DEFENCEFORCEWELFAREASSOCIATIONPRODUCTIVITYCOMMISSIONRECOMMENDATIONS

SUMMARYOFRESPONSES

COMMISSIONRECOMMENDATION

DFWACOMMENT DFWAPOSITION

Recommendation4.1ObjectivesandPrinciplesfortheVeteranSupportSystem

DFWAsupportsthepropositionthattheobjectiveoftheveteransupportsystemshouldbetoimprovethewellbeingofveteransandtheirfamiliestakingawhole-of-lifeapproach,andthatthephysical,psychologicalandsocialharmderivedfromserviceshouldbeminimizedwhere-everpossible.DFWAsupportsingeneraltheproposedprinciplesthatshouldunderpinafutureveteransupportsystem,exceptitopposesthenotionthat‘financialsustainabilityandaffordability’shouldbeincludedinthelistofprinciples.Theseprinciplesaremoreappropriateforprofitmakingbusinesses,notonesunderpinningaveteransupportsystem.DFWApreferstheprinciplesgoverningtheproperuseandmanagementofpublicresources,namelythattheyshouldbeappliedEfficiently,Effectively,EconomicallyandEthicallyasperthePublicGovernance,PerformanceandAccountabilityAct2013.DFWAseeksclarificationofthemeaningandintentofthefifthdotpointi.e.,“providing adequate and appropriate compensation for veterans (or if the veteran dies, their family) for pain and suffering and from service-related injury and illness.” What is the benchmark or yardstick by which “adequate and appropriate” are defined? DFWAsupportthepropositionthattheobjectivesandunderlyingprinciplesoftheveteransupportsystemshouldbelegislated.ESOsshouldbeconsultedinthedraftingprocess.

SupportwithCaveat

Recommendation5.1ImproveReportingofWorkHealthandSafetyIncident

DFWAsupportstherecommendationbutnoteswithconcernthat,despitethatADFhavingalreadyintroducedin2014aWorkHealthandSafetyincidentreportingsystem(Sentinel),underreportingofincidentscontinuestobeamajorissue.Underreportingmustbeofconcerntoallcurrentservingandcertainlyformermembers,manyofwhomstillappeartostrugglewithgatheringrelevantevidenceinsupportoftheireffortstolodgeclaimsunderanyoftheActs.

Support

Recommendation5.2SupportingaNewApproachtoInjuryPrevention

DFWAsupportstherecommendationandnotesintheprocessthatthereisaninjurypreventionpilotprogrambeingtrialedatbothLavarackandHolsworthyBarracks.Althoughtheaimoftheprogramistotestthemeritofanewapproach,itshouldbecoupledwithwaystoimproveincidentreporting.

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Recommendation5.3PublishAnnualNotionalPremiumEstimates

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.Itnotesthat,ifaVeteransServicesCommissionbecomesarealityunderRecommendation11.1,theCommissioncouldberesponsibleforcalculatingandpublishingNotionalPremiumEstimates.ImprovedtransparencycouldresultinimprovedneedtomaintainadequateWorkHealthandSafetypoliciesandpractices.

Support

Recommendation5.4FormaliseDefenceResponsibilitytoSupportADFMembers

DFWAwelcomestherecommendationtoformaliseDefenceresponsibilitytosupportADFmembers,andagreeswiththeCommission’searlierfindingthataveterans’supportsystemmustnotonlybeveteranscentricbutincludetheneedtorecognizetheuniquenessofmilitaryservice.TheAssociationhaslongsoughttohavethe‘uniquenatureofmilitaryservice’formallycommittedtoappropriatelegislation.Andsoughtalsotoenshrinethat‘uniqueness’inaVeterans’Covenant,nowthesubjectoftheAustralianVeterans’Recognition(PuttingVeteransandtheirFamiliesFirst)Bill2019.TheBillasitstandsiswidelyendorsedbytheveterans‘communityand,whileseveralarguablycontentiousamendmentstoithavebeenproposedinitspassagethroughtheSenate,DFWAadvocatesitsearlypassagethroughbothHousesattheearliestopportunity.DFWAdoesnotendorsenorsupportsgratuitouscommentsthat‘theBilldoesnothing’,northat‘itservesnopurpose’.Afterall,therehasnowbeenuniversalacceptancethatanaturallogicalconsequencethatflowsfromacceptingthe‘UniqueNatureofMilitaryService’conceptisthatthereshouldbeaformalcommitmentbetweentheNationanditADFmemberseitherstillservingorwhohaveserved.Thatcommitmentmustbemutual,reciprocalandenduring.Uniquely,ADFmemberscommittoserviceinthedefenceoftheirNationand,iffacedwithmortaldanger,thereisageneralrecognitionthatlossoflifeisapossibility.Inreturn,theNationhasanobligationtocommittocaringforandsupportingthose,namelyveteranswho,duringorasaresultoftheirservice,areinjuredorsufferfromdisease.TheNationisalsoobligedtocommitstothecareandsupportofthefamiliesofthosekilledduringoperations,orwhosomehowhavesacrificedtheirlifeasaresultoftheirservice.TheBillwillenshrinethatwell-deservedobligationintolaw.

Support

Recommendation6.1PublicReportingonADFRehabilitation

DFWAsupportstherecommendationandwelcomestheCommission’sfindingthatotherwisewaswellknownbytheveterans’community,namelythattheADFhassomewhathistoricallygivenconsiderablyweakenedattentiontothewelfareandrehabilitationneedsofthoseofitsmemberstransitioningtocivilianlifevisthosememberswhoithasassessedaslikelytoreturntoduty.AsdataoverallontheADF’srehabilitationeffortsissparseatbest,andnon-existentforthosetransitioningatworst,DFWAverymuchagreesthattheADF’sJointHealthCommandshouldreportmoreextensivelyonitsrehabilitationeffortsthanithasinthepast.ParticularattentionshouldbegiventothosememberswhoaremedicallydischargedandwilllikelyneedDVAsupportasapriorityimmediatelyafterleavingtheservice.

