Veterans’ Entitlements Bill

Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024.

For many years, the RSL has been calling for the consolidation of the three complex pieces of legislation governing veterans’ entitlements into one simplified act. This would make it easier for veterans and their families to access compensation and entitlements and reduce the DVA claims backlog.

On 13 February 2025, the Bill was passed.

The three pieces of legislation, dating from 1917, were complex and led to a backlog in processing DVA claims, adversely impacting veterans and their families. The more than a century-old legislation had never been fully reformed but updated and amended, which only added to its complexity.

The RSL highlighted this in its first submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in November 2021. The Royal Commission reported on this issue in its Interim Report (August 2022). It recommended that the Australian Government implement legislative reforms to simplify and harmonise the veteran entitlement system as soon as possible. The Government announced its intention to reform the legislation in February 2023.

The Government consulted on the exposure draft Bill with the veteran community in early 2024. RSL provided a detailed submission which incorporated members’ voices across the League. The submission helped shape and improve the Bill.

On 3 July 2024, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, the Hon Matt Keogh MP, introduced the draft Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 into Parliament. The Bill was referred to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee. The RSL lodged a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on the Bill, in which the RSL outlined its support for key provisions in the legislation and provided further information to assist the Senate Committee’s deliberations. The committee tabled its final report on 3 October 2024. The Bill remained before the Senate in 2025, and RSL advocated for it to be passed swiftly before parliament rose for election. On 13 February 2025, the Bill was passed.

The late amendment to the Bill to establish the new Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission (DVSC) to oversee system reform across the whole Defence ecosystem within the Defence portfolio rather than as an independent entity, was brought forward by the Government without proper consultation. Importantly, it has not been informed by the veteran community. The RSL did not oppose this amendment in order to avoid further delay in the passage of the Bill, but we advocate that it is critical for the Government to work with the veteran community to ensure that the voices of veterans and their families inform the structure, operations and powers of the DVSC.

As such, the RSL calls on the Government to promptly establish an open and transparent public consultation process without delay and to remain open to further amendments to ensure the DVSC has the necessary independence.

RSL is continuing to prepare veteran advocates for the 1 July 2026 start date and is also working to inform the establishment of a new Institute for Veteran Advocates that can best enable advocates to meet the current and future needs of veterans and their families. 

“Veterans and their families have waited a long time for these critical reforms, and we’re grateful to Senators from all sides for ensuring passage of these much-improved laws through Parliament before it rises for the federal election,”

- Greg Melick, RSL National President

Progress Timeline

13 February 2025: The Bill was passed
February 2025: RSL advocated for the Bill to be passed swiftly before parliament rises for election.
31 July 2024: RSL lodged a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Bill.
3 July 2024: Draft Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 tabled in Parliament.
June 2024: DVA thanked RSL Australia for its substantial submission and responded to the issues raised by the RSL.
April 2024: RSL Australia lodged a detailed submission on the proposed Veterans’ Entitlements Legislation, which was the result of collaboration across the League.
February 2024: The Government released draft legislation to simplify and harmonise veterans’ entitlements, compensation, and rehabilitation systems.
February 2023 - The Australian Government announced its intention to simplify legislation governing Veterans’ compensation, rehabilitation, and other entitlements.
August 2022: The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide recommended that the Australian Government implement legislative reforms to simplify and harmonise the veteran entitlement system as soon as possible.
November 2021: The RSL highlighted the need to consolidate the current legislation governing veterans’ entitlements, comprising three Acts, into a single piece of legislation to simplify claims for veterans and their families in its submission to the Royal Commission.

Related Submissions

Submission: 2023-24 Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury

In the submission, the RSL calls upon the government to uphold Australia’s commitment to supporting veterans and their families to live and age well after their military careers and advocates that it is vital that the passage of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 remains at the forefront of the Senate’s business.

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RSL submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee

The RSL has lodged a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024, in which the RSL outlines its support for key provisions in the legislation and provides further information to assist the Senate Committee’s deliberations.

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Submission: Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024

April 2024
The RSL has lodged a detailed submission in response to the Government’s release of the draft Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024. The RSL consulted across the breadth of the League to ensure members’ voices inform the development of fit-for-purpose legislation that best serves veterans and their families.

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Letter: Military Invalidity Payments

March 2024
The RSL’s letter in support of the submission made by the Defence Welfare Association (DFWA) to the Community Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the provisions of the Social Services and Other Legislation Amendment (Military Invalidity Payment Mean Testing) Bill 2024. The RSL advocates that the proposed amendments must not negatively impact or reduce the existing payments that are made available to veterans and their families.

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Submission: 2024-25 Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury

January 2024
The RSL is requesting the Federal Government use the 2024-25 Budget to strengthen the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families by improving access to healthcare for veterans and their families, implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission, including establishing a National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Wellbeing and a Peak Body for ESOs, and continuing to permanently reduce the DVA claims backlog, including support for advocates and advocacy.

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RSL Australia's Report on the 2023-24 Federal Budget

May 2023
RSL Australia has responded to the 2023-24 Federal Budget summarising how the budget accounts for implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission and explaining which measures will focus on veterans and their families. The report's final page summarises what RSL has been lobbying for vs the budget response.

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Submission to the Royal Commission

March 2023
Proposal for implementation of Recommendations.
This submission provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commissioners’ calls for feedback on the potential creation of a suitable entity with comprehensive oversight and powers to drive lasting reform to help reduce the incidence of suicide amongst serving and ex-serving ADF members.

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Submission: Harmonisation of Legislation - Funeral Benefits

March 2023
The RSL has called on the Federal Government to harmonise the funeral benefits payable to service veterans to remove the existing disparity. Currently, the benefits paid range from just $2000 to $12,600. The RSL says bringing the payments together is one of the more straightforward legislative changes the Government could make and could be achieved relatively quickly. Doing so would ensure fairness for older veterans and their families.

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Submission: 2023-24 Pre-Budget Submission to Treasury

February 2023
The 2023-24 Budget presents the Australian Government with the opportunity to further deliver on the commitments it made in its previous Budget, to sustain an effective response to the emerging findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission and to ensure that our service men and women are able to experience a healthy transition from service, engage in fulfilling civilian careers and continue to make positive social and economic contributions to our nation.

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