Key facts
- Senator Jacqui Lambie has condemned Labor's $5,000 cap on allied health services for veterans.
- Lambie revealed her own personal health struggle with vaginal and bladder prolapse, connected to army injuries.
- She argued that the cap demonstrates a "callous disregard" for veterans' health.
- Lambie shared an anecdote about another veteran who faced a three-year wait for treatment.
- Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh acknowledged a mistake in refusing an initial meeting with veterans.
- The Coalition has called for Minister Keogh's sacking over the policy.
Senator Jacqui Lambie has delivered a fiery speech in the Senate, condemning the Labor government's controversial $5,000 cap on allied health services for veterans, which is set to take effect from July 1, 2027. Lambie accused the government of a "callous disregard for veterans' health and wellbeing" and stated the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) had shown "no duty of care."
Lambie shared deeply personal details of her own medical battles, revealing that six months prior, her vagina began to prolapse, followed three months later by her bladder. She directly linked these injuries to back problems sustained during her army service. The Senator expressed concern that many female veterans would face significant delays and uncertainty in getting treatment approved by the DVA, and would struggle to find gynecologists willing to accept the low rates paid by the department.
She recounted the story of a veteran named Kate, who reportedly waited three years for treatment for a similar condition because she could not find a gynecologist accepting DVA rates. Lambie stated that if she did not have her current job, she could have faced a similar fate and revealed she paid $7,000 for her own operation after submitting a claim to the DVA over a month prior with no response.
Lambie also questioned the defense force's commitment to women's health, recalling a conversation with former Chief of the Defence Force Angus Campbell where he admitted they had not investigated whether women could safely carry the required weight in the military. She directly challenged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister Richard Marles, and Minister Matt Keogh, asking what they would do if their own reproductive health was compromised and treatment denied.
The government has faced increasing pressure over the $5,000 cap, with the Coalition calling for Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh to be sacked. Keogh had initially refused a meeting with veterans advocating against the cap but relented after political pressure. While he conceded he "got it wrong" by not agreeing to the meeting, the government has not indicated it will reconsider the cap.