Defence SA, $28,614,000

Membership:

Mr Batty substituted for Mr Telfer.

Minister:

Hon. J.K. Szakacs, Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Local Government, Minister for Veterans Affairs.

Departmental Advisers:

Mr M. Opie, Chief Executive, Defence SA.

Ms B. van Reesema, Acting Director, Strategy and Engagement Manager, Veterans SA.

Mr P. Murdock, Finance Manager, Defence SA.

The CHAIR: The portfolio is Veterans SA. The minister appearing is the Minister for Veterans Affairs. I advise that the proposed payments remain open for examination. I call on the minister, if he so wishes, to make an opening statement to be followed by the opposition, if they so wish. I call on the minister to introduce his advisers.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Thank you, sir. I am pleased to introduce with me today Matt Opie, Chief Executive, Defence SA; Bec van Reesema, Acting Director, Veterans SA; and Peter Murdock, Finance Manager, Defence SA.

Can I briefly but importantly acknowledge the service of our veteran community, acknowledge the service of those who choose to serve our nation and acknowledge those who suffer as a result of their service, be it financial or from a health perspective, but also acknowledge the extraordinary contribution that the vast majority of veterans undertake to our community, whether it be through volunteer service or whether it be through employment.

Not only are we a state that is built on the back of some of the hard work of veterans but we are a state that firmly sees the future prosperity of our state, particularly through future investment in defence, through AUKUS, through pillar 1, pillar 2 and associated industries, firmly entwined with the prosperity of our veteran community.

I also seek to acknowledge, as I did in a previous portfolio today, the very strong support that the veteran community receives from all members of parliament. This is an area which is proudly, as is our defence community, nonpartisan. I acknowledge the shadow minister who is part of the committee today, and I acknowledge all the members of this place who firmly see the importance of their roles in recognising, acknowledging and paying respect to the service of our veteran community.

Mr PEDERICK: I will make a brief comment and acknowledge the minister's comment. I too salute all people who make that massive commitment to be prepared to lay down their life for this country, whether they be serving members of the Defence Force or veterans, and take note of all that we need to do to look after not just their physical health into the future but their mental health and the employment opportunities that we can bring them along the way. I truly support their service.

I will go with my first question. Budget Paper 1, Budget Overview, page 27: can you outline what specific veteran community programs the $1 million over four years will go towards?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I acknowledge the significant increase that we have secured by way of recurrent, baked-in funding across the forward estimates. I can answer the member's question in a few parts, but if I can acknowledge that this is a substantial increase in the ability of Veterans SA to deliver their services and their engagement and to build on that engagement with the veteran community in South Australia.

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, we see the prosperity of our state entwined with the prosperity of veterans, and the additional funding that has been received into the operating expenditure of Veterans SA will contribute significantly to the ability of South Australia to do so. I acknowledge also that Veterans SA, sitting in Defence SA, led by the chief executive, Matt Opie, is firmly focused on outcomes that focus on this prosperity.

There are portions of this reserve funding for which I can commit now that we will be engaging with stakeholders on prioritisation. My very firm focus in that is the acknowledgement that, in September this year, the commonwealth will receive the final report about defence and veterans suicide. There has already been significant work undertaken by the commonwealth, with a high degree of input from South Australian authorities into that royal commission.

I am mindful that there is a need for the state government to be responsive and nimble, albeit I anticipate that the majority of the recommendations to date will continue to be recommendations to the commonwealth. South Australia, being the first state to create a veterans portfolio and the first state to create a standalone government bureaucratic focus, would also endeavour to be a state that is responsive, within our capacity, to these recommendations that may be forthcoming from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. I will go to Budget Paper 3, Budget Statement, page 4, regarding the economy, dot point 6. What involvement will veterans have in the government's aim to increase Defence SA's presence locally and internationally?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised by Mr Opie—noting that the operations of Defence SA are not ones that I am responsible for, but I am very pleased to have the advice of the chief executive here with me—that there is continual and ongoing strategic engagement between Defence SA and veterans, so that the embedding of outcomes for veterans is a core part of the work that is undertaken by Defence SA.

