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Supporting Our Veterans

The men and women of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) serve our nation with honour and bravery. A Dutton Coalition Government will provide additional support for veterans and their families as well as commemorating those who put their lives on the line to serve our nation to protect our values and way of life.

More than half a million Australians (586,200) have served or are currently serving in the ADF. The Coalition recognises that the transition from the ADF to a post-service life is a unique and challenging experience. Ensuring assistance and support is available when needed is paramount.

We have a responsibility to care for the physical and mental wounds of our ADF personnel and veterans. The Coalition Government established the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in July 2021. It is clear from the findings of the Royal Commission that we must do better by those who defend us and their families. The Coalition is committed to addressing the unacceptably high rates of suicide among the ADF and veteran communities in Australia.

Veterans should be recognised for their incredible sacrifices, with their specific health and employment challenges prioritised and addressed.

A Dutton Coalition Government will:

  • Implement the agreed response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, delivering better outcomes for men and women currently in the Australian Defence Force and our veterans.
  • Provide $32.25 million to establish five new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs in Bendigo, Gympie, Bathurst, Mackay, Rosebud and three Hub expansions in Port Macquarie, Wagga Wagga and Dubbo.
  • Provide $22 million to establish the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II Grants Program, to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australians who served their nation.
  • Provide $5 million to the Families of Veterans Guild to increase social work services for veterans and war widows.
  • Provide an additional $3.7 million for the Unmarked War Graves Grants Program to help ex-service organisations, community groups and individuals properly acknowledge veterans’ service at their place of rest. Deductible Gift Recipient Status will also be granted to the Headstone Project South Australia.
  • Continue the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Program in Perth, Brisbane and Townsville.
  • Provide $11.5 million to support Invictus Australia’s ongoing work and to prepare a bid for Australia to host the Invictus Games in 2031. This would replace the existing budget commitment.
  • Provide $6 million to enable free access to the National Anzac Centre in Albany WA, and ensure its ongoing maintenance as a nationally significant cultural asset.
  • Provide $744,000 over the next four years, to support the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord West in recognition of its significance as a national site of remembrance.
  • Provide $64.5 million to Disaster Relief Australia so it can continue the National Veteran Volunteer Program (NVVP) across Australia.
  • Guarantee frontline delivery roles across the public service, including at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. We will ensure that veterans and their families receive the quality essential services that they rely on.

Our Plan

Responding to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

The Coalition is committed to addressing the unacceptably high rates of suicide among the ADF member and veteran communities in Australia. The Coalition Government established the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in July 2021. The Royal Commission was tasked with identifying systemic problems and proposing systemic solutions to prevent suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving ADF members.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Final Report was released in September 2024. The Royal Commission made 122 recommendations framed around five priority areas:

  • prevent harm;
  • intervene early;
  • improve communication, coordination and collaboration;
  • build capability and capacity;
  • strengthen oversight and accountability.

In responding to the Final Report, the Government agreed, or agreed in-principle, to 104 recommendations, noted 17 recommendations and did not support one recommendation in part. The Coalition supports the agreed response to the Royal Commission.

The Coalition supported the legislation to establish the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission, which was Recommendation 122 of the Royal Commission. It was the Coalition who listened to serious concerns raised by veteran advocates on Labor’s last-minute legislation for the Commission in February 2025.

We engaged with key advocacy groups to understand the impacts of Labor’s approach, including the Families of Veterans Guild, the Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans’ Association and the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex-Servicemen and Women.

Our advocacy on behalf of the community secured a requirement to establish a Senate Inquiry into the functions and powers of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission. The Senate Inquiry will report before the commencement of the Commission in September 2025. Our strong advocacy will ensure that the Commission is designed and will operate as intended by the Royal Commission.

Labor has only provided $5 million in funding for two years for the Commission. The Coalition will work with the Commissioner and stakeholders, to make sure this important work is appropriately resourced prior to the formal commencement of the Commission. 

Additionally, legislation to meet the Royal Commission timelines for the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 was missed by Labor, leading to delayed outcomes for veterans. The Coalition had a dedicated Cabinet Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defence Personnel. Labor doesn’t treat the Veterans’ community seriously – if they did, they’d have their Minister sitting around the cabinet table.

Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of our ADF and Veterans

The men and women of the ADF serve our nation with honour and bravery. We have a responsibility to care for the physical and mental wounds of our ADF personnel and veterans.

When in government the Coalition introduced and expanded free, lifetime mental health care to all ex-service personnel for any mental health condition – regardless of whether it was related to their service. This recognised the importance of early intervention and removed barriers to accessing mental health care. In addition, we provided a White Card upon discharge to allow them access to this important support. The Coalition also expanded the 24/7 Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling services.

