Senate votes to reject Labor's $5000 veterans health cap
The Senate voted to scrap Labor's annual $5000 allied health spending limit for veterans.
Michael McCormack is the Riverina MP and a former deputy prime minister. McCormack campaigned to stop Labor's plan to cap allied health spending for veterans at $5000 a year starting July 2027.
This week, the Senate voted to reject the policy. McCormack's viral speech in parliament helped push the vote.
The motion passed with support from the Coalition, Greens and One Nation. This puts pressure on Labor to abandon the plan.
The $5000 threshold covers services including physio, psychology, occupational therapy and speech therapy. Labor says the cap will reduce unnecessary treatment and improve access.
It will do this by increasing provider payments by $169.7 million over five years. Veterans groups argue it creates a bureaucratic barrier.
McCormack said veterans told him clearly. They served without a cap.
So their healthcare should not have one. The fight continues in the House of Representatives.
Labor still holds the numbers there.
Why it mattersVeterans could face delays accessing allied health services starting July 2027. This happens unless the government backs down.
AustraliaAustralian veterans could lose immediate access to physiotherapy and other allied health services if Labor maintains the $5000 annual spending cap.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 17 h ago
