Deputy President, I should say at the outset that, in terms of the Coalition and women representing the Coalition in this place, one of the reasons Senator Mulholland was able to make the cheap crack she just made is that so many of the women serving the Coalition in the Senate are on the front bench.
Senator Cash, our Leader; Senator Ruston, the Deputy Leader; Senator Bridget McKenzie; Senator McDonald; Senator Chandler; Senator Hume; Senator Henderson; and Senator Nampijinpa Price—all serve on the front bench. The Coalition has outstanding women on the front bench in this place, in the Senate, and as a backbencher I am very proud to serve behind them. Senator Farrell, I am proud to serve behind them on the back bench—outstanding female representation on behalf of the Coalition in this place.
That having been said, I would like to commend Senator Mulholland on her comments in relation to endometriosis, and I would also like to commend one of those women on the Coalition side, Senator Anne Ruston, for her advocacy in relation to endometriosis. I have people very close and dear to me who have suffered from endometriosis, and their voices need to be heard. I think this is something all senators in this place will be acutely interested in as we seek to progress an appropriate national response to endometriosis.
Deputy President, I have the opportunity to give this statement because Senator Jacqui Lambie ceded her position on the speaking list to me, as she was unable to attend proceedings today. I wish Senator Lambie all the very best.
It is therefore appropriate that I use this opportunity to speak about some of the evidence received during the additional estimates hearing from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, in particular in relation to its engagement with the medical profession—especially those members of the medical profession providing health services to our veterans. This is an issue Senator Lambie is deeply passionate about, and one I have previously spoken about in this place.
I must say that the evidence we received at additional estimates on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, underlined concerns that have been reported to me by medical professionals seeking to provide care to our veterans.
I want to briefly walk through some of the issues covered at Senate estimates. The transcript is now online for anyone who wishes to read it in its entirety.
The first issue I raised—brought to me by the Australian Medical Association, Queensland branch—was that a number of medical practitioners had received letters from the department that they felt treated them as criminals. These practitioners had raised legitimate questions about appropriate invoicing amounts, and rather than being engaged with constructively by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, they received correspondence containing references to possible referral to the Australian Federal Police. That is totally inappropriate.
I raised these concerns with the Secretary and Deputy Secretary during estimates. I am awaiting further responses, particularly as similar concerns were raised by Senator Shoebridge from the Greens and Senator Pocock from the crossbench. This is a serious matter: medical practitioners who are doing their utmost to support veterans should not feel as though they are being treated as though they are doing the wrong thing, or potentially subject to referral to the AFP.
The next issue discussed was whether the Department of Veterans’ Affairs pays the same fees to all providers for compensation medical assessments. The concern raised with me is that small practices—those that question fees or have invoices scrutinised—are treated differently from larger providers, particularly Medico Legal Australia, which appear to be charging higher fees and receiving payment at those higher rates. This raises legitimate questions about whether a two‑tier fee system is operating.
I raised this with the department, and I must say the answers provided during additional estimates were unsatisfactory. I was referred to a published schedule, but the question remains: are different fees being paid to different providers for the same service? That issue remains unresolved, and I very much look forward to further explanation from the department.
Another issue raised concerned the differential fees paid by other schemes, such as WorkCover Queensland, for medico‑legal assessments compared to those paid by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Why is it that a medical professional conducting an assessment for a veteran is paid less than under WorkCover for a broadly comparable assessment? In many cases, assessments for veterans are significantly more complex, involving longer histories and multiple conditions. Once again, we have not received satisfactory answers to that question.
I encourage the department to provide the data and further explanation because these concerns are being raised directly with senators.
Senator David Pocock also raised concerns regarding what is referred to as the “treating doctor” issue, and the department’s insistence that assessments be conducted by treating doctors. Senator Pocock referenced a recent case where a medical practitioner was asked to provide all clinical notes relating to a patient from April 2023 through to 2026. That is an administrative nightmare. Why are we imposing such burdens on medical practitioners who are simply trying to provide care to our veterans? This issue must be pursued further.
I have raised these matters in estimates and placed additional questions on notice. I also note the department’s claim that its fee rates are benchmarked against national AMA rates. I can inform the Senate that at no time was AMA Queensland, nor its members, consulted. AMA Queensland has confirmed that to me, and I will be pursuing that issue as well.
I have since been contacted by multiple medical practitioners and veterans, reinforcing the substance of the concerns raised. That gives me confidence not in the system as it currently operates, but in the validity of the concerns being brought to our attention. I will continue to pursue these issues, as I am sure Senator Lambie will as well.
Deputy President, on Saturday night I had the opportunity to celebrate Nowruz with Queensland’s Iranian community. Nowruz is the Iranian New Year, celebrated for thousands of years. There is no place I would rather have been than with that community. I am inspired by them—their courage, their advocacy for human rights, freedom and democracy in Iran.
Despite the reach of the existing evil regime in Iran extending into Australia through intimidation and foreign interference, members of the Iranian‑Australian diaspora continue to speak out fearlessly. Over the past 12 months, tens of thousands of Iranians have been murdered by that regime. I reflect on their sacrifices in the pursuit of freedom and democracy.
I am confident all senators would agree that we stand shoulder to shoulder with the Iranian‑Australian community as they continue to advocate for peace, life and democracy in Iran.