Expanding the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs

In 2019, the Coalition Government established the Veteran Wellbeing Centres (now known as Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs) with an initial investment of $30 million. The first Centres were established in Perth, Townsville, Adelaide, Wodonga, Nowra and Darwin. The Royal Commission found that the Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs are filling a critical gap in integrated service delivery that supports veterans’ wellbeing.

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs deliver integrated support to veterans and families and improve access to local services which may include wellbeing support, advocacy, employment and housing advice, social connection and physical and mental health services.

The Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs are open to all current and former serving ADF members, including reservists and their families. The Royal Commission also found that the establishment of Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs has been a positive recent development in assisting veterans to navigate and access support services.

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $32.25 million to establish five new Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs and three Hub expansions.

Five new Hubs will be established in the following locations:

  • Mackay, Queensland
  • Gympie, Queensland
  • Rosebud, Victoria
  • Bendigo, Victoria; and
  • Bathurst, New South Wales

While three existing Hubs will also be given additional funding:

  • $5 million to expand the Veterans’ Wellbeing Centre in Dubbo, New South Wales.
  • $2 million to establish a Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Port Macquarie, New South Wales (an extension of the Veterans’ and Families’ Hub in Coffs Harbour).
  • $250,000 to the Pro Patria Veterans’ Wellbeing Centre in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales.
Continuing the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Program 

Chaplains fulfill an important role in providing spiritual, religious and pastoral support to veterans and their families, regardless of their religious belief. Many times, Chaplains are the only point of call. Chaplains have long been a feature of the Australian military.

The Coalition Government announced the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Pilot Program in 2022. The objective of the pilot program was to test the effectiveness of extending chaplaincy support to veterans and their families post-service, providing care, mentoring and education through transition back to civilian life, during crisis or acute events such as adjustment, grief, and recovery.

Building on the success of the pilot, a Dutton Coalition Government will provide $4 million over four years for the Veterans’ Chaplaincy Program. The Program will provide counselling and support for veterans transitioning to civilian life and their families in Perth, Brisbane and Townsville.

Supporting Veterans and their Families 

The Coalition recognises that the transition from the ADF to post-service life is a unique and challenging experience. Ensuring that assistance and support is available when needed is paramount.

We appointed the first Veteran Family Advocate to directly engage with the families of veterans, to improve the design of all veteran programs and services, including mental health supports and services. This has provided the perspectives of veteran families at the heart of policy and decision making.

The Coalition recognises the critical role that families play in supporting the men and women who serve our country – while they are in service, and with their health and rehabilitation after service. The Coalition Government delivered extra family support including increasing access to childcare, household services, and counselling for veterans and their families. This included additional assistance for the partners of veterans who have died while serving during recent overseas conflicts or following their return home.

The Families of Veterans Guild supports bereaved widows and families of veterans, spouses of injured and ill veterans and those who are seeking to manage the challenges of Defence service and its impact on them and their families. A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $5 million over four years to the Families of Veterans Guild to increase social work services for veterans and war widows to support their wellbeing.

Additionally, a Coalition Government will also deliver $5.6 million in funding to extend the Defence Kids Program run by the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation for one year.

The Kookaburra Kids ‘Defence Kids’ program was supported by the former Coalition government. It has a focus on children of ex-serving members who may be more vulnerable following their parent’s separation from the ADF and the loss of their Defence community support system.

The Coalition Government also commissioned a world first trial into the use of assistance dogs to support veterans with PTSD and ongoing financial support for the purchase of assistance dogs for veterans upon recommendation by a medical specialist. This improves the mental wellbeing of a veteran and helps reduce isolation.

Boosting Invictus Australia

Invictus Australia provides support to veterans with their transition back into civilian life by improving their physical and mental wellness. Invictus Australia reaches out to ‘at-risk’ veterans, connects veterans with local sporting clubs, community groups and wellbeing services, and encourages sporting organisations to engage and include veterans.

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $10 million to support Invictus Australia’s ongoing work. This will enable Invictus Australia to improve the wellbeing of veterans and their families through:

  • Supporting Australian Teams to the Invictus Games and Warrior Games
  • Providing alternative competition pathways to wounded, injured or ill veterans
  • Expanding access to community sport through increasing Invictus Australia representation in local communities
  • Helping to build the capability of sport organisations, ex-service organisations and veteran led groups using sport
  • Developing an industry-leading research agenda focused on the power of sport
  • Improving community education and peer mentoring to support more veterans and families.

