This bill became law on Sep 28th, 2026.
Defence & foreign affairs
Serving members, veterans and their families can have personal and sensitive informationProtected personal details, including health information. used for research into their wellbeing, health and safety.
The government said the Act continues its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which delivered its final report on 9 September 2024 with 122 recommendations. The government agreed or agreed in principle to 104 of them; this measure directly implements 15 and supports another 20. It said fragmented information had caused delays and gaps in support, making it harder to identify risk, process claims promptly and intervene before a crisis.
Before this bill, Defence, DVAThe Department of Veterans’ Affairs. and other services held separate parts of veterans’ stories, contributing to delays, gaps in support and difficulty identifying suicide risk; the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide examined those systemic failures and reported in 2024. After accepting or agreeing in principle to 104 of its 122 recommendations, the government introduced this bill to implement 15 and support 20 more, building on earlier reforms, and Parliament passed it before Royal Assent turned it into an Act.
Phillip Thompson (Liberal) warned that broader sharing of health, service and personal information could expose it to misuse, leaks or unauthorised access. He said the safeguards and ministerial guidelines would need continuing, rigorous scrutiny. He also cautioned that the reforms must improve people’s experiences instead of adding more administrative complexity and delay.
The government introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 28 Sept 2026
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
95 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Serving members, veterans and their families can have personal and sensitive informationProtected personal details, including health information. used for research into their wellbeing, health and safety. Before disclosing personal information for this research, the person sharing it must be satisfied that all reasonable steps have been taken to remove identifying details. Consent is the default for non-medical research unless the minister decides the privacy impact is proportionate to the benefits for other Defence people and families.
Defence must share information specified by the minister with specified government or other bodies for wellbeing, health or safety purposes. Ministers may also authorise Commonwealth bodies to collect, use or share specified information for those purposes. In each case, the minister must be satisfied that the privacy impact is proportionate to the expected benefits.
The body responsible for military rehabilitation and compensation gains wider duties to support members, veterans and families, including prevention, early help and support when someone leaves the Australian Defence Force. It may undertake, commission or support research, data analysis and evaluation, including sharing information to build and maintain data collections about veterans and their families. Defence may also share information with it to perform those duties, helping reduce delays and repeated requests for the same information.
The Defence health system must help keep members fit for duty and support their lifetime wellbeing, health and safety. Its services must meet or exceed the standards required of civilian health practitioners. Full-time ADFThe Australian Defence Force. members must receive the health services and supplies needed to keep them fit for duty. Members must tell the Surgeon General about care received outside the Defence system, and a Defence health practitioner must alert a member’s direct commander or supervisor about something affecting, or reasonably likely to affect, fitness for duty. If a Defence Instruction covers a health service or a related activity, such as transporting or storing medical supplies, that matter does not have to comply with corresponding State or Territory laws.
Defence health workers can use health information to provide care, run the health system, monitor health trends and review service quality. Limited disclosures are also allowed when a patient cannot consent, to reduce or prevent a serious threat to an immediate family member, or for compassionate reasons after a member dies.
Approved reviews of Defence healthcare receive protections intended to support candid examination of safety and quality. Unauthorised disclosure of review information can bring up to two years in prison; courts generally cannot compel its disclosure, people acting in good faith receive protection from civil lawsuits, and information protected by the secrecy rule is exempt from freedom-of-information access.
Defence can contact members’ families and former partners directly about Commonwealth services, payments and benefits, using information supplied by either the member or family. People can opt out of these direct marketing messages at any time and later opt back in. A former spouse or de facto partner affected by family or domestic violence may receive help to separate safely, but this is not a guaranteed payment. The help cannot cover a period more than 12 months after the person is no longer both the member’s spouse or de facto partner and a member of the member’s household.
A person sentenced to imprisonment for a serious violent or sexual offence cannot join the ADFThe Australian Defence Force., even if the sentence is suspended, unless the person is pardoned or the conviction is overturned; the law also leaves the royal power of mercy unchanged. Entry may also be refused because of another conviction, a possible risk to Australia’s security or defence, or a finding that the person is otherwise not fit and proper. Similar grounds allow the Chief of the Defence Force to end a serving member’s service.
Any serving member sentenced to imprisonment under Australian law automatically leaves on the sentencing day. They may apply within two months for reinstatement if pardoned, if the conviction is overturned, or if an appeal removes the prison sentence; extra time is possible in special circumstances, but reinstatement remains the Chief of the Defence Force’s choice. Separately, when Defence considers discharging a member after a positive prohibited-drug test, the written decision must be given within a reasonable period after the notice period ends—or, if the member does not respond, after their response period ends—and discharge cannot take effect until at least 21 days after written notice is given.
