This bill became law on Oct 7th, 2022.
Defence & foreign affairs
The Act expands crisis support across the main veterans laws so more veterans and family members can get help even if the veteran is not in rehabilitation or did not have warlike service.
Reviews into veteran suicide and support exposed that families in crisis could miss help unless the veteran had warlike service or was in rehabilitation. The bill expands short-term crisis support across the main veterans laws, adds practical services like child care and counselling, and lets decisions be reviewed.
Before this bill, Defence’s Family Support PackageThe earlier short-term support program this bill broadens and replaces with a wider acute support scheme. offered short-term help to some veteran families, but key rules meant people could miss support unless the veteran had warlike service or was already in rehabilitation, a gap the bill’s explanatory material linked to earlier veterans policy reports and that the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran SuicideThe inquiry whose interim report highlighted serious support failures and helped push these changes.’s interim report sharpened in August 2022. The bill then broadened crisis help across the main veterans laws, added practical supports such as child care, counselling and household help, passed Parliament in late September 2022, received Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act. on 7 October 2022, and was set to start a week later.
The main reservation is that the Act leaves key details to later legislative instruments, so future governments or administrators can shape eligibility, conditions, time limits and spending caps outside the bill itself. That was more an implementation risk than an organised campaign against the policy, and no party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
Hon Matt Keogh MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 07 Oct 2022
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
65 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The Act expands crisis support across the main veterans laws so more veterans and family members can get help even if the veteran is not in rehabilitation or did not have warlike service.
The Act lets support include child care, counselling, help around the home, skills-building services, and school or activity support for children.
The Act leaves detailed rules to later instruments, so government can set extra eligibility rules, conditions, time limits and spending caps with more flexibility.
People who are unhappy with a decision about this support package can seek a review instead of being stuck with the original decision.
Payments under the support package are protected so they do not count as taxable income or reduce social security support.
The Bill will amend the Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986, Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 and Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 to extend eligibility to veterans and their family members covered by the three Acts, who are sat risk of or in crisis, whether or not the veteran is participating in a rehabilitation program or has rendered warlike service.Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package explanatory memorandum
(c) the kinds of assistance or benefits that may be granted, which may include child care, counselling, household assistance, services to build capacity and academic and extra‑curricular support for children;Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package Act 2022 final Act text
The Bill will provide for an instrument to be made under each Act which will contain additional eligibility criteria and financial caps on the total support that can be provided, while removing existing financial caps on individual types of services. The intent is to provide choice and flexibility for families to access the help that will be most beneficial to them. A support plan, developed between the family and a DVA service coordinator, will set out the services on which the capped amount may be spent, based on individual family need.Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package explanatory memorandum
This bill also includes new review rights for decisions made under this program, something not previously proposed.Minister's second reading speech
The amendments proposed to be made in Part 2 ensure that any veteran or their family receiving assistance and support under this Bill will not be disadvantaged by ensuring that support payments for veterans and their families are exempt from income tax and are not included as income for the purposes of social security law. This recognises that these payments are reimbursement for support provided under the legislation.Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package explanatory memorandum
Context
Before this bill, Defence’s Family Support PackageThe earlier short-term support program this bill broadens and replaces with a wider acute support scheme. offered short-term help to some veteran families, but key rules meant people could miss support unless the veteran had warlike service or was already in rehabilitation, a gap the bill’s explanatory material linked to earlier veterans policy reports and that the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran SuicideThe inquiry whose interim report highlighted serious support failures and helped push these changes.’s interim report sharpened in August 2022. The bill then broadened crisis help across the main veterans laws, added practical supports such as child care, counselling and household help, passed Parliament in late September 2022, received Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act. on 7 October 2022, and was set to start a week later.
Government introduces a bill to widen crisis help for veteran families
The bill was introduced to extend acute support beyond the existing Family Support PackageThe earlier short-term support program this bill broadens and replaces with a wider acute support scheme. and cover veterans and relatives who had been excluded by warlike service and rehabilitation rules.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal CommissionThe inquiry whose interim report highlighted serious support failures and helped push these changes. interim report exposes failings in veterans support
An interim report from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran SuicideThe inquiry whose interim report highlighted serious support failures and helped push these changes. described an uncaring culture and inadequate support services, adding urgency to changes for families in crisis.