The Coalition will also provide $1.5 million to Invictus Australia to prepare a bid for Australia to host the Invictus Games in 2031.

The Invictus Games were last held in Sydney in 2018. The Invictus Games offers a platform to address the challenges faced by veterans and their families, while fostering a strong community of support and raising national awareness.

Commemorating our Veterans

A Coalition Government will ensure the service and sacrifice of Australians is appropriately commemorated. 

We have a strong record of honouring the service of our men and women in uniform. In 2020 the Coalition invested almost $500 million to redevelop the Australian War Memorial. This will allow the Australian War Memorial to display more of its collection, and proudly tell the stories from recent engagements in Afghanistan, Iraq, Solomon Islands and East Timor.

80th Anniversary of World War II

To ensure we remember the sacrifice of those who served our nation, the Coalition will provide support to various commemorative activities. By doing this we will ensure the act and meaning of remembrance lives on from generation to generation.

The 2nd of September 2025 will mark 80 years since the end of Australia’s involvement in World War II. Almost a million Australians served in World War II. Over 575,000 served overseas where they fought in campaigns against Germany and Italy in Europe, the Mediterranean and North Africa, as well as against Japan in south-east Asia and the Pacific.

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $22 million for the 80th Anniversary of the End of World War II Grants Program. The one-off grants will commemorate the service and sacrifice of Australians who served their nation. Grants of up to $100,000 will be awarded through a competitive application process for community projects and activities that commemorate World War II.

The National Anzac Centre

Albany is regarded as the birthplace of the Anzac story with its historical links to the first and second Anzac convoys. Owned and operated by the City of Albany in WA, the National Anzac Centre plays a key role in the preservation of, and education about one of Australia’s greatest stories.

With support of the City of Albany, a Dutton Coalition Government will move to transition this asset to Commonwealth management, in acknowledgement of its national significance.

The Coalition Government will provide $6 million in funding over four years to provide free access to the National Anzac Centre, and ensure its ongoing maintenance as a nationally significant cultural asset.

Unmarked War Graves Grants Program

The Coalition Government announced in February 2019 a two-year pilot program, at a cost of $420,000, to commemorate a number of unmarked graves of World War I veterans who died after returning from the war. The Unmarked Graves of the First World War Veterans Pilot Program helped provide funds to ex-service organisations, community groups and individuals to properly acknowledge the service of these veterans. The pilot supported the placement of 1,189 plaques on private graves.

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $925,000 annually for the Unmarked War Graves Grants Program to help ex-service organisations, community groups and individuals properly acknowledge veterans’ service at their place of rest. The grants will provide funding to contribute to the cost of a plaque on current unmarked private graves as well as expand the program into schools. School students will undertake research, locate graves and help organise dedication services. This will connect the younger generation to Australia’s military history.

The Unmarked War Graves Grants Program is an expanded version of the Unmarked Graves of the First World War Veterans Pilot Program.

While the number of unmarked graves of veterans is unknown, there are many individuals and special interest groups who are passionately committed to ensuring they are identified and commemorated. This program is an important step in ensuring veterans are remembered for their service.

One of those organisations is the Headstone Project SA. A voluntary organisation established in 2017, the Headstone Project SA seeks to locate World War I veterans buried in unmarked graves throughout South Australia. The Headstone Project SA conservatively estimates there are in excess of 2,500 World War I servicemen and women buried in unmarked graves in over 900 cemeteries throughout South Australia.

A Dutton Coalition Government will grant Deductible Gift Recipient Status to The Headstone Project SA. This will provide the community a means of contributing to the preservation of the memory of those who fought and died to protect our values and way of life. The Headstone Project SA has sought Deductible Gift Recipient Status multiple times. Labor has declined each request.

Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway

A Dutton Coalition Government will provide $744,000 over the next four years to support the Kokoda Track Memorial Walkway in Concord West, in recognition of its significance as a national site of remembrance, veteran community connection, and education.

The Memorial Walkway is the only memorial in Australia dedicated to telling the story of Kokoda. This commitment will ensure the long-term viability of the Memorial Walkway which, since 1996, has commemorated the sacrifices made during the Kokoda campaign and serves as an enduring link between all Australians past and present.

Supporting Veterans with the Cost of Living

The Coalition has a plan to deliver meaningful and immediate cost of living relief to families, while securing our economy for the long term. To provide immediate cost of living relief to Australians, the Coalition will halve the fuel tax to 25 cents a litre, delivering immediate relief to every Australian who owns a petrol or diesel vehicle. This will save Australlians $14 every time they fill up – or about $750 over 12 months. A family with two cars will save around $1,500 over 12 months.