There are various programs that are supported or administered by Veterans SA that are supporting and bringing scale to some of the work that the sector or ESOs are undertaking in this space, specifically in relation to Defence SA, I am advised. I have seen, in my short time as minister, that it is a key focus—that jobs output and the embedding of veterans into the development of industry and work is a core part of the framework that Defence SA sets out and endeavours to execute.

Mr PEDERICK: I will go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 159, Program 3: Veterans SA, description/objective. How many veterans are there currently in South Australia?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that, in relation to the data collected in the 2021 Census, there are more than 47,000 people in South Australia who have served in the Australian Defence Force. That is obviously a point in time. I will take the opportunity to say that it is a very firm expectation of the government and our agencies and departments that that number will significantly grow in future years not only due to some movements and changes within the organisational structure and deployment of defence, particularly with the allocation and deployments into Edinburgh, but particularly with the massive expansion of AUKUS pillar 1 and pillar 2, there will be a number of civilian employees who are veterans moving to and setting up shop in South Australia. So we expect that number to significantly grow into the future.

Mr PEDERICK: What are the main matters of importance for veterans that are being conveyed to Veterans SA?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I will summarise some of the matters that have been raised directly with me and some of the matters that have been briefed to me by Veterans SA. I think it is incredibly important in its simplest form, but also profoundly important to engage and listen to our veteran community.

Of course, we define in South Australia that the veteran community is broad-based; that is, of course, current and former serving defence personnel and their families. It is great to have a member of that community in our parliament, the member for Dunstan, who, quite proudly before her time in here and has taken the opportunity since being in this place to speak to me and to speak to other members of this parliament regarding her experiences as the spouse of a former serving defence member.

There are a few headline issues that I think are worthy of note. Mental health and wellbeing continue to be raised with me. It is my probably unqualified view at this stage that that will continue. The trauma around that and the acute trauma that has led to those matters will be necessarily amplified this year in the year that the royal commission will be handing down its final recommendations. I am mindful, and I know that our primary and secondary health clinicians are also mindful, that there will be an impact on the mental health of individuals this year in a more disproportionate way because of the amplification of the final findings of the royal commission.

I am very pleased to report on, with a couple of my hats that I have been wearing this year as former corrections minister and now veterans affairs minister, the number of veterans who are incarcerated. We are a state and have been a department and a government that have been acutely focused on programs that are specifically responsive to the unique needs of veterans in our correctional system.

There are a suite of factors that lead to the incarceration of veterans, but what is important and incumbent upon government is to provide responsive and culturally informed programs that can shift the dial. There are individuals involved who I will not name today, who are Australian leaders in this space, and I pay my respect and appreciation to them and the Department for Correctional Services.

The third matter is the ongoing challenges that veterans have—if I am frank and honest about this—with DVA. The DVA system has, reasonably so, been the subject of significant public scrutiny over a number of years now. The appropriateness of the legislative framework of DVA, and with compensation and ongoing support, is rightfully the subject of significant attention from the federal government. In my engagement with my federal counterpart I understand that that is a focus and he has been engaging significantly with the veteran community on reforms in that space.

But the sufficiency and at times the disconnect between service delivery, perceived outcomes and perceived best endeavours by the commonwealth and DVA do not match up with outcomes on the ground. As a former, in a previous life, lawyer and advocate for people who had been injured at work, not dissimilar to those who have been injured in the service of their country, I have firsthand experience of the trauma that can be caused by processes within the pursuit of entitlements and pursuit of compensation.

I am very mindful, having received that information and feedback from the community, about what we can do as a government to both support and provide advocacy to the commonwealth to mitigate against that additional trauma that can be caused by a process in the pursuit of ordinary and reasonable legal entitlements.

Mr PEDERICK: Do you have figures on the current unemployment rate of veterans in South Australia?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I do not have that with me, but we will take it on notice for you.

Mr PEDERICK: You will bring it back—thanks. Do you know how many veterans in South Australia are classed as homeless, and what is being done to improve veteran homelessness?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: That is an important body of work to which the Department of Human Services is dedicating resources, on my advice. I do not have the number of veterans currently experiencing homelessness. The best I can do is endeavour to seek that information and, if we can, provide a figure to the member. I think it highlights two matters regarding the quality of data, the first of which is that the data around homelessness is a bit rubbery and, secondly, it highlights the importance of the capture of data for veterans.

