The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has been “too adversarial” when it comes to handling the compensation claims of former defence personnel, Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester says.
Key points:
- Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester says his department “has been guilty of being too adversarial” over compensation claims
- Mr Chester said the culture in the department has been improving
- He said he would act upon a recommendation to from a cross-party group on veterans’ mental health issues
Mr Chester made the comments to 7.30 after holding a summit in Canberra about veterans’ mental health on Wednesday.
The department has been criticised by veterans, their families and even the Productivity Commission, which said in a draft report that the compensation claim process for veterans was not fit for purpose.
One mother of a veteran who committed suicide started a petition on Change.org, which received more than 220,000 signatures. As part of the petition, she called for a royal commission into the rate of suicide among veterans and accuses the DVA of treating veterans poorly when they make compensation claims.
“I believe in the past that the DVA has been guilty of being too adversarial in terms of whether it’s protecting the public purse or putting veterans through a lot of hoops,” Mr Chester told 7.30.
He said the culture in large organisations was difficult to change but that the DVA was making progress.
“The changing culture now is around taking a more beneficial approach to the veteran or their family in terms of providing those support measures. So I think there has been improvement, I think there’s real progress here,” he said.
“The feedback I’ve received from the key ex-service organisations in about [the] 15 months I’ve been in the role is that they are seeing improvements, and they want to see us keep working with them to bed down even further improvements in the future.
“The DVA has to win back the trust of Australian veterans and their families and the service community more generally.”
Cross-party group to be set up
PHOTO: Darren Chester addresses the veterans summit in Canberra. (ABC News)
Mr Chester said he would act upon a recommendation from the summit to contact MPs from all parties with military experience to form a group that will look at veterans’ mental health issues.
When it comes to a royal commission, Mr Chester said “all options are on the table”.
“But what I’ve been saying also quite clearly is, in about four or five days’ time the Productivity Commission is going to give me a report, which it has been working on for the past year,” he said.
“I understand it’s a 1,000-page report, looking at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and making sure it’s fit for purpose for the next 100 years.
“That needs to be worked through as well.”
Discovering ‘why these people have been doing nothing’
PHOTO: Jesse Bird’s claim was rejected by DVA. (Supplied: Karen Bird)
In 2017, 7.30 reported on the case of Jesse Bird, a veteran of the Afghanistan conflict who suffered post-traumatic stress disorder.
Mr Bird took his own life after his claim for permanent impairment was rejected by the DVA.
He died at the age of 32 with just $5.20 in his bank account.
Mr Bird’s stepfather John told 7.30 his file shows his pleas for help were not taken seriously.
“He had his rejection papers prominently displayed along with a lot of other paperwork that he’d had to endure with the DVA,” he told 7.30 in 2017.
Mr Bird’s mother Karen Bird said her son had been pushed into a corner and could not see any other way out.
“He was my first-born son and I don’t have him anymore,” Ms Bird said.
Since Mr Bird’s death there have been major changes inside the DVA and the Government is spending $230 million a year on veteran mental health.
John McNeill, a volunteer who devotes his time to helping veterans navigate the complex claim system, wants a royal commission because of the failings he saw first-hand with Mr Bird’s case.
“The same story has been said over and over and over again about what needs to change. Now it hasn’t,” he said.
“So I believe the royal commission would find out why these people that have been entrusted to be the voice of the veteran community are sitting back and doing nothing to help until the spotlight is shone on them.”
Hundreds of suicides
PHOTO: Warrior’s Return collates statistics on suicides by veterans. (ABC News)
An official estimate records more than 370 suicides involving current or former defence personnel since 2001, with one volunteer group called Warriors Return keeping its own figures on suicide by veterans across the country.
Their research shows there have been 16 suicides this year alone, with 48 last year, 86 in 2017 and 80 in 2016.
But Brian Briggs, a military compensation lawyer with Slater and Gordon, argues against a royal commission.
He believes the money could be better spent fixing problems which are well known.
“I think the money would be more wisely spent elsewhere in providing services to the veterans and to the veteran community, not on having numerous lawyers appearing before the royal commission and spending $80 to $100 million, which is only going to lead to further delays,” he said.
“We already know what the issues are, what they need to do is get things happening and happening fast and happening now.
“All this money that’s being put in, what are the results? That’s where we need to sit back and see what is producing results and what isn’t working — and what isn’t working should be shut down.”
RELATED STORY: Man warned Veterans’ Affairs he could become suicide statistic days before death
RELATED STORY: DVA head offers apology after policy changed to thwart compo claim
RELATED STORY: ‘Bureaucratic bastardry’: DVA secretly changed rules to deny veteran’s claim
If you or anyone you know needs help:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 46 36
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- ReachOut at au.reachout.com
ABC News – 27th June 2019