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Recommendation6.2EvaluationandReportingofDVARehabilitationRecommendation6.2(Continued)

DFWAsupportstherecommendationwithacaveatandviewsitsynonymouslywiththeADF’sneedtogathermoreextensivedataandreportindetailonitsoverallrehabilitationprogram.ThemechanismthathasalreadybeenputinplaceforsharingdatabetweenDVAandtheADFshouldbestrengthened,particularlyforthosemembersthesubjectofmedicaldischarge.Notwithstandingitsgeneralsupport,DFWAcannotagreewithCommission’spropositionthatDVA’sveterans’rehabilitationservicedeliveryoutcomesshouldorcouldbecomparedwithcivilian‘otherworkers’schemes,includingthoseinvolvingtemporaryorotherwisedisabilityinsurancepackages.Suchschemesareprofit-basedandoffernoequivalencetoamember’sneedforrehabilitation.

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Recommendation6.3CommissioningandIntegrationofRehabilitationServices

DFWAsupportstherecommendationandagreeswholeheartedlywiththepropositionthatDVAshouldengagemorewithrehabilitationproviderswhoshouldberequiredtonotonlyprovideevidence-basedrehabilitationprogramsbuttomonitorandreportontreatmentcostsandoutcomes.DFWAalsoagreeswithandsupportsanyarrangementthatcouldbeputinplacebetweenDVAandDefencetocoordinaterehabilitationefforts,andtohavemandatoryreportingacrosstheirDepartmentalboundariesontheirsuccessorotherwise.Rehabilitationeffortsoncecommencedpriortodischargeshouldcontinueunabatedpostdischarge.Ifestablished,theproposedJointTransitionAuthority(Recommendation7.1)wouldappropriatelyberesponsibilityforthecoordinationeffort.DFWAagreeswithanddeemsasahighlycommendabletheCommission’srecommendationtoproviderehabilitationonanon-liabilitybasisacrosstheintervalfromADFservicetoadeterminationofaclaimpost-service.

Support

Recommendation7.1EstablishaJointTransitionAuthority

DFWAsupportstheessenceoftherecommendationandhasadvocated,subjecttocaveats,inprevioussubmissionstotheProductivityCommissionandotherinquiriesforasingleorganisationtoberesponsibleforthemanagementoftransitionandtheco-ordinationofthevariousstakeholdersinvolved.TheroleoftheADFiswarfightingandthedefenceofthenation.AcceptingthattheADFisthe‘employer’withresponsibilityfortotaltransitionpackage/compensationpackageitremainsagiventhattheendresponsibilitywillalwaysbewithDVA.DFWAsupportstheestablishmentofaTransitionAuthoritywithinDVA.WhilethetransitionprocessinvariablystartsinDefence,DVA’sresponsibilitiesareinherentlylonglastingandextendfarbeyondtheeight-yearaverageservicelifeofamemberwhosefamilymustbeincludedinthiscontext.TheissueofaWhiteCardtoallthosewhotransitionwillaccentuateDVA’sresponsibilities.Thatsaid,DFWAmustconditionitssupportontheneedformoreorganizationaldetailonhowtheproposedAuthoritywillbestructuredandwork,anddetailsofitsboundariesofresponsibilities.

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Recommendation7.1(Continued)

ConsultationwiththeESOcommunityisrecommended.Whatappearsself-evidentistheneedfortheAuthority,ifestablished,tofunctionacrossDVAandDefenceboundaries.Reportingbytheentityofsuchoutcomesasfollowswouldbeakeyfunction:

• EffectivenessoftherehabilitationprocessatallstagesstartingwithDefenceandprogressingtoDVA;and• EffectivenessoftransitionprogramsconductedbyDefencewithassessmentsundertakenatdischarge,at

intervalinterventionpoints,andpossibly12monthsafterdischarge.DFWAacknowledgesthat,apartfromtheCommission’sproperfocusonthetransitionprocess,itsadequacyorlackthereofhasbeenthesubjectofconsiderablerecentfocusbetweentheADF,DVAandevenCSC.TheseentitiesworkedtogetherwhenaTransitionTaskForcewasestablishedtoreviewhoweachhadbeentacklingtransitionservicesandhowbettertheycouldworktogetherinthefuture.Disappointingly,noESOswereinvitedtobeinvolved.OneoutcomeoftheTaskForcewastoconfirmthatDefencehadakeyinitialresponsibilityfortransition.Infuture,withADFmanningissuesandwithimplicationsformedicalsupportandadministrationofsuperannuationissues,therewillbemanymini/semitransitionsduetotheincreaseduseofdevelopingSERCAToptions-manymembersgoinginandoutofservice.TherewillbeaneedmanagecomplexprocessesacrossADF/DVAdepartmentalboundaries,andincludeCSCandtheESOcommunity.

Recommendation7.2CareerPlanningandFamilyEngagementforTransition

AlthoughDFWAsupportstheessenceoftherecommendation,itispredicatedfirstonwhetheraJointTransitionAuthorityisestablished,andsecondly,onhowfartheAuthority’sresponsibilitiesshouldextend.Shoulditextendto‘ensuring’amemberundertakesbothin-serviceandpostcareerplanning?Avexedquestionifmandated.Certainly,thereappearsgoodreasonto‘encourage’membersbutinpracticalterms,manyjoinwithnopre-conceivedideathattheirservicewouldbeshort-lived,particularlybywayofcompulsoryadministrativeormedicalreasons.ButitisacceptedthatdischargefromtheADFissomewhatanunnervingexperienceformany.Earlypreparationforitis,includingtheinvolvementoffamilies,canonlymaximisethechanceofasuccessfultransitionoutcome.

