MORE MORRISON GOVERNMENT DELAYS AND DENIALS FOR TPI VETERANS

29 October 2020

Senate Estimates has revealed the Morrison Government will delay and deny vital support for disadvantaged Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) veterans for several years as part of its response to a review of the TPI Payment.

In a slap in the face for Australia’s 28,000 TPI veterans, the Government failed to increase the TPI Payment as hoped, but announced in the Budget that some TPI pensioners living in private rental accommodation would receive rent assistance.

TPI veterans said they were very disappointed with the measure as most will miss out on assistance and it was estimated only 10 per cent – around 2,800 TPI pensioners – would receive some benefit.

However, in Senate Estimates this week, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) revealed that that they were not sure exactly how many TPI veterans would receive assistance and this would not happen until September 2022.

In answer to questions from Labor, DVA officials said it would be another two years before the department could identify eligible TPI veterans and make the necessary changes to legislation and IT systems so that benefits could start flowing.

This means it will be many years before people who were acknowledged by the TPI review as being in desperate need of support will receive any assistance.

When asked by Labor what these people should do in the meantime, DVA Secretary Liz Cosson said, “Good question”.

Given TPI pensioners had been waiting for answers since April 2019, when Scott Morrison commissioned the review on the eve of the election, this will only create more anxiety and confusion among the TPI veteran community. 

In the Senate Estimates hearing, Ms Cosson conceded that a letter from the Prime Minister to the TPI Federation announcing the review had raised expectations that the Government would increase the TPI payment as Scott Morrison had said they had a “compelling case”.

Ms Cosson herself admitted that she thought the Federation made a strong argument for an increase in the TPI pension.

It was further revealed that there had been very limited consultation with TPI veterans as part of the review, which was conducted by Mr David Tune AO PSM.

Mr Tune met with the TPI Federation only once so they could put their case to him, however the review completely dismissed the group’s submissions and they were not given a copy of the report.

The TPI review was another example of the Liberals and Nationals trying to placate veterans and buy votes before the election.

The Coalition’s own Members have acknowledged that this was the most deserving issue in the veteran community, so the response to the review was a huge disappointment and breach of trust.

It just goes to show this is a Government that’s all about the announcement, but never about delivery.