From the Minister

The Hon Matt Keogh MP 
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister for Defence Personnel

It was a great privilege to be reappointed as the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel after the re-election of the Albanese Government in May. 

I will continue to give everything to ensure that Australians are attracted to serving our nation in our ADF, and be confident of them and their families being respected and well supported by their leadership, mates and the Defence organisation, as well as being safe in the knowledge that whatever may befall them in service, they will be properly looked after and their service acknowledged and commemorated by a grateful nation. 

Over the last 3 years, we were able to achieve a great deal together – but there’s more to do. 

During the last term of government, we invested in DVA’s frontline claims processing staff to eliminate the unallocated claims backlog, successfully introduced and passed the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025, and responded to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, accepting the overwhelming majority of the Royal Commission’s recommendations. 

As Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, I am determined to build on the successes of our last term in office to ensure that we continue to improve the services and support provided to the veteran community.

My key focus is the implementation of the Government’s response to the Royal Commission. This will result in significant reform impacting the entire Defence and veteran community. 

Consistent with the capstone recommendation (Recommendation 122), the Government has already legislated to establish the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission by the end of September 2025. Former Commonwealth Ombudsman, Mr Michael Manthorpe PSM, was appointed as interim head of the Commission to lead that work as part of the Government’s response. The Commission will provide independent oversight and evidence-based advice to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF personnel. 

Separately, a Commonwealth-led Implementation Taskforce has been established in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Taskforce is advising the Government on the sequencing and implementation of the response to the Royal Commission, including agreed recommendations and how best to progress recommendations that required further consideration. 

In December last year when we released our response, we funded DVA to undertake consultation with the veteran community on the co-design of a new agency focused on veteran and family wellbeing (Recommendation 87); and to co-design the establishment of a peak body for ex-service organisations (ESOs) (Recommendation 89). 

In recent months, DVA has conducted extensive consultation and co-design activities with the veteran and family community to progress this work. 

Nobody understands better how a wellbeing agency could support veterans and their loved ones more than you, the veteran community. I thank all of you who have generously provided your time and input. It is important that these new entities are designed by veterans and families, for veterans and families. 

The Royal Commission also told us the veteran community needs a national peak body that advocates with one voice for your needs. In 2024, prior to the handing down of the Royal Commission’s recommendations, DVA commissioned some early work on this initiative, publishing a report on its findings – this has been used as the baseline for the co-design of the peak body. 

The establishment of these entities is for veterans and families and therefore in order to be successful, they need to be co-designed by veterans and families. We have been gathering views on what you want from these new entities and that co-design process is underway. We want to ensure these entities not only meet your needs but ensure you feel confident reaching out and using their services. This is an important step in rebuilding the trust between you and DVA and Defence. 

Ultimately, how these entities look belongs to you. They will be built by you, to serve you. Your input and lived experience is critical to ensuring we create bodies that are owned by you and tailored to meet your needs. We are determined to get this right so, as the Royal Commission intended, these new supports empower veterans and families to thrive. 

I also want to take this opportunity to provide an update on some important work to ensure veterans receive the best possible advocacy support. 

DVA is supporting the ex-service community to establish an independent Institute of Veterans’ Advocacy. Following public consultation in 2024, this sector-led Institute will be responsible for training, registration and accreditation of compensation and wellbeing advocates working with veterans and families as they engage with DVA. The Institute will enhance governance and standards in the advocacy sector, and ensure the focus of approved advocates is on veteran wellbeing. 

The functions of the Institute include establishing a code of ethics and minimum training requirements for veteran advocates. It will accredit veteran advocacy service providers, including continuing professional development and training for advocates. Members will be provided with access to a range of benefits and tools, including improved and nationally consistent training, and establishing and administering a nationally consistent complaints handling process. 

Veterans and families do not need to pay for advocacy support or hand over a share of their statutory entitlements in commission-based fees. The Institute will accept fee-for-service advocates provided they are willing to comply with the code of conduct. 

There is no difference in processing timelines, outcomes, or decision making by DVA if an advocate is used. If you do use an advocate, there is no difference in the outcome for you when using a free ESO advocate, or a fee-for-service one. The same laws, processes and workflows are followed by DVA delegates in reaching their decisions. 

While veterans are of course able to engage an advocate, the Government is keen to ensure they are provided with informed advice and not left financially disadvantaged in accessing their statutory entitlements. As always, if you need an advocate, please make sure to choose one that is on the Accredited Advocate Register (www.advocateregister.org.au).

These are all meaningful reforms to improve how veterans and their families are supported across the country. As your Minister, I will be working to continue the momentum on what we’ve already achieved. We campaigned for the Royal Commission and I will work tirelessly to ensure the Government’s response to its recommendations is implemented so all those who have selflessly served our nation receive the services and supports they need.