A cap on veterans' health care sparks political controversy
A proposal to cap allied health spending for veterans at $5,000 a year has ignited political controversy, with Senator Jacqui Lambie delivering an impassioned speech in the Senate and advocacy groups accusing the government of failing those who served.
The cap, announced in the federal budget, would limit annual spending on services such as chiropractic and physiotherapy. Labor says the measure is designed to prevent overcharging and would save more than $700 million for federal coffers. The government argues that veterans can apply for additional funding where clinically indicated, but the cap has drawn fierce opposition from veterans and their advocates.
Lambie's personal plea
Senator Lambie, an independent from Tasmania, used a Senate speech to detail her own medical struggles, which she linked directly to back injuries sustained during her army service. Six months ago, she said, her vagina began to prolapse; three months later, it took her bladder with it. She required surgery.
Rather than wait for approval from the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), she paid $7,000 for the operation in Canberra. She told the Senate she had heard of a fellow veteran, Kate, who waited three years for a gynaecologist because she could not find one willing to accept the DVA's payment rates.
Lambie accused the government of "callous disregard for veterans' health and wellbeing" and said the DVA had shown "no duty of care". She directly challenged the prime minister and senior ministers, asking what they would do if their own genitals were affected by a service-related injury and treatment was denied by the DVA.
"I'm begging you, prime minister. We are already suffering enough. Drop the bloody cap. Drop it, mate," she said.
She also noted that the Continence Foundation of Australia reports that one in two women who have had a baby experience some level of prolapse. Lambie said she had previously asked then chief of defence force Angus Campbell whether there was scientific evidence on women's weight-carrying capacity, and he admitted they had not looked into it.
Advocacy groups accuse minister of failing veterans
Veteran advocacy groups have accused Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh of letting them down over the cap. A group of representatives met with Keogh at Parliament House on Monday to outline their concerns, after an initial request for a face-to-face meeting was denied.
Julie-Ann Finney, who helped campaign for a royal commission into veteran suicide after the death of her son David in 2019, said the cap was "unfathomable". She told reporters that Keogh's position was "untenable" and that he needed to go.
"You promised me in opposition that you would look after veterans," she said. "You are failing us."
Veteran Tim Nelson said there was no confidence in the DVA's ability to administer the cap and that it needed to be scrapped.
Coalition MP Phillip Thompson, an army veteran, warned the changes could lead to deaths among former servicemen and women. He described the cap as taking away "the only light at the end of the tunnel" for veterans seeking health services, and said it would be "a funeral".
Minister's response and Coalition calls for sacking
A spokesman for Keogh said the Monday meeting was useful for understanding the concerns of veteran groups, and that the consultation process on implementing the $5,000 threshold was discussed.
Keogh had initially refused a request to meet with veterans' groups campaigning against the cap, but relented after pressure. Veterans accused him of rolling his eyes and refusing to shake hands during the meeting, which Keogh rejected. He conceded he had "got it wrong" in not agreeing to meet, but the government has given no indication it will reconsider the cap.
The Coalition has called for Keogh's sacking over the matter.
For those affected by the issues in this story, support is available at Lifeline (13 11 14) and Open Arms (1800 011 046).