STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms FERNANDO (Holt) (13:34): Our veterans have given so much to our country. They deserve the care, respect and support they have earned. That is why I was pleased to co-host an RSL roundtable in Melbourne's south-east with the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, Matt Keogh, alongside Minister Hill and all of my colleagues from the south-east suburbs.

It was an important opportunity to listen directly to our veteran community, hear their concerns and ensure their experiences inform the decisions we make. Our government is committed to implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. We have reduced the claims backlog, with annual claims determined increasing from 70,000 in 2022 to over 200,000 last year.

Now we are strengthening access to allied health services, with increased provider payments backed by an additional $170 million in funding to help ensure veterans receive the treatment they need. I want to thank President Lance McDermott, Vice-President Mark Osborne, Vice-President John McNeill and Secretary-Treasurer Stuart Couch from the Dandenong Cranbourne RSL for their engagement at this event.

We must continue to deliver on our promises while listening to veterans and their families.