MEDIA RELEASE
10 July 2026
LABOR’S VETERAN HEALTH CAP TO HIT THOUSANDS OF PETRIE VETERANS
The Coalition is warning that thousands of veterans living in Brisbane’s northern suburbs could be affected by the Albanese Labor Government’s proposed $5,000 annual cap on access to allied health services.
Department of Veterans’ Affairs data shows there are approximately 3,739 DVA-supported veterans living in the federal electorate of Petrie, with almost 4,800 DVA clients and dependants residing in the electorate.
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor said veterans had earned the right to receive the healthcare support they need and should not be forced to worry about arbitrary limits on their treatment.
“The men and women who served our country should never have to fight their own government for access to healthcare.
“Veterans who rely on physiotherapy, exercise physiology, psychology, occupational therapy and other allied health services are rightly concerned about what this cap could mean for their ongoing treatment.
“Australians expect their government to stand behind those who have worn the uniform, not look for ways to reduce support.”
Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel and Defence Industry Phillip Thompson OAM MP, a veteran himself, said the proposed cap was creating significant anxiety in the veteran community.
“Every day I hear from veterans who depend on allied health services to manage physical injuries, chronic pain, mental health conditions and the lifelong impacts of service.
“Many of these injuries do not disappear after a veteran reaches an arbitrary spending threshold. Their treatment doesn’t stop at $5,000 and neither should their support.
“In Petrie alone there are around 3,700 veterans who deserve certainty that the care they rely on today will still be available tomorrow.”
Mr Thompson said veterans in Petrie and across Australia had sacrificed for their country and deserved better.
“Labor needs to explain how veterans are expected to cope if essential treatments become less accessible or unaffordable.
“Veterans have already paid the price through their service. They should not be paying the price again through reduced access to healthcare.
“Our veterans signed a blank cheque to defend Australia. The least Australia can do is honour its promise to look after them when they come home.”
Mr Taylor said the Coalition would continue to stand up for veterans and demand answers from the Government about the impact the proposed changes would have on former servicemen and women across the country.
“This isn’t just about numbers in a budget paper. It’s about real people, real injuries and real families.
“Australians expect veterans to be treated with dignity and respect, and that’s exactly what the Coalition will continue fighting for.”
ENDS