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Recommendation7.3TrialaVeteranEducationAllowance

DFWAsupportstheessenceoftherecommendationbutwishestohighlightthepotentialneedtodovetailwiththeDefenceEducationAssistanceprogramtoavoidariskofduplication.TheVeteranEducationAllowanceinitiativeappearssimilartotheexcellentUSGIBillconceptthatofferseligibleveteranscostsassociatedwithacquiringaneducation,ortoundertakeatrade-trainingcourse.InAustralia,thereisprecedentbywayofNationalServicemenbeingabletoaccessuptooneyearsponsoredfull-timestudyatatertiarylevel,includingalivingallowance.DFWAconsidersaminimumperiodoffulltimeserviceconditiontobeappropriate,exceptforthosemedicallydischargedwheretheminimumshouldbewaived.ThebenefitcouldbelinkedtospecificqualifyingpeacetimeOperationalServicesuchasoftexercisedbytheSASorserviceinsubmarines,P3COrionandP-8APoseidonaircraft.

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Recommendation8.1HarmonisetheInitialLiabilityProcess

DFWAhaslongsupportedtheneedtoharmoniseallthreeActstoensurethebeneficialintentofeachofthem.Tobeproperlybeneficial,thebalanceofprobabilitiesshouldalsobeopentoVEAandMRCAwhereaconditionisnotrecognisedinaSoP.Twoareaswherebeneficialintentappearslostandthusopposedareasfollows:• VEAaccruedrightsmustbemaintainedandVEAprovisionsputintoMRCA,nottheotherwayaroundasarguedby

theCommissioninitsReport(Volume1@Page373refers);and• TheBalanceofProbabilitiesofmedicalevidenceallowedunderDRCAshouldbeextendedtoMRCA.Theremustbe

norestrictiontoclaimsunderMRCAtoSoPs,norrestrictionstoclaimsunderDRCAcoveredbySoPs.

SupportwithCaveat.

Recommendation8.2ImprovetheRMA’sResourcingandTransparency

DFWAnotesandsupportswithoutreservation. Support

Recommendation8.3AbolishtheSpecialistMedicalReviewCouncil

DFWAopposesabolishingtheSpecialistMedicalReviewCouncil.Thelossofanindependentstand-alonereviewcapability(totheRepatriationMedicalAuthority)whereveteranscanchallengeestablishedprinciplesisnotsupported.TheAssociationcontendsthatadministrationoftheCouncilcouldbestreamlined.DFWAcouldsupporttherecommendationifveteranshadtherighttoarguethebalanceofprobabilitiesonmedicaland/orlegalissuescouldbeextendedtoMRCAintheabsenceofbeneficialSoPs.

Oppose

Recommendation8.4MoveMRCAtoaSingleStandardofProof

DFWAacknowledgesthattherearedividedviewsintheESOcommunityonapplyingdifferentstandardsofproofduetodifferingopinionsaboutwhateligibilitycriteriashouldbeappliedbetweenoperationalwarlikeandnon-operationalservice.Onbalance,DFWAsupportsmovingMRCAtoaSingleStandardofProofandagreeswiththeCommission’sviewthatitisinequitabletodiscriminatebetweenveteranswiththesameinjury.Thestandardofproofofwhetheraninjuryorharmisrelatedtoacausalfactorofserviceshouldbethestrengthoftheepidemiologicalevidenceandnotwhattypeofservicetheindividualconcernedwasallocatedfor.Anydiscussionconcerningthisrecommendationshouldbearoundwhatistheappropriatestandardofproofregardingtheepidemiologicalevidence.DFWAcouldsupportiffuturelegislationissimplifiedtocreateasingleruleofevidencethatisnotlessthanthatofareasonablehypothesistest.Reversecriminalstandardofproofmustremaininveterans’lawandnotberepealed.

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Recommendation9.1PublicProgressReportsonRecentReviews

DFWAhasbeenconcernedforsometimethatongoingheavycriticism,unjustifiedinmanyinstances,iserodingconfidenceinaveteran’ssupportorganisationthatisarguablytheenvyofex-servicecommunitiesworldwide.ThatisnotwithstandingthemanyshortcomingsofDVAnowwellrecognisedthroughnumerousreviewsandinquiriesbutonesthatarebeingaddressedasaresult.ReportingprogressmadetoimplementthemanyrecommendationsfromthosereviewsshouldmitigateatleastsomeclaimsthattheDepartment‘doesn’tcareaboutveterans.DFWAwelcomestherecommendationandsupportsit.

Support

Recommendation9.2AppropriatelyTrainStaff

DFWAsupportstherecommendationbutsuggeststhatcontractstaffemployedbyDVA/VSCeitherdirectlyorthroughacontractedserviceprovidershouldalsoreceiveappropriatetraining.

Support

Recommendation9.3EnsureQualityofClaimsProcessing

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.AllDVAadministrativeprocessesmustbesubjecttocyclicalauditing.Errorsinanyadministrativeprocessorendeavourwilllikelyoccurbut,onceidentified,theyshouldbecorrected.Extraordinaryerrorratesshouldbeanalysedtoimprovequalityoutcomes.

Support

Recommendation10.1ImproveandUseFeedbackFromAdministrativeReviews

DFWAsupportstherecommendationandproffersthatthereshouldbegreatertransparencybywayofpublishingVRBandAATfindingssothatDVAstaffandESOAdvocatescouldbebetterinformed.SuchfeedbackshouldbeincorporatedinAdvocateandDVADelegateinitialandongoingtraining.

Support

Recommendation10.2SingleReviewPathway

DFWAnotesthatrecommendations10.2,10.3and10.4allappearaimedatabolishingtheVRBorprovidingalternativedisputeresolutionservicesonly.TheAssociationstronglyopposesthiswayforward-retentionofthefullVRBissupported.TheVASSSSstudyindicatesitisworkingsatisfactorily.DFWAviewstherecommendationaslimitingtheVRBtotheADRprocessonly(singleVRBmember).TheAATisthenextstep.AmajorissueisdelegatesgetnofeedbackfromeitherVRBorAAT.Outreachwillimprovethesituation.