The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner may ask the minister to table a final report from an inquiry started by the Commissioner. If asked, the minister must table it in each house within 15 sitting days; simply giving the report to the minister no longer triggers tabling. A person summoned to a special-inquiry hearing must continue attending each day until excused or released, and failing to do so is covered by an offence.
70K Collection, use or disclosure of information about relevant ADF persons for research or data analysis or evaluation (1) An entrusted person may collect, use or disclose information (including personal information and sensitive information) about a relevant ADF person for the purposes of: (a) undertaking research or data analysis or evaluation in relation to the wellbeing, health or safety of relevant ADF persons; or (b) assisting another person to undertake research or data analysis or evaluation in relation to the wellbeing, health or safety of relevant ADF persons. (2) A relevant ADFDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
70KA Disclosure of information held by Department or Defence Force about relevant ADF persons to support wellbeing, health or safety outcomes (1) The Secretary must disclose information specified in an instrument under subsection (3) that is held by the Department or the Defence Force to an entity specified in the instrument. (2) An entity specified in the instrument may collect, use or disclose the information if: (a) the collection, use or disclosure is for a purpose specified in the instrument for the entity; and (b) the collection, use or disclosure is in accordance with any conditionsDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
5 After paragraph 360BB(d) (da) to support, enable or otherwise promote wellbeing, health and safety outcomes for members, former members and the families of members and former members, including through prevention and early intervention services; and (db) to support and promote the wellbeing of members transitioning out of service and their families, including through prevention and early intervention services; and 6 Paragraph 360BB(e) Omit “promote research into”, substitute “undertake, commission, facilitate or otherwise promote research into, and data analysis or evaluation of”. 7 SubDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
70L The Defence health system (1) The primary purposes of the Defence health system are: (a) to provide Defence health services: (i) to keep members of the Defence Force fit for the performance of their duties; and (ii) to support the lifetime wellbeing, health and safety of members of the Defence Force; and (iii) to other persons for the purposes of supporting the operation of the Australian Defence Force; and (b) to provide Defence health services in a manner commensurate with, or to a higher standard than, what is required of civilian health practitioners when providing health serviceDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
70M Authorised collection, use and disclosure of Defence health services information A Defence health system worker may collect, use or disclose Defence health services information (including personal information and sensitive information) about a person if the collection, use or disclosure: (a) is authorised under the Privacy Act 1988, another provision of this Act or the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004; or (b) is necessary to provide a Defence health service to the person; or (c) if the information relates to the family, social or medical history of the person—is necessDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
70NA Protection of information obtained in connection with an approved quality assurance and improvement activity (1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person obtains information or a document: (i) when the person is a Commonwealth officer (within the meaning of Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code); and (ii) in connection with an approved quality assurance and improvement activity; and (b) the person discloses the information or document; and (c) the disclosure is not: (i) for the purposes of the approved quality assurance and improvement activity; or (ii) otherwise authorised by the SDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
2 Section 58A former partner of a member means a person who was, but no longer is, both: (a) a member of the household of the member; and (b) the member’s spouse or de facto partner (within the meaning of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901). 3 Paragraphs 58B(1)(c) and (e) After “families of members”, insert “or former partners of members”. 4 Subsection 58B(1B) After “a member of the family of a member”, insert “or former partner of a member”. 5 Subsection 58B(1B) After “the member of the family of the member”, insert “or former partner of the member”. 6 Subsection 58B(2) After “familyDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
1 After section 22 22A Only fit and proper persons to serve in the Defence Force (1) A person must not be accepted for service in the Defence Force if: (a) subject to subsection (2), the person has been convicted of a serious violent or sexual offence and sentenced to a period of imprisonment (regardless of whether any period of the sentence has been suspended); or (b) subject to subsection (2), the person has been convicted of an offence against an Australian or foreign law that, in the opinion of the Chief of the Defence Force, is such as to render that person unsuitable for service in tDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
2 After Division 2 of Part III 27A End of service if convicted of certain offences (1) If a person who is a member is convicted of an offence against an Australian law and sentenced to a period of imprisonment (regardless of whether any period of the sentence has been suspended), the person’s service ends on the day on which the member is sentenced. Note: If the offence is a serious violent or sexual offence and subsection (2) does not apply, the person must not be accepted for future service in the Defence Force: see paragraph 22A(1)(a). (2) The person may apply to the Chief of the DefencDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Act 2026
Item 1 – After subsection 25(2) This item inserts a new subsection 25(2A) which provides that where a final inquiry report is given to the Minister under subsection 25(2) by the Commissioner in relation to an own motion inquiry under section 16, the Commissioner may request that the Minister table the report in each House of the Parliament. Currently the DVSC Act provides that where the Commissioner provides a final inquiry report to the Minister it must be tabled. The amendment gives flexibility for the DVSC to provide reports to the Minister for information or as a courtesy without triggerDefence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) explanatory memorandum
Context
Before this bill, Defence, DVAThe Department of Veterans’ Affairs. and other services held separate parts of veterans’ stories, contributing to delays, gaps in support and difficulty identifying suicide risk; the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide examined those systemic failures and reported in 2024. After accepting or agreeing in principle to 104 of its 122 recommendations, the government introduced this bill to implement 15 and support 20 more, building on earlier reforms, and Parliament passed it before Royal Assent turned it into an Act.