The former minister and the Minister for Education undertook a really important piece of work that is now fully implemented in South Australia to capture the data of the children of veterans. I use that to illustrate the point that, where we can get data and can better collaborate with agencies to capture the data for veterans, their children and their families, the better positioned we are to take responsive actions and set better public policy.

Mr PEDERICK: Has the minister been briefed by the Veterans' Advisory Council on the Northern Adelaide Veterans' and Families' Hub and, if so, can you provide an update?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I have not received a briefing from the VAC, but that is not surprising as it is a federal project and a federal matter. I can advise the member that Lives Lived Well has been awarded the contract to run the northern space. That was before my time as minister. I might just double-check, if I can, about whether there is a confirmed date on that. I am advised that there is ongoing consultation regarding that, particularly with contracts, so I do not have a time frame or secure dates to be able to inform the member.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 159, targets 2024-25, dot point 3, support local veteran programs. What is the minister doing to support the Repat Veteran Wellbeing Centre, given volunteers have been hit with an increase in rent by SA Health at the Repat site from $1 per year to around $13,000 per year?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I was very pleased, in the first couple of days after being sworn in as minister, to pay the Plympton Veterans Centre a visit. They do outstanding work, particularly as is reflected of all members of the community who dedicate their time and effort on an almost exclusively volunteer basis to the advocacy and wellbeing of their fellow veterans.

I will acknowledge, just for a very brief moment—as I have in parliament—the passing of Bill Hignett, who was an outstanding human being and a great advocate for the veteran community, and someone who was almost singularly instrumental in the success of the Plympton Veterans Centre, being an anchor tenant of the Repat.

I am aware of what has been the invoicing and matters that have been now pretty succinctly aerated between SA Health and the Plympton Veterans Centre. I received advice from members of the Plympton Veterans Centre, and have subsequently provided advocacy on their behalf regarding the back payment of lease or of invoicing, and I am pleased that that matter has been resolved.

I was also advised very recently that the engagement continues with SA Health, with the support of the Minister for Health, and it is my view that I would be most pleased to see that resolved as quickly as possible. I would be very supportive of any outcomes that continue the longstanding support that the state government has had for the success, the work and the placement of the Plympton Veterans Centre.

Mr PEDERICK: On the same budget line, why is the government making access to areas of the Repat precinct difficult for veterans and volunteers assisting veterans?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: That is a good question, and it has been one of a couple of matters that I have been made aware of more recently. I have asked for advice through the appropriate channels to SA Health. SA Health is, of course, the tenant of that site, and I think any more specific questions—I am not sure if this was asked of the Minister for Health, but I am continuing to follow up.

Mr PEDERICK: Do veterans have full access to the facilities such as the hydrotherapy pool and gym, where veterans find camaraderie to help with mental health as well as physical health at the Repat site?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised that yes, they do have access to facilities.

Mr PEDERICK: But full access? It was indicated that some of that access has been restricted in recent times.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am not in a position to be able to provide advice to the member on what is largely a subjective question about full access. I am advised that there is access, and I am advised that the engagement with the Plympton Veterans Centre and SA Health is ongoing. It is very important, obviously. We need to ensure that the Plympton Veterans Centre and the veterans they support do have access that is sufficient for their needs. I am just not in a position where I can qualify or otherwise the breakdown of hours or the breakdown of scheduling, but I am advised that, yes, they do have access. Obviously, there is work to be undertaken to ensure that access meets needs.

Mr PEDERICK: How does the government justify charging $13,000 rent at the Repat site for the 40-plus volunteers who offer wellbeing as well as compensation counselling and helping veterans negotiate bureaucracy and paperwork?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I would refer the member to the Minister for Health on that question.

