the first time in a couple of weeks, and I heard from veterans at Pro Patria.

I want to thank Jason Frost, Gordon Saggers, Colin Taggart and others for helping to facilitate that important event at which more than 50 veterans gave their raw, emotional—but also angry—stories about their needs and their requirements. Certainly, when it comes to allied healthcare, they need the services for psychology. They require the physical help.

They are not all broken, but for those who are—for those who we've sent to war and for those who we've bent in war—we now need to mend their conditions from that service. I cannot understand why this government has introduced this cap. The cap must be scrapped, the minister must be sacked and the next minister should be placed in cabinet.