The federal government has announced it will no longer introduce its controversial $5,000 allied healthcare cap for veterans, claiming it had “listened carefully”.
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Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh announced the backtrack on Thursday, adding that the Albanese government has a “deep respect” for veterans.
“We have been consulting on this measure, and we have heard from veterans there are concerns about this approach,” he said.
“We have been listening carefully and today, the government is taking the proposed $5,000 threshold off the table.
“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.”
The proposed changes were scheduled to take effect on July 1st 2027.
Tasmanian senator—and former soldier—Jacqui Lambie welcomed the change, saying she was “relieved”.
“This cap was cruel, it was dangerous and it should never have been announced in the first place. I’m relieved that the government has finally listened and scrapped it and I thank them for doing it,” she said in a statement.
Senator Lambie’s final words? “Have a beer”.
“Have a great weekend. Have a beer. Have too many beers – do whatever. But the bloody cap has been scrapped.”
Youth Jam’s Isaac Mulcrone criticised the Labor government, arguing they “strung [veterans] along”.
“I don’t understand how we can show so little respect for people who have literally fought for our country to have the values we have today. They fought so those politicians could have jobs and then our politicians they were going to go stab them in the back like that,” he told Newsflash listeners.
