The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP

Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs

Member for New England

23 February 2024

340,000 VETERANS CAUGHT UP IN GOVERNMENT’S DITHERING

ON ROYAL COMMISSION RESPONSE

Over 340,000 veterans and their dependents are still waiting for the Labor Government to deliver on the very first recommendation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans’ Suicide which is now two-months late.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, said veterans were now feeling the full impact of not having their own Minister at the Cabinet table under Labor. The Royal Commission had insisted the Government have an overhaul of veterans’ compensation and entitlements ready for public consultation by 22 December 2023.

“Yesterday, 22 February, came and went and still no sign of Labor delivering on the first recommendation. It’s now two months past the deadline”, Mr Joyce said.

“Now that Labor has fluffed the first recommendation, veterans are getting seriously worried about the Government’s capacity to deliver on the others. This is just dragging on now. The Royal Commission was very clear that a mishmash of convoluted and disparate veterans’ entitlements was a significant factor impacting on veterans’ mental health. It is why the Commission handed down an interim report with interim recommendations so that the government could get cracking on the job ahead. Instead, Labor became focused on the Voice and union wish lists”, Mr Joyce said.

Mr Joyce said the government owed veterans an explanation as to why the 22 December deadline was missed; and why there was still no sign of new laws which veterans and their families were supposed to be able to see and comment on, two months ago.

Media Contact: Heidi Williamson

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