Mr PEDERICK: Interesting. I will go to Budget Paper 4, Volume 1, page 160. I am going to use the total expenses line. Was the recent funding allocated to the Colonel Light Gardens RSL of $50,000 to fix their electrical switchboard issues taken from the total expenses line or was it taken out of government contingency funding? Mind you, it is funding that they need.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: The issue or matter that the member refers to is not within my portfolio or not one that we have administered or funded.

Mr PEDERICK: So it has come out of government contingencies?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: Sorry, if I can just get the member to repeat that question.

Mr PEDERICK: It has only recently been publicised about the $50,000 needed for the Colonel Light Gardens RSL. There was a cheque presentation down there to fix their electrical switchboard issues. Was that taken from the total expenses line or, more likely, was it out of government contingency funding?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: If the member can perhaps provide more information to me, but I have provided my advice to him that it is not a matter we have administered.

Mr PEDERICK: I refer to highlights 2023-24, page 159, in the same budget book, dot point 1. When was the Veteran Community Security Framework delivered and can you outline what it involved?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can advise, directly to the member's question, that the Veteran Community Security Framework was a budget initiative from 2023-24 and was fully funded in 2023-24 across forward estimates. The Veteran Community Security Framework is not a standalone program or a standalone budget initiative. It funds a series of programs and a series of initiatives that are either administered by Veterans SA or are funded by Veterans SA. If the member would wish, I would be happy to provide some additional advice now on those programs that are administered or supported as a result of that, but I am in his hands.

Mr PEDERICK: Yes, I am happy to hear about some of those programs, absolutely.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can provide some examples. Engagement in regional communities is a key focus. I can let the member know that the first Copper Coast Veterans' Forum was held in May 2024 in Wallaroo. This was planned in response to feedback that was received by Veterans SA from the community. I can advise that over 40 local veterans attended the forum, in addition to family members and other members of the community.

Further, employment-focused Community Connection events were held in April 2024 in partnership with Flinders University's Open Door Initiative and the good folk at MESHA. The information session covered research undertaken and programs available to support veterans to find employment following service. The program included a fantastic line-up of speakers from MESHA, Open Door and Phoenix Australia.

Further, there were additional measures in 2023-24 that have been fully funded and begun, including the Veterans SA Career and Business Mentoring Program, the Cowork Coplay program, the SA Veteran Employer Network and the support for the 2024 Power Community Limited ADF Veterans Program, which I saw firsthand just a couple of weeks ago, and they do an outstanding job. I say that as a proud local member, but as a long-suffering Crows supporter.

Mr Pederick: I don't think Port are doing that well either.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: No. I cannot say that; I have to be Switzerland. There was also the delivery of the Military and Emergency Services Health Australia's MindRight, StoryRight and cultural awareness programs; the regional outreach, which I discussed already, and the community connection events, which have also been fully implemented. They are, most importantly, ongoing initiatives and ongoing programs.

Mr PEDERICK: You mentioned dot point 2: how many people are participating in the 2024 Veterans SA Career and Business Mentoring Program that runs from April to November?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can advise that there are 20 pairs participating in 2024, 40 in total, and quite pleasingly, which is really a testament to the great collaborative nature of the veteran community, we were oversubscribed for mentors. The program commenced in April and will conclude in November 2024. Two programs are on offer, focusing on career and skills development, and business and entrepreneurship. The opportunity to participate in the program was again extended to current and former serving people, as well spouses and partners, which is a really important part of the framework.

In 2024, Veterans SA has integrated monthly online workshops into the program. The themes for these workshops have been chosen based on the direct feedback from participants and the community, so importantly we know that the agency is delivering on the needs of the community in this program.

Mr PEDERICK: On the same budget line, under highlights, I note that the regional support section on the Veterans SA website has not been updated lately, as it mentions, 'We are currently considering locations for our 2023 outreach programs.' Is the website regularly monitored, and how often is it updated?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I might take that one on notice and provide advice back to the member.

Mr PEDERICK: That is fine, thank you.

