On 4 July 2024, the Senate referred the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 [Provisions] to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 3 October 2024.

Submissions are sought by the 31 July 2024.

The committee is able to accept late submissions. If you require more time to prepare your submission, you can ask for an extension of time from the secretariat.

Making a submission
Your submission should relate to the bill that is being inquired into.

In telling your experiences in a submission, you do not need to give the committee medical reports, decision letters, correspondence or tribunal documents. You may consider including excerpts from such documents to support understanding of your submission, however if such documents contain sensitive information, they may be returned to you.

More information about how to make a submission can be found here: Making a submission

What will happen to your submission?
Most submissions received by the committee are published on the committee website with the full name of the submitter. However, in sharing your story with the committee, you can request that the committee:

• keep your submission confidential and not publish it,
• publish your submission with your first name only, or
• publish your submission without your name on it.

If you wish for your submission to be kept confidential or you would like the submission published without your full name on it, please bring this to the attention of the committee when you send your submission. Once the committee has considered any request from you about how to receive your submission and made its decision, it will let you know in writing.

Individual cases or complaints
It is important to note that the committee is not able to provide advice on your individual circumstances. The committee is not able to progress or resolve any individual concerns or complaints about your experience with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs or the Veterans’ Review Board. The committee cannot overturn, or remake decisions made.

Information on how to make a complaint or provide feedback to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs can be found here or for the Veterans’ Review Board here.

Support services 
If you, or a family member or friend, needs mental health support, please reach out to one of the following support services:

• Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS) provides free and confidential counselling 24/7 to Navy, Army and Air Force personnel, veterans & their families. Call Open Arms on 1800 011 046.
• Lifeline Australia provides 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention services. Call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or chat with an online crisis supporter online or text via mobile on 0477 13 11 14.
• Beyond Blue is a charity working to address issues associated with depression, suicide and anxiety disorders. Contact their 24/7 counselling service via 1300 22 46 36.
• Connect with an ex-service organisation in your local area.
• Please dial 000 if it is emergency.