Veterans’ victory in compo battle

VETERANS have had a huge win in their fight for compensation, with the government investing more than $230m to recruit 500 “frontline” staff specifically to handle their health and welfare claims.

The ongoing Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has shamed the Veterans’ Affairs administration and government into action after decades of neglect, with findings that claim delays had specifically led to incidence of depression, attempted self-harm and suicide.

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said when someone signed up to the Australian Defence Force, they deserved to feel mentally and physically safe during and after service.

Of the huge $233.9m committed over four years, the bulk will go toward 500 new staff to speed up claims and investment in modernising Department of Veteran Affairs’ IT systems; another $87m over two years will go to improving pathways to access and support.

Almost $50m will be spent on new veterans’ and families’ hubs providing critical services and advocacy.

They will be set up in northern Adelaide, Ipswich in Queensland, Hawkesbury, Queanbeyan, the Tweed/ North Coast and the Hunter in NSW, one in Perth and another in Geelong in Victoria. Development of two in Queensland and Tasmania is already underway.

The government has also pledged $24m for development of transitioning to civilian life programs and to help veterans with the rising cost of living.

And a $1000 increase will be made to the annual totally and permanently incapacitated payment affecting about 27,000 veterans.

“Our veterans have protected us and in return we must look after them,” Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said.

He said the budget would “better support Defence personnel, veterans and families as they not only need, but deserve”.