We will also deliver cost of living relief to more than 10 million taxpayers through a temporary and targeted Cost of Living Tax Offset. This will see eligible Australians earning up to $144,000 receive up to $1,200 in tax relief when they lodge their tax return for the upcoming financial year, or up to $2,400 for families.

The Coalition will provide $150 in electricity bill relief so Australians do not have to pay for Labor’s energy failures, and pause the indexation on tap beer in pubs and clubs for two years to provide relief for struggling hospitality venues.

We will also invest $9.4 billion in Medicare and over $680 million to reduce the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme co-payment to $25 to deliver cheaper medicines, and ensure Australians don’t have to choose between paying their bills and their physical and mental health. 

Allowing Older Veterans to Keep More of What They Earn

To support older veterans, a Dutton Coalition Government will provide the right policy settings for those who choose to work more, by increasing the amount of income a veteran service pensioner can earn without reducing pension payments.

Currently, veterans receiving pensions can earn $300 of income each fortnight without impacting pension payments. Under a Dutton Coalition Government veterans will be able to earn up to $600 a fortnight and still receive the maximum pension payment. Veteran pensioners will continue to accrue unused pension work bonus amounts up to a maximum of $7,800, which can exempt future earnings from the pension income test.

This will ensure that Veterans who want to work more, can, and are not financially penalised for doing so. This policy will also help small and regional businesses address ongoing labour shortages by engaging with veterans, while giving them more financial freedom.

This builds on measures to support veterans implemented by the former government including expanding eligibility for the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme and the Defence Service Homes Insurance Schemes to help reduce the cost of living for veterans and their families.

Harnessing the Skills of our Veterans

Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) is a veteran-led volunteer organisation that helps communities following natural disasters to commence the recovery phase and reduce their reliance on the ADF.

The National Veteran Volunteer Program (NVVP) will build on previous Commonwealth funding of $38.3 million over three years, originally announced by the Coalition Government in 2022, and matched by Labor, to recruit 5,000 volunteers and establish a national coordination centre.

The NVVP will provide funding of $64.5 million over four years from July 2026 to increase recruitment, build equipment and technology-based capabilities, and enhance veteran health and well-being through community integration, training, peer support and corporate connections.

An elected Coalition Government will provide funding to DRA to enable it to continue to support post-disaster recovery, through harnessing the unique skills of veterans and building a base of ready-to-deploy volunteers, reducing affected communities’ reliance on the ADF.

Our plan will also benefit veterans’ health and wellbeing by creating tangible and positive opportunities for former ADF and frontline responders to benefit from community engagement, peer support and training. 

The NVVP will:

  • Aim to lift the current veteran volunteer base from 5,000 to 10,000.
  • Establish equipment and technology-based capabilities to best utilise the unique skills and experience of the veteran workforce, reducing reliance on the ADF during disaster relief and recovery operations.
  • Utilise the existing national coordination and control skills and extensive footprint of DRA to deploy teams able to work with communities, spontaneous volunteers and other charitable organisations to maximise the efficiency of recovery and response efforts.
  • Enhance veteran health and well-being through community integration training, peer support and network opportunities including corporate connections and employment pathways.
  • Enable DRA to invest in veteran re-training as a pathway to civilian life and employment, including engagement with veterans’ families.
  • Grow community resilience through providing community-based disaster preparedness.

The Choice

We are not seeing the leadership that defence and veterans need from the Albanese and Marles Government.

In less than three years, Richard Marles has presided over more than $80 billion in cuts and delays to the Defence budget.

Under this Labor Government, Veterans Affairs isn’t taken seriously. If it were, they’d have their Minister sitting at the cabinet table.

As a result of Labor’s neglect:

  • We have a recruiting and retention crisis for those in uniform
  • Legislation to meet the Royal Commission timelines for the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 was missed
  • Labor’s own budget shows DVA’s income statement in the Portfolio Budget Statements reducing employee costs from $393 million in 2025-26 to $348 million in 2026-27 – a $45 million cut to employees
  • No long-term funding has been provided for the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission

As a country we have a responsibility to care for the physical and mental wounds of our ADF personnel and veterans.

To ensure our veterans are looked after, a Dutton Coalition Government will:

  • Provide the additional support required for veterans and their families
  • Commemorate those who put their lives on the line to serve our nation
  • Address the unacceptably high rates of suicide among the ADF and veteran communities in Australia
  • Implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission as agreed

The Coalition will invest more than $155 million to support veterans and their families.

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