Australian Financial Review ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both Houses passed the bill, clearing the way for a broader acute support packageThe new crisis-support program this Act creates for eligible veterans and their family members. across the MRCAOne of the main veterans laws the bill amends so more families can access support under it., DRCAAnother veterans compensation law that the bill changes to extend the same style of support to covered families. and VEAA third main veterans law that is amended so families covered by that scheme can also receive the package. schemes.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act. turns the bill into law
Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act. completed the legislation and confirmed the new package would become an Act rather than remain a policy proposal.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Expanded acute support packageThe new crisis-support program this Act creates for eligible veterans and their family members. is set to commence
The explanatory memorandumThe government document that explains what the bill does, how it works and why it was introduced. says the substantive measures start seven days after Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act., bringing the wider eligibility rules and practical family supports into operation.
Defence, Veterans’ and Families’ Acute Support Package explanatory memorandum ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main reservation is that the Act leaves key details to later legislative instruments, so future governments or administrators can shape eligibility, conditions, time limits and spending caps outside the bill itself. That was more an implementation risk than an organised campaign against the policy, and no party represented in the debate opposed the bill.
No significant public case against the bill is recorded so far.
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Keogh supports the bill and says it will create the Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support PackageThe new crisis-support program this Act creates for eligible veterans and their family members. by amending the relevant veterans and defence compensation laws.
Read in Hansard ↗McCormack supports the bill and says it will give veterans and their families better targeted short-term help, especially around income support, health care, and flexible services.
Read in Hansard ↗Scamps supports the bill and says it will give vulnerable veterans and their families more flexible help, including a wider group of eligible people.
Read in Hansard ↗Archer supports the bill and says it will make a tangible difference for veterans and their families by filling service gaps and improving access to support.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 6 contributions · 5 support
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Matt Keogh on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Keogh supports the bill and says it will create the Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support PackageThe new crisis-support program this Act creates for eligible veterans and their family members. by amending the relevant veterans and defence compensation laws. He says it also adds new review rights for decisions under the program and presents it as part of the government's commitment to supporting veterans and their families.
“The bill will achieve this by amending the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 to establish the Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support Package.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Keogh supports the bill and says it will give veterans' families practical crisis support and better review rights. He argues it goes further than the previous version and is a concrete measure to improve wellbeing now and into the future.
“This legislation now, though, goes further than what was previously proposed. It will enhance the existing program by expanding services available to the families of veterans receiving compensation through DVA or who have died in service when that family is experiencing crisis and allows families greater choice in how they use those services.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“I commend the Bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Yes, it is well overdue, but it is good to see that this government, as one of its priorities, has come into this place and brought this legislation before the parliament so we can get on with providing the support services that veterans need.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In conclusion, again, this is more evidence of the Albanese government listening to the concerns of veterans and their families and delivering additional support, as well as ensuring that we're getting on as best possible with implementing the interim recommendations of the royal commission, as we all, as a nation, await the final outcomes of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. We are committed to supporting veterans and their families. This package is another example of how that support can be delivered flexibly and in the interests of veterans and their vulnerable families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This parliament has been confronted on many occasions now by harrowing stories of hardship experienced by people serving in the Defence Force and by veterans. Our government is determined to work with the veteran community and with serving defence personnel to ensure that we provide the best possible support to people who make an enormous contribution to our nation.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
10 speakers · 11 contributions · 10 support
“I commend this bill. I again thank the minister for having the foresight, the dedication and the commitment to attend the chamber while people are speaking about this bill. I commend him for the work that he is doing in this space at the present time and wish them all the very best for the future. It's a big role. I also commend the Department of Veterans' Affairs. Sometimes they get a bad rap. By and large they do a very good job, and I know they'll continue to do that on behalf of our veterans.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm pleased to stand here today in support of this bill, the Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support Package Bill 2022, which will make a tangible difference in the lives of veterans and their families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm pleased to see that this bill recognises that eligibility should be expanded to family members of working-age veterans who are at risk of, or in, crisis, along with working-age widowed partners of deceased veterans and former partners, under certain circumstances. I wish to thank Ellen for her courage in speaking up. I thank her for her care of her former partner over all those years. I also want to highlight that our parliamentary democracy works. Our representative democracy works, and this is a good example of it, so I am pleased to lend my support to this bill today.