Royal Commission reports on Defence and veteran suicide
The Royal Commission delivered 122 recommendations after examining systemic issues contributing to suicide among current and former Australian Defence Force personnel.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government responds to the Royal Commission
The government accepted or agreed in principle to 104 of the Royal Commission’s 122 recommendations, beginning a programme of legislative and administrative reform.
Hansard ↗The government introduces the bill
The government introduced the bill to implement 15 Royal Commission recommendations directly and support a further 20 focused on health, wellbeing, suicide prevention, information sharing and accountability.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary approval of the next package of reforms responding to the Royal Commission.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent turns the bill into an Act
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, bringing the legislation into force as an Act subject to its commencement arrangements.
Parliamentary timeline ↗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
Referred to Committee (25/06/2026): Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Committee report (04/09/2026)
Report tabled 04 Sep 2026
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
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 bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Reported from Federation Chamber
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
Considered by scrutiny committee (12/08/2026): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report 9 of 2026
Report 9 of 2026
APH bill page notesConsidered by scrutiny committee (12/08/2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2026
Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2026
APH bill page notesThe 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 Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
Phillip Thompson (Liberal) warned that broader sharing of health, service and personal information could expose it to misuse, leaks or unauthorised access. He said the safeguards and ministerial guidelines would need continuing, rigorous scrutiny. He also cautioned that the reforms must improve people’s experiences instead of adding more administrative complexity and delay.
Thompson said the Coalition would not oppose the bill and supported its aims, including earlier help, faster claims and stronger family support. Leah Blyth (Liberal) similarly supported the reforms while calling for robust privacy safeguards, clear limits and strong accountability.
Further sources
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
Ayres supports the bill as a necessary response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, arguing it will improve information sharing, health governance, family support, early intervention and service integrity for current and former ADFThe Australian Defence Force. members and their families.
Read in Hansard ↗Kate Chaney supports the bill because it advances royal commission recommendations and strengthens veterans' wellbeing, health care, information sharing and accountability.
Read in Hansard ↗Phillip Thompson says the coalition will allow the bill to pass the House because it advances important reforms for Defence personnel, veterans and their families.
Read in Hansard ↗Burnell supports the bill as a practical implementation of the royal commission's recommendations, arguing that better information sharing, health services, family support, transition arrangements and oversight will improve wellbeing and help prevent suicide among serving personnel and veterans.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
10 speakers · 11 contributions · 10 support
“This Bill represents a considered, comprehensive and necessary response to the findings of the Royal Commission. It supports better health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for members, veterans and families. It strengthens information sharing to support prevention and early intervention, modernises Defence health governance, improves support for families and ensures service entry and exit arrangements are grounded in safety, integrity and accountability.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“What this bill demonstrates is a commitment to continue that work by the Albanese government. It demonstrates a willingness to translate recommendations into action. It demonstrates an understanding that the health and wellbeing of defence personnel, veterans and their families must remain a national priority. This legislation represents an important step on that journey. Through stronger information sharing, modernised health frameworks, improved family support, enhanced transition arrangements and better governance, it delivers meaningful reforms that will help build a more responsive and effective system. The Albanese Labor government remains committed to implementing the royal commission's recommendations and ensuring that genuine change follows from its work.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was a solemn warning. It told us that admiration for service is not enough. Thanks are not enough. Ceremonies are not enough. We honour service by building systems that reduce harm, treat people with dignity and respond before crisis becomes tragedy. This bill is a serious step in that direction. It directly implements 15 recommendations and supports a further 20. It strengthens information sharing for prevention and early intervention. It modernises Defence health services. It supports families, including in circumstances involving family and domestic violence. It improves service entry and exit arrangements. It strengthens governance and accountability. None of this removes the pain already experienced by families who have lost someone. No legislative amendment can do that, but parliament can act on what it has learned. It can ensure that the evidence given in the royal commission leads to durable reform. It can require Defence and DVA to work together more effectively. It can insist that the health, wellbeing and safety of those who serve and those who have served and their families sit at the centre of this system. That is what this bill seeks to do. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Matt Keogh on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Keogh supports the bill as a necessary response to the royal commission, saying it will improve information sharing, Defence health governance, family support, suicide prevention and service integrity while protecting privacy.
