Funds for Veterans' Affairs had to be offset by cuts, says minister

Former Veteran Affairs minister Andrew Gee has said he was instructed to find hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cuts to offset cash awarded in the federal budget.

THE FORMER Veteran Affairs minister was tasked with finding hundreds of millions of dollars of cuts within the department in a ‘counter-intuitive’ move to offset cash awarded in the budget.

The shocking revelation comes as the former minister Andrew Gee gives evidence before the Royal Commision into Defence and Veteran Suicides in Townsville on Tuesday.

Mr Gee told the Commission that when he assumed his role he was tasked with offsetting “ hundreds of millions of dollars” awarded to the department in the 2020-2021 Budget.

In his written submission to the royal commission, Mr Gee said the saving measures he was tasked with were more than $430 million but that his office was successful in reversing the proposal- so no cuts were made.

“In the 20-21 Budget there were some good things including more staffing for claims processing, which is very positive,” he told the commission.

“But then they said ‘by the way one (thing) you have to deal with is offsets’.

“They basically said we have to find enough cuts to offset the initial expenditure, which seemed to be counter-intuitive.”

Mr Gee described the situation, which he said came from the government and not the department, as “one step forward and two steps back”.

“We had good results in the budget, there were some good things there,” he said.

“And it is now ok ‘how are you going to deal with hundreds of millions of dollars which you have to sort out for what is in effect, cuts.”

Counsel Assisting Peter Gray clarified this and asked Mr Gee: “To be really clear on this … somewhere in the Budget, your portfolio was provided additional funding, but it was on the understanding that the amount of that additional funding -perhaps even more than that amount- had to be saved by cuts to other areas?”

Mr Gee agreed.

Former Veteran Affairs minister says delays are ‘major concern’

THERE is a clear connection between errors and delays in processing veterans’ claims and suicide, former Veteran’s Affair’s minister Andrew Gee says.

The Federal MP was issued a summons to testify before the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s second day of hearings in Townsville.

In his written statement to the commission, Mr Gee said the current system does not work in the best interest of veterans or their families.

“It was a major concern that we had all these outstanding claims,” he told the commission.

In one of his first portfolio briefings in 2021 Mr Gee was told there had been “unprecedented growth” in claims for compensation in the past three years.

Royal Commission Into Defence and Veteran Suicide

Evidence presented to the commission shows that of the claims decided between July 2020 and March 2021 just 29 per cent of compensation claims were decided within the target time frame.

He said errors and delays in processing claims under the three acts (The Veterans’ Entitlements Act 1986), the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation (Defence-related Claims) Act 1988 and (MRCA) contributed to stress, poor mental health and suicidality and additional stress on veterans’ families.

His statement said high error rates and slow claim assessment was an ongoing area of concern.

“As you talk to the veteran community it is clear that all these different acts are causing issues out there. They are hard to understand …, there are different appeal mechanisms for each one,” he said.

“It is an area that really is crying out for some harmonisation and some work.

“You only have to talk to family members who have lost loved ones to suicide. You only have to speak to advocates … and you only have to speak to veterans yourself to know it is all connected,”

Mr Gee spent about 10 months at the helm of the Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel portfolios from July 2021 to May 2022.

EARLIER:

THE internal disciplinary process within the Australian Defence Force and its misuse is a flashpoint linked to suicide, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been told.

This comes as the leader of the Army in North Queensland reveals soldiers with complex mental health struggles, in some cases, avoid facing disciplinary action if they do the wrong thing.

DAY ONE: Soldiers face eight week wait for psych appointments

Commissioner Peggy Brown linked military discipline processes and suicide as she quizzed 3rd Brigade Commander Brigadier Kahlil Fegan at the first day of hearings on Monday.

Dr Brown told the hearing that the commissioners had heard accounts from former and current serving members and noticed a pattern where disciplinary action marked a decline in a person’s mental health.

“We’ve certainly heard accounts where there has been disciplinary charge after disciplinary charge,” Dr Brown said

“In one instance that I can think of there was a death by suicide. I think blind Freddy, quite frankly, could or should have been able to see there was some issue that was actually contributing to this.”

Brigadier

This number does not include any of the veterans who took their own lives in the same period.

During his evidence, the Brigadier revealed the brigade used its discretion and sometimes did not take action against members if an assessment showed it could had a detrimental impact.

“We won’t take disciplinary action against an individual if there is an assessment that taking that disciplinary action may compound an issue, be it welfare or psychological,” he said.

“In a circumstance by which we determine if were to … actually take disciplinary action, should we be made aware that the taking of that action is going to significantly detrimentally impact on a medical issue, then we will need to reconsider if it is the right thing to do.”

The Royal Commisson began in Townsville on Monday.

“I have examples where we deliberately reconsidered how we take disciplinary action. In one … we elected not to take (action) because we knew there was a heightened probability that risks would manifest.”

Counsel Assisting Kevin Connor told the commission of accounts where members were disciplined for missing parade or appointments and not meeting physical performance standards.

But, soldiers in Townsville in recent times have also been charged with assault on service land or other serious charges which resulted in internal court proceedings.

Commission chairman Nick Kaldas said the royal commission had heard “considerable” evidence of the “weaponization” of the ADF’s internal disciplinary system.

“You are aware of the fact that sometimes when there are conflicts within the workplace some people do use the complaints or disciplinary system as a weapon,” he said.

In his answer, the Brigadier said this was “unacceptable” but that it had occurred.

Do you or anyone you know need help?

• Open Arms: Veterans and Families Counselling 1800 011 046 or visit openarms.gov.au

• ADF All-hours Support Line: 1800 628 036

• Defence Members and Family Helpline: 1800 624 608

• Defence Chaplaincy Support: 1300 333 362

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or visit suicidecallbackservice.org.au

• Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 or visit beyondblue.org.au

Originally published as Funds for Veterans' Affairs had to be offset by cuts, says minister