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is beyond politics. The care of our veterans should never descend into a political game of argy-bargy. I hope that does not happen. I'm not going to stand up here and say, 'We've done this; you guys have done that.' There's no place in this debate for that, not when speaking of the men and women who've served our country with distinction. I can tell you now, from all my dealings with them, they are not interested in that sort of conduct. They just want to know, if they're going to pull on the uniform, if they're going to put themselves in harm's way, that they're going to be looked after and, importantly—probably even more important in their eyes—that their families are going to be looked after. That's what this bill will do. This bill, in effect, mirrors a bill that the previous government put into the parliament prior to the election, but I'm very, very pleased that the current government has picked it up and run with it. I thank the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I won't delay the House any more. I commend this bill, and I've already had discussions with the minister. I thank them for those discussions, in which I made clear that we would be supporting this.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I support the bill, and many speakers have gone through some of the elements that the bill covers. I'm very lucky and proud to have the Jamie Larcombe Centre located in my electorate of Sturt. Jamie Larcombe tragically died in Afghanistan. The centre there is part of a tribute to his service to our nation and is doing vital work supporting veterans throughout metropolitan Adelaide and greater South Australia. I know there are many similar centres around the country. I'm also a proud member of my local RSLs. A lot of them have excellent support programs and wellbeing programs. Whilst they do fantastic work, we can always do better as a parliament to provide more support to the work that they do and to the service and support our veterans need, and that's what this bill does. It emanates from the previous government, from the last budget, and now we have the opportunity to pass it through this House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We support this bill because it is reasonable and practical. It harmonises veterans' entitlements across three veteran related acts. It extends the eligibility for support packages to family members of working-age veterans and removes the requirement for the veterans to have undertaken war-like service. We know that we need to support our veterans, because the statistics show us, and because of the harrowing personal evidence that has been presented to the royal commission into veterans' suicide. We know we haven't got the best record when it comes to supporting our veterans and we know we need to do better.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“LLESPIE () (): I rise in support of the Defence, Veterans' and Families' Acute Support Package Bill 2022, because it's good policy and it's what our veterans deserve. This bill unifies the intent and adds further support to the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004, the Veterans' Entitlements Act 1986 and the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988. This unified package extends eligibility to family members of working-age veterans who are at risk or are in a situation of crisis, including, most importantly, removing the requirement for warlike service for veterans. You can have a lot of horrible things happen to you when you're serving your country without being in warlike service, because there are plenty of major incidents and events that have the threat of the end of your life, severe harm, damage, post-traumatic stress disorder et cetera.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Keith Wolahan on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Wolahan supports the bill and says it will improve support for veterans and families, especially through the income tax exemption and extra help such as child care and household assistance. He also backs its decision not to limit support to warlike service, saying that would wrongly exclude many who served and suffered at home.
“There are particular aspects of this bill that I commend. I will single out three. The exemption from income tax is important. Whenever I meet veterans, I see that the dignity that comes from work is important to everyone and it's important to veterans. I have seen some veterans who are maybe pushed down a path where they could be working and they're not, and they suffer for that. Sometimes we kill people with kindness, and we shouldn't. In this place, on many other areas and issues, we talk about the dignity of work, and that applies equally to veterans. We should always encourage that wherever we can, and this exemption is important for that.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Wolahan supports the bill because he says it properly looks after every veteran who put on a uniform and took a risk, not only those with warlike service. He uses the speech to honour peacetime service losses and make clear the packageThe new crisis-support program this Act creates for eligible veterans and their family members. should cover them too.
“This bill properly looks after every veteran who put on a uniform and took a risk. On other times and other occasions, I think we should honour peacetime names. At some other time, I would like to read out the 18 soldiers and crew that died in the 1996 Black Hawk training exercise, but I will save that for another time. I thank the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“I believe that this bill before us has support from both sides of the House. I see that the shadow minister for defence has moved into the House; I will conclude my comments and commend the bill to the House. I'd ask the minister to add to my comments.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“The Greens will be supporting this bill because it takes us forward. It provides critical additional benefits consistent with that recommendation from the Senate committee, but there is so much more work to be done here, and we cannot and we will not forget those veterans who are heading into aged care and moving to retirement age.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“This bill is important to the 1,800 veterans and their families who live in Mackellar, my electorate. With the passage of this bill, vulnerable veterans and their families will have more flexible support, including extending that support to a wider and more eligible group. We must understand that, to support veterans, we have to support their families as well, with services including things such as household help, relationship skills training, mental health first aid and financial literacy.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal step where the bill was signed into law and became an Act., turning the bill into an Act.
