Federal Budget 2023: Biggest DVA boost in decade offers hope to veterans and families

The biggest funding boost in a decade to DVA offers veterans and their families some hope for justice at last. See why.

The brother of a veteran who took his life with a note citing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs failings has likened the huge Budget boost to the DVA as a “lottery win”.

“That’s bloody great news, just amazing, I only wish he was here to see it,” Gold Coast realtor Brandon Spain said of his twin brother, former Victorian Army soldier Shaun Spain who took his own life earlier this year.

The DVA has had the most significant rise to its Budget in a decade with an almost doubling in funds to more than $300m alone to deal with a backlog of claims in some cases dating back a year, upgrading claims processing IT systems and hiring more staff.

Shaun Spain with twin brother Brandon. Picture: Supplied

The new funding was in direct response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide which cited the crisis in the ranks as “a national tragedy” and made a series of urgent recommendations.

Mr Spain – who only qualified as a real estate agent to work alongside his brother Shaun in his Gold Coast agency days before he took his own life – said he hoped the funding would relieve the pain for others.

Former corporal in the Australian Army, Shaun Spain, was medically discharged after serving five tours overseas. Picture: Supplied

“This is what he (Shaun) was doing for others, he definitely wanted that change, he wanted to make sure that other veterans could continue to get the help they deserved, that was one of the things Shaun wanted.

“He didn’t need anything from DVA but he wanted to make sure other veterans could get what they wanted. But in the end it broke him, that’s what killed him and for this to happen with the Budget, it was a big plus but gees I wish he was alive to see it. That rips me apart because he could have achieved that goal.

“But I am actually stoked and I hope DVA actually does something now productive and uses that money to help veterans properly …. this will be a huge positive for a lot of veterans out there, honestly it’s like winning the lottery and if Shaun knew he would be doing the chicken dance right now.”

Shaun Spain, pictured here on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

The mother who led the national push for the royal commission into veteran suicide Julie-Ann Finney also welcomed the funding boost.

Ms Finney’s son David took his own life in 2019 after a two decade career with the Royal Australian Navy.

Julie-Ann Finney, the mother of veteran David Finney who took his own life in 2019, pictured in Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

“The news is most welcomed, I am seeing the negativity from some veterans on Facebook today ‘we’ve got sweet FA as usual, nothing will be done’ and that sort of thing but I don’t believe that,” she said.

“We have new leadership in DVA … they are looking at options to clear the backlog and more staff will help.”

David Finney, who served in the Navy, took his own life in 2019.

Ms Finney said there were not just compensation claims but medical assistance claims and travel reimbursement which they can clear quickly.

“So I really welcome the news and I hope veterans can see the positive side of things, this royal commission is listening, it is making recommendations and people have until October to tell their story and should make a submission,” she said.

“Never would we have had so much money without a royal commission to investigate what veterans go through in so many areas.”

Since taking over the portfolio, Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh pledged to serve those who served the nation and it is known he regularly speaks to the royal commission chief Nick Kaldas about providing effective transition and health and wellbeing outcomes.

Originally published as Federal Budget 2023: Biggest DVA boost in decade offers hope to veterans and families