Oppose

Recommendation10.3Veterans’ReviewBoardasaReviewandResolutionBody

DFWAopposesabolishingand/ordilutingtheVRBfromitscurrentandeffectivemeritsreviewrole.Afterall,veteransandwidowsappearbeforetheVRBforameritreviewonlyafterexperiencingamostlydefectiveprimarydecision-makingprocess.Veteransshouldnotbeforcedtothenextavailableindependentreviewauthority,namelytheadversarialAATthateffectivelydeterminesmattersonpointsoflaw.Suchanadversarialapproachplacesmanyveteransatadisadvantage,asdoesthetimelimitof28daysforappealstoAATappropriate,particularlyiftheveteranhassufferedmentalhealthissuesorisotherwisetraumatised.DFWAalsoopposesthesuggestedremovalofthedeterminativepowersoftheVRBthateffectivelyisaCourtofLastResort.Transferringsuchpowerswhenanon-adversarialBoardsuchastheVRBcouldproperlymakedeterminationswithoutincurringsignificantcostsseemsincongruousintheextreme.DFWAopposesanysuggestionthatlawyersappearattheVRBwhere,inanycase,aseniorqualifiedlawyerisalwaysamemberoftheVRB.

Oppose

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Recommendation10.4ReviewofOngoingRoleofVeterans’ReviewBoard

WhileDFWAacknowledgestheneedtoperiodicallyreviewrolesandfunctionsofestablishedentitiessuchastheVRB,theproposedreviewinthiscaseseemsnarrowlytargetedandappearstohavetheaimofabolishingtheVRBandbringingtheappealsprocesstotallywithintheconfinesoftheVSC/DVA.TheupshotbeingthelossofindependenceandaprocessthatleadsalmostdirectlyfromaVSCreviewtotheAATandadversariallawyers.Asarguedbeforeunderrecommendations10.2and10.3,DFWAopposesabolishingand/ordilutingtheVRBfromitscurrentandeffectivemeritsreviewrole.Byextension,itopposestherecommendationinthiscasetoreviewtheongoingroleoftheVRB.Inthiscontext,DFWAnotestherecommendationforDVAtoassistwithprimaryclaimsandchangestotheAAT.

Oppose

Recommendation11.1EstablishaVeteranServicesCommission

DFWAnotionallysupportstheestablishmentofaVeteransServicesCommission(VSC)butwithreservationabouthowsuchamajorchangecouldbeachievedinthethree-yeartimeframeproposedthroughwhatultimatelymustbebeneficiallegislation.Thereinherentlywilllikelybeshorttomediumtermdetrimentalservicedeliveryimplicationsthatveteranswillbeaskedtowear.Afterall,therealreadyexisttwomatureandfirmlyestablishedbodiesservingveterans,namelytheRepatriationCommissionandtheMilitaryRehabilitationandCompensationCommission.TherecommendationisforbothofthesebodiestobeabolishedandanewbodycalledtheVeteranServicesCommissiontobeestablished.AmongthemanyunansweredquestionsthatcometomindincludesthecostoftheproposedchangeandtheorganisationalimpactonDVA.ItdoesnotfunctioninisolationtoeitheroftheCommissions;interdependenceappliesbetweeneachentity.TheimpactonDVAoperabilityofabolishingbothCommissionshassimplynotbeenassessed.NorhasthecostofestablishingtheVSCbeenidentified.TheProductivityCommissionitselfadmittingthatcostsofthechangestoveteranservicesarelikelytoincreaseintheshorttermwhileandtheimmediatebenefitsareidentifiedasonly‘likely.Conjecturesuggeststhatcostswilllikelycomedowninthelongtermduetolesslong-termcarecostsandmoreeffectiveinterventionsandincentives.TheproposalforthenewschemeistobefundedthroughalevyofapremiumonDefenceisperplexing,asaretheprinciplesofaffordabilityandfinancialsustainabilitythatwouldneedtobeappliedgoingforwardThatsaid,DFWAseesnoshow-stoppingreasontoobjectinamajorwaytotherecommendationestablishingaVSC,subjecttoaworkingmechanismapplyingbetweenDVAandVSCthatisfunctional,appropriateandveterancentric.Thecrucialelementwillbethemanagementofthechangewhilemaintainingaveterancentriccareregime.

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Recommendation11.2LevyaPremiumonDefence

DFWAopposestherecommendationtolevyapremiumonDefencethatseemsatoddswithhowDefencebudgetsareframed.Therecanbenosystemthatso-to-speakpunishesDefencecapabilityifinjuriesgoupbyreducingfundsavailableforoperations.Defenceisnotabusinesswherepenaltiesaffectthedividendsandremuneration.AnADFistheultimateinsurancefordefenceofthenation.Operationaleffectivenessmustalwayshavepriority.TheGovernmentmakesdeploymentdecisionsaffectingveteranwellbeingandisthe‘employer’.IftheaimisnottoreducefundstoDefenceactivities,thevisibilitycanbeprovided,andDefenceandgovernmentincentivisedbytheNOAcalculatingandpublishingnotionalPremiumannuallyasperRecommendation5.3.

Oppose

Recommendation11.3ImprovingPolicyOutcomes

DFWAsupportstherecommendationsinceendeavouringtoimprovepolicyoutcomesistheongoingroleofDVAonaday-to-daybasis.Ifestablished,aVSCwillhavethisasamajorfunction.DFWAnotesthattherearethreeorganisationssupportingveteransundertwoMinisters.Thishasgeneratedaneedtoestablishinterdepartmentalsteeringcommitteesandpolicytaskforces,allleadingtoacumbersomeunwieldysystemthatwillhavetoberesourced.Thereappeartobenomeasurableandachievableobjectivessetforthem.

Support

Recommendation11.4CreateaMinisterialAdvisoryCouncil

DFWAsupporttherecommendationbutsuggeststhat,tomaximisetheeffectivenessofsuchaMinisterialAdvisoryCouncil,itmustincludeESOrepresentativesandperhapsevenaveteranwithoperationalservice.TheCouncilshouldstructuredtermsofreferencewithmeasurableandachievableobjectives.