“This bill represents a considered, comprehensive and necessary response to the findings of the royal commission. It supports better health, wellbeing and safety outcomes for members, veterans and families. It strengthens information sharing to support prevention and early intervention, modernises Defence health governance, improves support for families and ensures service entry and exit arrangements are grounded in safety, integrity and accountability.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Keogh supports the bill as a practical and urgent response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, saying it will improve wellbeing, information sharing, family support, continuity of care and accountability across Defence and veterans' services.
“Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. This bill reflects the Albanese government's ongoing commitment to responding to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. On 9 September 2024, the royal commission delivered its final report, making 122 recommendations. The government agreed to or agreed in principle to 104 of those recommendations. I'm really pleased to see that this bill is progressing rapidly through the House with the support of the opposition. It's important that we progress this at pace. This bill directly implements 15 recommendations of the royal commission and supports the implementation of a further 20 recommendations focused on improving health and wellbeing outcomes, improving suicide prevention and information sharing, supporting defence families, enhancing transition, continuity of care and modernising governance and accountability arrangements.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“A nation that sends people to serve must not leave them to suffer alone. A parliament that hears the evidence must not look away. A government that accepts responsibility must act. The measure of our gratitude is whether our systems are there when the uniform comes off, when the injury is invisible, when the family is frightened and/or when the person who served reaches out for help. This bill will be remembered as part of a pathway whereby Australia will not only honour those who serve but build a future where every veteran, every serving member and every family can be seen, supported and able to look forward with hope. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The royal commission found that enhanced information sharing between Defence and DVA is fundamental to improving the health and wellbeing of defence personnel, veterans and their families. A number of interim measures have been in place while policy and legislative reform initiatives have been developed. The legislation before us today takes a significant step towards implementing recommendations in that space. This bill forms part of the government's ongoing response to the royal commission. It enables the implementation of 35 of those recommendations focused on enhancing health, wellbeing and safety outcomes; improving suicide prevention and information sharing; supporting defence families; enhancing transition and continuity of care; and modernising governance and accountability arrangements.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The reality is that for far too long, too many veterans have put their lives at risk in the highest level of service to our country, only to struggle to adapt to civilian life while navigating a dauntingly complex support system. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide shone a light on the consequences of these critical safety nets failing to catch veterans when they needed help the most. Not only have the Albanese government voiced their ambition to fix this system, we have acted and we are delivering. For those who give everything, it is the responsibility of this government, of Defence and of community leaders to work hard at improving and strengthening the support system for our veterans, and to act at pace to reduce the tragic rate of suicide and suicidality in our defence community. The Albanese government takes this responsibility with the utmost seriousness and is committed to improving outcomes for our veterans. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is in that spirit of listening, acting and taking seriously the responsibility we owe to those who serve that I rise to support the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. At its core, this bill is about information sharing. That might sound like a dry, technical phrase to some, but, for the families of those lost to suicide and for those currently serving who are silently struggling, it is anything but dry. It's about whether the right people in Defence and in the Department of Veterans' Affairs can see the full picture of a person's circumstances in time to intervene before a crisis becomes a tragedy. This bill creates the legislative authority for that information to move where it needs to move—between Defence and the DVA—underpinned by strong safeguards so that proactive support, early intervention and meaningful research and evaluation become possible rather than merely aspirational.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The men and women of our Defence Force put their hand up to serve our nation, to do hard and dangerous things on our behalf. We ask them to give up the ordinary safety the rest of us take for granted. The very least we owe them in return is a system that supports them, that talks to itself, that sees them coming and that never makes them carry both halves of their own story alone. A handful of volunteers at a small sub-branch in Kensington shouldn't have to do the system's job for it. With this bill, the system finally starts doing its own. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The reforms in this legislation will deliver direct benefits for defence personnel and for veterans and their families in accordance with the royal commission's recommendations. This includes enhanced information sharing and data analysis to allow for earlier intervention to identify at-risk individuals sooner. It includes strengthened arrangements for the Department of Veterans' Affairs and the new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency to enhance wellbeing and support those transitioning out of service. Improved defence health services will be established through a legislative framework for approved quality assurance and improvement activities. Stronger protections will be established through mandatory end of service for imprisonment, and entry will be denied for prior sexual offence and violent offence convictions.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