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: It is safe to say that in the meantime I will make sure the website is updated.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. Obviously noting that we have the Veterans SA acting director here today, when will the Veterans South Australia director role be filled?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can advise that the recruitment has been completed by Defence SA and that that is imminent. I am not in a position to inform the chamber of the successful applicant, but I will certainly be in a position in the very, very near future to do that. I can let the member know that it has been completed. It was a process that was run by Mr Opie, and that has been finished.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. Highlights continued, dot point 3: what outreach methods are used by Veterans SA and how do they differ from metropolitan outreach compared to regional outreach?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I did refer to a few examples a little earlier on in my response to the member. I will just note those, but also provide some additional information that regional outreach visits have been conducted on the Copper Coast, Yorke Peninsula, Whyalla and Port Lincoln. The visit to the Copper Coast as engagement ultimately resulted in the Copper Coast Veterans' Forum, which I referred to a moment ago. It is a good example of engagement and action—really important—and, if I can just say, a hallmark of the work of our wonderful team at Veterans SA. They are really action focused and really outcomes focused and, while a relatively small team in comparison to the rest of government, they are doing a wonderful job.

Locally, in respect of the member's question regarding metropolitan engagement, there is similar geographic based engagement. There is sector and service organisation cohort based engagement, and there was engagement on the consultation on the creation and preparation of the 2024-25 strategic plan, which I have yet to receive a final briefing on but will be in a position to release the update on in July-August this year.

Mr PEDERICK: I will go to targets 2024-25, page 159, dot point 2. I note the budget did not contain any specific funding towards a dedicated Korean War memorial in Adelaide despite the advocacy of Colonel Peter Scott. Is funding for this memorial something the state government is considering in line with its target of supporting the community to commemorate service?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I thank the member for his question. I certainly note the ongoing engagement that Colonel Scott has had with the former minister and also with me as the incoming minister. I can confirm that that is certainly a body of work that we are investigating, and we are doing that through direct engagement with Colonel Scott, with the community, but also more broadly with other parts of the community, including potentially councils and civil society with respect to a way forward on that.

I note that there is not a standalone Korean War memorial in South Australia. Whilst a contemporary conflict, it has now been many, many decades since. I think there is certainly a commitment that we make as a government to ensure that the veterans from Korea have no reason to consider that they are forgotten. Albeit at various times that war has been considered the forgotten war, the veterans are certainly not forgotten.

The member is correct in his proposition that there is no funding in this year's budget for a memorial, but the engagement and the—what is, if I am frank—elementary engagement with Colonel Scott and the broader community has begun.

Mr PEDERICK: How much engagement was there with the recent MindRight and StoryRight workshops that were held for veterans?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I am advised by the acting director that about six people attended each of those. They were a little undersubscribed; I think capacity was about 12. Veterans SA is undertaking work now for later in the year to re-engage and to further commit on this, particularly around timing. It may be obvious from the number of people who were able to attend that there may be more appropriate times in the day or schedules to run these. Six people attended, I think, totalling 12. It is a full-day program, which in itself is a significant outlay and commitment of time, but the agency remains engaged on this.

Mr PEDERICK: Thank you. I note that Veterans SA announced a $240,000 grant earlier this year to support the continuation and expansion of the Port Adelaide Australian Defence Force (ADF) Veterans Program. Can you outline what this program involves?

The Hon. J.K. SZAKACS: I can, in the time allowed. The program run by Power Community Limited was funded again in 2024-25. The program seeks to address challenges associated with mental health, transition, wellbeing, and relationships. This funding allows the program to continue to expand and build on the evidence base for the need for this type of program, and to develop a more sustainable model into the future.

One thing that certainly was clear to me—and which I really appreciate—is that I saw firsthand, and was advised, that the number of individuals, from day one to the final session I was able to attend, held really firm. It is not unreasonable to expect there to be a bleed of people out of the program–out of any program, for that matter—but the numbers that held to this were really strong.

I think that is a testament to the appropriateness of the delivery and to the engagement of Power Community, but also to the strong support that the former minister, in executing this, provided to the efficacy of the program.

The CHAIR: The time allotted having expired, I declare the examination of the portfolio of Veterans SA completed. The examination of the proposed payments for Defence SA are now complete. Once again, I thank the opposition for their contribution and thank the minister for his response, and I thank the public servants who do so much of the behind-the-scenes work. I thank all of you.

Sitting suspended from 12:32 to 13:30.