MOTIONS
Mr GOSLING (Solomon) (11:31): As a veteran and as someone who has spent years working alongside the veteran community, I take this motion very seriously. But on its central demand, it's important to acknowledge that it has been overtaken by events. The minister responded to the feedback from veterans and veteran service organisations and took the $5,000 threshold off the table.
As previous speakers have mentioned, I and my colleagues consulted with our veteran communities. DVA ran consultations that were open to anyone that wanted to take part: veterans, families, advocates, VSOs—veteran service organisations—and providers. I certainly provided my feedback to the minister, as did others.
It was overwhelming, and the message was very clear: this was not the right way. So the government listened and changed course. Veterans told us they'd rather keep a system they know than accept a limit that they didn't trust.
The minister will, of course, keep working with veterans and providers on a better system and better ways to cut red tape while protecting the integrity of the system. We support the providers who do the right thing. The biggest increase in allied health fees in 20 years is going ahead because some providers had stopped seeing veterans when DVA fees didn't keep pace.
We all know that that was happening. It was leading to less access for our veterans. In the 2025-26 financial year, around $15 billion was provided in payments and services to more than 360,000 veterans and families.
That's the highest investment in the history of the veteran support system. But that money is only as good as where it ends up. On Monday 5 October, the ABC Four Corners program called 'Defenceless' examined the conduct of some commercial advocacy businesses and service providers.
Veterans told their stories with real courage. The alleged fraud and misconduct they described are deeply concerning. Let me be clear.
The overwhelming majority of providers and advocates absolutely do the right thing. But a small minority see the scale of this system, this investment in our veterans and this additional budget as a business opportunity. DVA has identified overcharging, kickback arrangements, misleading advice and undeclared conflicts of interest, and misleading health advice can do real harm to a veteran's health.
That's why our government has invested $203 million in provider integrity and advocacy. That includes $151 million for DVA to prevent, detect and act on wrongdoing. It also includes more than double the funding for free advocacy through veteran service organisations so that veterans get good advice without someone taking a commission.
DVA has also tightened medicinal cannabis prescribing, including requiring an initial GP consultation. This motion ends with the final line of the Australian Defence Veterans' Covenant: For what they have done, this we will do. I've lived by these words, and I agree with the member for Riverina that they must always mean something.
To our government, they mean paying fair fees so good providers keep their doors open to veterans. They mean standing between veterans and those who, disgustingly, see their service related entitlements as a business revenue stream. They mean that we consult early so, when veterans tell us we've got something wrong, we listen and we fix it.
In the time remaining, I want to reflect on the tragic loss of a Darwin service member, an Australian soldier that became a junior leader, a corporal in the Australian infantry: Corporal Brendan Hannam of the 5th/7th Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment. I want to pass on my condolences to Brendan's partner, Montana, and their two children and to the extended family, and I extend my condolences to Brendan's mates.
I want to thank the first responders who saved the lives of the other soldiers that were with Brendan at the time of the vehicle accident. There's an enormous amount of support pouring in for Brendan and his family. I visited some of them in hospital.
May Brendan rest in peace.