Injured Veterans to Get Extra $1000 a Year

Members of the Australian Defence Force walk through the city in Melbourne, Australia, on July 27, 2020. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Injured veterans will soon receive an extra $1000 a year, and more staff will be hired to process their claims.

The federal budget includes an additional $97.9 million for totally and permanently incapacitated former defence personnel.

It also earmarks $233.9 million to hire 500 more frontline staff at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Extra funding will also support the veteran suicide royal commission and help more witnesses come forward.

A total of $38.3 billion will be spent on the defence of the nation, representing an eight per cent boost in defence spending this year.

The funding includes a New Australia Pacific Defence School to train neighbouring Pacific island countries’ defence and their security forces and $22.3 million for an Australian Border Force officer network across the region.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said the budget would strengthen regional partnerships and deliver a defence force capable of protecting Australia.

“The Albanese government is committed to properly managing every dollar of defence spending and ensuring Defence can deliver the capabilities ADF personnel need, when they need them,” he said.

Spending on new ships, aircraft and other capabilities is expected to total $270 billion over the decade.

Australia will spend hundreds of millions of dollars helping Ukraine respond to Russia’s invasion while also setting aside money to help refugees fleeing the crisis.

The federal government is providing $213.3 million over five years to support Ukraine in the budget as a continuation of an established program, including $185.6 million over two years in military aid.

The military aid includes Bushmasters, armoured personnel carriers, howitzers, and contributing to NATO’s Ukraine comprehensive assistance package trust fund.

Extra temporary three-year humanitarian visas will be allocated to Ukrainian refugees fleeing the war and extend access to Medicare for a 12-month period for Ukrainians and their immediate family members on bridging visas.

Ukraine’s Border Guard Service will receive help to upgrade border management, improve cyber security and enhance border operations in the field through $8.7 million in funding.

Australia has also extended its sanctions on Russian imports for another year.