5 speakers · 4 support · 1 unclear
“The coalition recognises the profound importance of these reforms. The bill directly implements 15 recommendations of the royal commission, with a further 20 recommendations supported through its provisions. Its objectives to strengthen the health, wellbeing and safety of our personnel are objectives that this side of the House wholeheartedly shares. For these reasons, the coalition will not oppose this bill in the House today. We approach this debate in a spirit of constructive engagement, acknowledging the valuable work of ex-service organisations, advocates and families who have fought for these changes.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This is not how a grateful country should treat those who've served it. For a veteran with a physical injury, delay can mean more than pain; it means less mobility, less work, less independence, and sometimes I hear them say to me it makes them feel less human. For a veteran with PTSD, delay can mean sleepless nights, anger, isolation, shame. It can fracture their relationships, fracture their sense of self. We don't live through that. Most of us watching at home will never live through what these men and women suffer. Just the uncertainty right now of passing a $5,000 cap in consulting afterwards is creating anxiety. We heard about up to 3,000 suicides in this population. Why are we doing this? Let's fix it. Let's act now. Let's say 'we got it wrong', fix it and make it right. Veterans need the peace of knowing that, when they reach out for treatment, the first response from their country will not be to ask whether they've crossed a spending threshold. It's time to make this right for veterans all around Australia, and I stand with you.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“For these reasons, the coalition will support this bill in the Senate today. We approach this debate in a spirit of constructive engagement, acknowledging the valuable work of ex-service organisations, advocates and families who have fought for these changes. However, our support is cautious. It is support predicated on the requirement that these reforms deliver genuine, tangible improvements rather than simply adding more layers of administrative complexity to a system that many service personnel and veterans already find difficult to navigate. We must ensure that this legislation is effective, proportionate and capable of delivering the improvements that are needed, recommended and promised.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill represents a significant legislative response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. It seeks to improve information sharing across defence and veterans' systems, strengthen support for defence families, modernise governance arrangements with the defence health system, enhance wellbeing and transition supports, and clarify service eligibility and separation arrangements. Veterans and their families should experience faster claims processing and more seamless access to services, and earlier intervention can be identified for those at risk. The true measure of the success of this legislation will be not the breadth of the provisions but whether it delivers the practical improvements in the lives of serving personnel, veterans and their families.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The objectives of this bill are to strengthen the health, wellbeing and safety of our personnel. They are objectives that each and every one of us would wholeheartedly agree with. We all share those values. We approach this debate, as we do anything related to the welfare and wellbeing of our veterans, with an open mind and in the spirit of constructive engagement, as the member for Herbert, who is the shadow minister for defence industry and defence personnel, said earlier today in his contribution to this bill—although he did add that our support is somewhat cautious; he used that word. He said, 'It is support predicated on the requirement that these reforms deliver genuine, tangible improvements rather than simply adding more layers of administrative complexity to a system that many serving personnel and veterans already find difficult to navigate.' He added, 'We must ensure that this legislation is effective, proportionate and capable of delivering the improvements that are needed, recommended and promised.' Truer words could not have been uttered, because at the heart of this bill is our veterans, and they need every bit of support.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“This is a bill that has been a long time coming. I want to give credit to the brave veterans and serving members of the ADF who gave their evidence to the royal commission and told the truth about the way the Defence Force so often treats its members as disposable. I hope that veterans and serving members of the Defence Force realise, with the broad political support for this legislation, that the Greens and other parties in here don't view current and former members of the Defence Force as disposable. They are people with full lives and families and the right to be treated with respect and decency inside and outside of Defence. This bill goes some way to making that a reality.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“So my position is this: I support this bill for what it does, but the cap that sits beside it must not be allowed to hollow out the very wellbeing this bill is meant to protect. Being forced to choose between treatment and food is not an acceptable outcome of any policy passed or administered in this country.”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 · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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 · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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 Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
Report tabled 04 Sep 2026
Referred to Committee (25 June 2026): Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee; Committee report (4 Sept 2026)
APH bill page notesParliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights
Report 9 of 2026
Considered by scrutiny committee (12 Aug 2026): Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights; Report 9 of 2026
APH bill page notesSenate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills
Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2026
Considered by scrutiny committee (12 Aug 2026): Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Scrutiny Digest 9 of 2026
APH bill page notes