Support

Recommendation11.5MoveWarGraveFunctionsintotheAustralianWarMemorial

DFWAopposestherecommendationonthreegrounds:

o Thereappearstohavebeennocostbenefitanalysisoftheproposedchange;o DVAisgloballyrecognisedasahighlycredibleGovernmentceremonialentitywithfullauthoritytoconduct

commemorativefunctionsandceremonies,bothinAustraliaandinternationally.Ithaddonesuccessfullyonnumerousoccasions’errorfree;and

o TheAWMhasaremittobetheguardianinpreservingthenation’smilitaryhistoryandhonouringthosewhoonceserved.Thatremitislargelybasedaroundthenation’scapitalbutnationalatbest.Itisnotinternational.

TheWarGravefunctionsthatcurrentlyapplyshouldremaininplace.DVAisbetterplacedtocontributeto,protectAustralia’sinterest,includingitsmembershipoftheCommonwealthWarGravesCommission.

Oppose

Recommendation12.1ReframeSupportforVeterans’Organisations

DFWAsupporttherecommendationonthebasisthatitrepresentsanopportunityfortheESOcommunitytoparticipateinreframingsupportforveteransandhelpingimproveDVA’sservicedelivery.Appropriatefundingallocationsneedtobeworkedoutgoingforward.

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Recommendation12.2DVAShouldProvideAssistancewithPrimaryClaims

DFWAsupportstherecommendationbutwithreservation.Thereareperceivedpitfallsandpossibleconflictofinterestissuesthatshouldbeaddressed,nottheleastwhichinclude:

o DVApersonnelwouldneedtobeATDPtrained;o Whathappensif,followingDVAassistance,aprimaryclaimfails–shouldanESOAdvocatebesought?o WhathappensifaDVAemployeetaskedwithgivingadviceonaprimaryclaimgivesmisleadingadvicethat

leadstoafailedordelayedclaim–iscompensationordamagespayable?o ShouldDVAstaffbeinvolvedwithclaimsthatprogressuptotheAAT?

DFWAbelievesthatDVAstaffshouldhavearoleinprovidingadvicetoveteransand/orAdvocatesbuthasreservationsthattheyshouldbegivensimilarroles.ItnotesthatunderbothVEAandMRCAtheCommissionerhasalegalobligationtoinvestigateclaims.

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Recommendation12.3FundaClaimsAdvocacyProgram

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.IthaslongadvocatedgeneralfundingassistancetoESOs,allowingthemtonotonlybetterservetheirconstituenciesbuttounderwritetheiradvocacyeffortsonbehalfthoseindesperateneedforsuchservices.ManyESOsoperateonlyonmembershipduestoprovidetheservicestheysocapablydo.TheAssociationwelcomesthepropositionthatDVAshouldtakeamoreactiveroleinthestewardshipofprovidingAdvocacyservicesandtopotentiallyhelpdeliverytheseservices.

Support

Recommendation12.4AccreditationofAdvocates

DFWAsupportstherecommendationtoaccreditAdvocatesbutnotrestrictchoiceofveterantoonlyaccreditedones.VeteranmusthavechoiceandnottobesubjectedtoDVA/ATDPclosedshop.Accreditationofitselfhaslittlemeaning.Offeringthebestservicetoveteransshouldbetheaim.DFWAsuggeststhatAdvocacyServicesbedeliveredthroughESOandothers‘inacontestablemanner’.

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Recommendation12.5FundLegalAssistanceattheAAT

DFWAsupportstherecommendationtofundacrossallthreeActbutnottotheVRB.Butquestionremainsastowhodeterminesthemeansandthemerit?AveteranwhoisdisqualifiedduetotheirassetsmaynotpursueanAAThearingduetoriskoflosing,whereasapersonnotsodisqualifiedcanpursueaclaimwithnorisk.Thereshouldbenosuchdistinction.AmerittestisacceptableprovideditisdonebyanindependententityDFWAnotesthatRecommendations10.2to10.4effectivelyabolishestheVRBwithallresolutionbeingabsorbedintoVSCprocedures.TheAATthusbecomesthefirstindependentreviewavailabletotheVeteran.‘BestPractices’over-rulebeneficiallegislation.Veteransmusthavenon-meanstestedfundingforAAT,andfullactualcostsawardedtoveteraniftheclaimissuccessful.FundingshouldbeadministeredbytheVSC(ifestablished)andtakenoutofthehandsofStateLegalAidauthoritieswhoshouldberemotefromtheVSC.

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Recommendation12.6ProgramforFundingWellbeingSupports

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.ESOsregisteredwiththeDefenceEngagewebsiteshouldensuretheirdetailsandservicesareregularlyupdated.

Support

Recommendation12.7FundingPolicyAdvicefromVeterans’Organisations

DFWAsupportsthisrecommendationalbeitwithsomereservation,giventhatitsoughttoquestionthenecessityfortheEx-ServiceOrganisationRoundTable(ESORT)‘inlightofalternative,moretargeted,approaches.’Thatpropositionisperplexing,particularlyasDVAregularlyreviewsitseffectiveness,asdoesitsESOmembership.Allrecentassessments,externaldetractorsaside,haveconcludedthatESORTcontinuestobeanimportantentity.

Arguably,ESORTcouldberightfullyconsidereda‘peakbody’,albeititisaforumconstitutedbyDVAtoenhancethecapacityofboththeRepatriationandMilitaryRehabilitationandCompensationCommissionstoaddressissuesofimportancetotheESOanddefencecommunities.

Perhapsmoreaccurately,theAllianceofDefenceServiceOrganisations(ADSO)withits18-strongmembershipmorecloselyepitomisesa‘peakbody’.EachmemberorganisationisanindependentmajornationalESO.DFWAisofcourseaninauguralmember.

AsESORTisfullyfundedbyDVA,thatleavesthepotentialforADSOtoreceivesomefundingsupport.Indeed,asbothsidesofpoliticshaveindicatedsupportfortheOrganisation,subjecttoincorporation,thatisthedirectionADSOistakinggoingforward.

