MEDIA RELEASE
19 August 2026
THOMPSON CALLS FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS MINISTER TO RESIGN OVER ALLIED HEALTH CAP
Federal Member for Herbert and Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel, Phillip Thompson OAM MP, has called on the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs to resign, accusing him of abandoning veterans and failing to stand up for those who have served Australia.
Mr Thompson today moved a suspension motion in the House of Representatives condemning the Labors Veterans Affairs Minister’s handling of the Albanese Labor Government’s controversial $5,000 cap on allied health services and his treatment of veterans who travelled to Canberra seeking answers.
“This Minister has lost the confidence of veterans right across Australia,” Mr Thompson said.
“Veterans, their families, advocates, and ex-service organisations travelled to Canberra to raise serious concerns about the Labor Government’s decision to impose a $5,000 cap on allied health services. Instead of listening, the Minister for Veterans initially refused to meet with them.”
“Veterans should never have had to fight for a meeting with the very Minister responsible for looking after their welfare.”
“The Albanese Labor Government talks about supporting veterans, but its actions tell a different story. This cap puts access to vital treatment at risk for veterans dealing with physical injuries, mental health challenges and service-related trauma.”
Mr Thompson said the Minister for Veterans Affairs had failed to uphold the spirit of the Australian Defence Force Veterans’ Covenant and had demonstrated a lack of respect for veterans and their families.
“The Veterans’ Covenant is not just words on a page. It is a promise that Australia will stand by those who have served. This Minister has broken that promise.”
Mr Thompson warned that veterans fear the cap will create barriers to treatment and leave many unsure about how they will continue to access the care they rely on.
“Veterans are worried about what happens when they hit this cap. They deserve certainty, support, not more bureaucracy and more obstacles.”
“The Prime Minister must show leadership. He should abolish this $5,000 cap and accept the reality that the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs is no longer capable of doing the job veterans need him to do.”
“Australia’s veterans have courage and conviction. Labor’s veterans affairs minister Matt Keogh the man who is supposed to be their champion as veterans minister has neither and is unfit to hold the role.
He should be standing up and fighting for better services for veterans, Minister Keogh has failed the veteran community. He needs to go.”
“Veterans have served our nation with honour. They deserve a Minister who will fight for them, listen to them and put their wellbeing first. If the Minister cannot do that, he should resign.”
ENDSABOR