STATEMENT ON VETERAN ALLIED HEALTH CHANGES
The Albanese Government has a deep respect for our veterans who have, and who continue to serve our country. Anyone who pulls on our nation's uniform to serve in our name deserves nothing less.
Our 2026 Budget featured a proposal to make the biggest increase to allied health fees paid by the Department of Veterans' Affairs to support veterans in 20 years.
This proposal was coupled with a plan to reduce the administrative burden for 90% of veterans, allied health practitioners and GPs with the removal of the current treatment cycle in favour of a new system.
The proposed threshold measure set out to reduce the burden on veterans to go back to a GP every 12 allied health visits for a new referral, instead expanding this to a $5,000 threshold before a veterans' care is reviewed.
We have been consulting on this measure, and we have heard from veterans there are concerns about this approach.
We have been listening carefully and today, the Government is taking the proposed $5,000 threshold off the table.
We will not change our commitment to improving access to allied health care through the fee increase to allied health providers. We will engage with the veteran and provider community on how we can continue to deliver on the objective of achieving better veteran wellbeing outcomes while ensuring integrity of the system.
The Government is committed to continuing its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, including ensuring passage of legislation to implement 20 recommendations and support the implementation of an additional 20.