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Recommendation13.1HarmonisetheDRCAwiththeMRCA

DFWAsupportsthisrecommendation,notwithstandingthatthereisnomentionofharmonisingDRCAwiththeVEA.TheVEAhassignificantbeneficialprovisionsthatmustalsobeconsideredinanyharmonisingexerciseinvolvingMRCA.TheVEAshouldbeincluded.DFWAcommentsatRecommendation8.1arerelevantinthisregard.Butallsaid,DFWAdoesnotsupportpreventingfutureaccesstotheGoldCardtothoseeligibleforbenefitsundertheDRCA.HarmonisationofDCRAwithMRCAshouldnotdiminishaveteran’sabilitytohavetheirclaimassessedonitsmedical-scientificmeritsandunderabalanceofprobabilitiesregime.Nodetrimentprincipleshouldapply.DFWAnotestheCommission’sstatementthat‘thebottomlineisthatmostveteransandtheirfamilieswouldbemadebetteroffbytheharmonisationoftheDRCAtotheMRCA.However,itisnotpossibletosaycategoricallythatnofutureclaimantwillfaceareductioninhisorhercompensation.The‘BOOT’testwouldnotacceptequivalentreducedentitlements.Thatwouldbechangingtheconditionofservice(onthebalanceofprobabilities)underwhichaservicehasalreadybeenrendered.DenyingtheGoldCardisaseparateissuediscussedunderRecommendation16.4

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Recommendation13.2SimplifyInvalidityPensionsAdministration

DFWAsupportsthisrecommendation.Simplifyinginvaliditypensionsadministrationislongoverdue. Support

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Recommendation13.3ReplaceInvalidityPensionswithIncapacityPayments

DFWAopposestherecommendationto‘closeoffaccesstoinvaliditypensionsundertheADFCoverActfornewapplicants’,notwithstandingthatexistingpensionerswouldnotbeaffected.Thepropositionappearstooverlookthefactthataninvaliditypensionsiscompensation;itshouldnotbecompromised.Anincapacitypaymentisincomesupport.Notallowingaveterantoelectremovesanyabilitytochoosethepotentialbetteroption.Thateffectivelyremovesa‘nodisadvantage’clause;byanymeasure,thatshouldbedeemedpatentlyunfair.Thataside,DFWAopposestherecommendationononeotherground,namelythatthereappearstohavebeennohardempiricalorotherstatisticaldatagatheredtosuggestthattherecommendationcouldbeconsideredapositivereform.Itisfarfromit.EventheCommissionacknowledgesthat‘estimatingtheeffect(ofthereform)iscomplex’.Asfortherecommendationthat‘deathbenefitsfordependantsunderADFCovershouldremainthesame’,DFWAhasnoissueandsupportthiselementonly.

OpposeinPart

Recommendation13.4RehabilitationforInvalidityPaymentRecipients

DFWAsupportstherecommendationinprinciple,particularlyaccesstoandavailabilityofrehabilitation.However,thereshouldbeno‘compulsion’involvedtoattendrehabilitation,ratheritshouldbe‘voluntary’.DFWAissomewhatperplexedthatsuperannuationisintroducedatallinthediscussionrelatingto‘compensation’.Afterall,superannuationissuesarequiteseparate.

Support

Recommendation14.1ASingleRateofPermanentImpairmentCompensation

DFWAispreparedtoconcedethattheremightbeacaseforeliminatingthedistinctionbetweenwarlikeandnon-warlikeserviceinthematterofdeterminingratesofcompensationforpermanentimpairment.Itisnotpreparedtomakeanyconcessiontoeliminatethisdistinctioninthematterofassessmentofliability.InanyactivityundertakenbytheDefenceForceinwhichthesafetyofthosetakingpartisofparamountimportance,death,injuryorillnessresultingfromthatactivityisaccidental.Ithappensbecausetheprecautionstakentopreservethesafetyoftheparticipantshave,forwhateverreason,failed.Inmilitaryoperationsinwhichachievementofthemissionisofparamountimportance,casualtiesareoftenforeseen,andacceptedasinevitable.Theresponsibilityofcommandersforthesafetyoftheirtroopsisnotabandoned,butitisexercisedinthelightofthedemandsofthemission.Forthisreason,DFWAstronglydefendsasamatterofprinciplethedifferencebetweenwarlikeandnon-warlikeserviceasoneofqualityandnotmeregeographyorcircumstance.

SupportwithCaveat

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Recommendation14.2InterimCompensationtobeTakenasaPeriodicPayment

DFWAopposestherecommendationtoremovethe‘option’oftakinginterimpermanentimpairmentcompensationasalump-sumpayment.Basedonanyfinancialadvicetheymayseek,veteransshouldbeabletodecidewhatoptionbestmeetstheircircumstance.TheActshouldmakeprovisionforthatadvicetobesoughtatpublicexpense.AsfortherecommendationthatDVAshouldadjustitspolicyonLifestyleRatings,itcanbeconditionallysupportedsubjecttofurtherconsultation.

OpposeinPart

Recommendation14.3InterimCompensationFinalisedAfterTwoYears

DFWAsupportstherecommendationthatinterimcompensationpaymentsshouldbefinalisedaftertwoyears.Ithasthebenefitofcertainty.

Supported

Recommendation14.4EligibleYoungPersonPermanentImpairmentPayment

DFWAopposestherecommendationtohomogeniseentitlementswithciviliancommunitystandards.Theuniquenatureofmilitaryserviceisoverlooked.Therationaleforremovingadependant’sentitlementisquestionable.Asforthetradeofftoincreasetherateofpermanentimpairmentcompensationbyabout$37perweekforveteranswithmorethan80impairmentpoints,DFWAisperplexedastohowthismeagreamountcouldhavebeenderived.

Oppose

Recommendation14.5ImproveLifestyleRatings

DFWAsupportstherecommendationsincetheintentofthereviewoflifestyleratingsistoimprovethem. Support

Recommendation14.6TargetIncapacityPaymentsatEconomicLoss

DFWAsupportstherecommendationwithlittleneedtocommentfurther. Support

Recommendation14.7RemovetheMRCASpecialRateDisabilityPension

Althoughtherecommendationtoremovetheoptionoftakingthespecialratedisabilitypensionislikelytoaffectfewveterans,DFWAopposesitsinceitstillrepresentsentitlementsandprofoundlyfailsboththe‘NoDetriment’and‘BOOT’tests

Oppose

Recommendation14.8RemoveAutomaticEligibilityforMRCADependantBenefits

DFWAopposestherecommendationtoremoveautomaticeligibilityfordependantbenefits.ItseemsincongruousthatdependantssuchasDefencewidowsshouldbedeprivedofanautomaticpensionbenefitwhentheirpartnerdiesthathadotherwisebeenpreviouslyavailabletothem.Thepropositionfailsboththe‘NoDetriment’andthe‘BOOT’tests.Theentitlementhasbeenearned;thatitisnowtobetakenawayisunfairintheextreme.

Oppose

Recommendation14.9CombineMRCADependantBenefitsintoOnePayment

DFWAopposestherecommendation.Whileitappearsadministrativelysimpler,iftakenintothecontextofRecommendation14.8wherebytherewouldbealossofbenefitsunderMRCA,therecommendationappearstoimposealikelydetriment.

Oppose

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Recommendation14.10HarmonisetheFuneralAllowance

DFWAstronglysupportstherecommendationtoamendtheVEAtoalignitsfuneralallowancewiththeMRCAfuneralexpensesbenefitforveterans.Certainly,MRCAdeliverstofamiliesofdeceasedveteransfarbetteroutcomes($12,270)intermsoffuneralbenefitsthanderivedfromVEA($2,000).Thisdisparitybetweenthetwoschemesshouldbeharmonisedwithurgency.

Support

Recommendation15.1SimplifyDFISA

DFWAsupportstherecommendationwithlittleneedtocommentfurther. Support

Recommendation15.2SimplifyandHarmoniseEducationPayments

DFWAsupportstherecommendation,albeitthereappearedtohavebeennoattempttoquantifytheeffectsoftheproposedamendmentswithtwolikelytofaila‘BOOT’test,

SupportwithCaveat

Recommendation15.3ConsolidateSupplementsinUnderlyingPayments

DFWAsupportstherecommendationbut‘NoDetriment/BOOT’provisionsshouldapplyinitsimplementation. Support

Recommendation15.4RemoveandPayOutSmallerPayments

DFWAsupportstherecommendationandagreesthat,whilethereisnocivilianequivalenttotheDecorationAllowance,thecostisminorandthesymbolicvaluehighduetotheuniquenatureofmilitaryservice.TheAllowanceshouldberetained.DFWAcontendsthattheproposedamendmentcouldcausesomeangstforlittlesavingandnobenefit.

SupportwithCaveat

Recommendation15.5HarmoniseAttendantandHouseholdServices

DFWAsupportstherecommendationinprinciplebuthasbeenunabletoquantifywhethertherecouldbeadetrimentorfinancialimpactonveterans.

Support

Recommendation15.6HarmoniseVehicleAssistance

DFWAopposestherecommendationsincethethrustoftheproposedamendmentappearsaimedatharmonisingtotheleastbeneficialAct.HarmonisingtotheMRCAwilladverselyimpactthemostseverelyincapacitatedveteransandcannotbesupported.Ifharmonisationisanimportantissue,themorebeneficialoptionwouldbetotransferthosereceivingMRCAassistancetoVEA.Afterall,VEAentitlesveteranstopurchase,modifyandclaimforrunningcostsofavehiclewhileMRCAdoesnotincludeeitherpurchaseorrunningcosts.Furthermore,veteransshouldnotberequiredtopurchasesecond-handvehicleslimitedinwarrantyandinsurance.Overall,theproposalfailsthe‘NoDetriment’provisionforveteransontheVEAVehicleAssistanceScheme.

Oppose

Recommendation16.1EligibilityforCoordinatedVeterans’Care

DFWAsupportstherecommendationinprinciplebutnotesthattheCommissionseemsconcernedabouttheneedtodis-incentivisedoctorsfromenrollinglow-riskveteransintheCoordinatedVeterans’CareProgram.Itidentifiedthreeoptions,thefirsttwoofwhichareadministrativeandthethirdbeingitspreferredfinancialone.AclearsolutioncouldbefordoctorstoadoptstricterenrolmentcriteriaforveteranswhenenrollingthemintheCoordinatedVeterans’Careprogram.Thiswouldachievethedesiredoutcomewithoutneedingtointerferewithanyfinanciallevers.

Support

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Recommendation16.2PublicReportingonHealthServicesAccessibility

DFWAsupportstherecommendationforDVAtoimproveitspublicreportingonaccessibilityofhealthservices.DVAwillenhanceitsstandingamongveteransifitistransparentacrossallitsactivitieswhereverpossible.

Support

Recommendation16.3IndependentReviewofFee-SettingArrangements

DFWAopposestherecommendation,particularlyinrespectofthepotentialtouseofco-payments.Veteranhealthentitlementsmustbebasedontheneedtoovercomehealthissuesduetomilitaryservice;theyshouldnotbeviewedaswelfareorasasubsidyforhealthcare.Whileareviewisnotopposed,anyproposalthatlookstoadoptaprivateworkers’compensationschememustbeviewedwithsomescepticism.

Oppose

Recommendation16.4BetterTargetedEligibilityfortheGoldCard

DFWAopposesinthestrongestpossibletermstherecommendationtoremoveeligibilityfortheGoldCardforanyoneotherthanveteranswithsevereservice-relatedimpairments.WhileDFWAconcedesthattherearevaryingpointsofviewontheissueoftheGoldCard,fewifanyofthoseviewshaveevergonesofarastoproffer,asthethenNSWRSLprofferedthat,interalia,the‘GoldCardisseentobeacashgrabandaprizeakintowinningLotto’.HowoutlandishlypreposterousfromaleadmajorESOcouldthatopinionhavebeen?DFWArejectthatnotionwithoutreservation.DFWAnoteswithconcerntheinclusioninthereportoftheuncontestedassertionbyRSLNSWthatreceiptoftheGoldCardisseenasa“prize”.Also,thattheGoldCard“isinefficient(byencouragingover-servicing)”yetnoresearchisprovidedtojustifytheclaim.Surelybothunhelpfulassertionsinwhatshouldbeaconstructivereportandonefocusedonthefutureofveterancare.DFWAnotesthatthereappearstobeadegreeofambiguityintheCommission’sreportwheretheneedfor‘buildingtrust’ismentioned.One-partstates,‘thiswillnotaffectanycurrentGoldCardholderorpersonwhoisentitledtoitundercurrentlegislation’.ButRecommendation16.4suggeststheentitlementberemovedandthatdependantsbecompensatedexceptforolderveteransover70.DFWAisperplexedastowhatthismeans.Furthermore,withinthetextoftheRecommendation,noattempthasbeenmadetoquantifyimpactsforthoseonthepensionwithqualifyingservicebutnoprivatehealthcare.Norforthosewhocouldcancelprivatehealthcare;thecostcouldbehighastheywouldhavetomaintainprivatehealthcover.ItwouldalsomeanthatoncetheygettoacertainagethereisnorequirementtoresubmitorputadditionalclaimsonDVAwiththestressesthatinvolves.Asforcosts,theGoldCarddoesnotseemtotakeaccountofthosewhomaybeonawhitecardforspecifictreatmentsandtransfertoaGoldCard.ThecostoftheGoldCarddoesnotrecognisethatmostholdersareagedover60.Forthatgroupandolder,thehealthcarecostsaresignificantlyhigherthantheaverage/youngercohorts

Oppose

15

Recommendation16.4(Continued)

Muchoftheevidencequotedretargetingappearstocomefromtheinsuranceindustryexercisingacommercialperspectivethatiscompletelyalientothoughtsof‘beneficiallegislation’.TheCommission’sRecommendation,initseconomicrationalismapproach,seemstohaveoverlookedthisimportantelement.Someofthe‘BestPractise’insurersrecommendingcloseoversightofmedicaltreatments(asopposedtothehands-offapproachandveteranmanagedhealthcareassociatedwiththeCards)wereseverelycastigatedbytheNSWGovernmentreviewofWorkersCompensation–theonlyreviewsofarofBestPracticesWorkerCompensationInsurers.Finally,theproposedchangestotheGoldCardbenefitsimplyfailsboththeNoDetrimentandBOOTtests.

Recommendation16.5NoFurtherExtensionsofGoldCardEligibility

DFWAopposestherecommendationtoremovefurthereligibilityoftheGoldCard.Thisprecludesautomaticeligibilityfor,asanexample,thoseondischargewith20yearsserviceoroperationalservice.AttempttoimposearuleforthefuturebasedonchallengeableargumentsaboutthepurposeandbenefitsofaGoldCardarerejected.

Oppose

Recommendation17.1ImproveDVAMentalHealthServicesAwareness

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.ItisalsoanimportantTransitionfromserviceissue.DVAshouldtakeallreasonablestepstoinformveteransandtheirfamiliesofthesupportservicesavailabletothem.

Support

Recommendation17.2MonitorandReportonOpenArms’Outcomes

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.OpenArms(previouslyVVCS)withitsnetworkofoutreachcounsellorshasanarguablysuccessfullyrecordofprovidinggoodandwelcomesupporttotheveterancommunity.Inmostquarters,thissupportisdeemedfundamentaltothewellnessofveteransandfamiliesbyhelpingthemdevelopcopingskills.ButtherearedetractorswithsomeclaimingthatOpenArmssometimesworksagainsttheinterestofveteransbyreportingissuestoDVAthatshouldbekeptconfidential.Iftheyarenotalready,DVAshouldbeconsciousofthis.

Support

Recommendation17.3Evidence-BasedTreatmentVeteransMentalHealth

DFWAsupportstherecommendationwiththeaddedpropositionthatinmakingmentalhealthapriority,reportingshouldtakeplaceacrosslegislativeanddepartmentalboundariesasaveterancareermovesfrombeingrecruited,actualserviceintheADF,involvementinatransitionprocess,andfinallyexitingasaVeteran.

Support

Recommendation17.4ANewVeteranMentalHealthStrategy

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.Asbefore,reportingshouldtakeplaceacrosslegislativeanddepartmentalboundariesasaveterancareermovesfrombeingrecruited,actualserviceintheADF,involvementinatransitionprocess,andfinallyexitingasaVeteran.

Support

Recommendation18.1Performance/OutcomesFrameworks

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.Asbefore,reportingshouldtakeplaceacrosslegislativeanddepartmentalboundariesasaveterancareermovesfrombeingrecruited,actualserviceintheADF,involvementinatransitionprocess,andfinallyexitingasaVeteran.

Support

Recommendation18.2MoreHigh-QualityTrialsAndReviews

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.Buttrialsand/orreviewsshouldfarmoreactivelyinvolveappropriatekeysectionsoftheESOcommunityknowntobecapableofmeaningfullycontributingandaddingvalue.

Support

16

Recommendation18.3DevelopandPublishaVeteranResearchPlan

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.Butagain,competentelementsoftheESOcommunityshouldbeinvolved.SomeESOswithavailableinternalresources(suchasRSLQLDBranch)arefundingtheirownveteranresearch.TheBranchsupportstheGallipoliMedicalResearchFoundation.

Support

Recommendation18.4ExpertCommitteeonVeteranResearch

DFWAsupportstherecommendation.Again,competentelementsoftheESOcommunityshouldbeinvolved.AppropriatelyqualifiedESOrepresentativesshouldbeonanyExpertCommittee.

Support

Recommendation19.1TwoSchemesforVeteranSupport

DFWAsupportstherecommendationandconsidersthatthepropositionisconsistentwiththeharmonisationgoalsupportedinoriginalsubmission.

Support

Recommendation19.2AnExpandedFamilySupportPackage

DFWAsupportstherecommendationtoremovetheexclusionarycriteriaofwarlikeserviceandaddingtotheFamilySupportPackagetheprovisiontoextendittoallveterans’families.

Support