Lambie’s emotional plea to PM for suffering veterans

Senator and Australian Army veteran Jacqui Lambie has called on the government to drop the planned $50000 a head cap on allied health services spending for veterans, warning in an emotional speech that lives would be at risk.

“I am begging you, prime minister. We have suffered enough. Drop the bloody cap,” Lambie said in the Senate.

Under the government plan, spending for allied health services would be capped at $5000 a year for former service members.

The government says additional funding would be available for those with a valid clinical need, and that the spending cap would target excessive charges from some providers.

But Lambie attacked the imposition of extra red tape.

“What you need just to ask yourself is how many veterans’ lives will this cost?” she said.

“It is not worth a veteran’s life. I am begging you, scrap the cap.”

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Lambie also revealed she continued to struggle with health issues connected to her time in the service, including, most recently, a prolapsed vagina.

“My vagina was collapsing, and three months later, it was taking my bladder with it,” she said.

She said she faced a wait of months just for a private gynaecologist appointment in Tasmania and ultimately paid $7000 for a corrective procedure in Canberra.

“I put my claim into the DVA over a month ago. Crickets,” she said.

“No duty of care from the Department of Veterans Affairs, absolute zero.”

Lambie said the problem was widespread among veterans, a survey of 500 ex-servicewomen finding that two thirds reported pelvic health issues.

Additionally, Lambie said female veterans suffering from those issues were only covered for four physiotherapy sessions, despite experts recommending between five to 12 sessions as a crucial post-surgery need.

“They want us to fight for this country. You want us to have babies for this country, but you’re not interested in supporting our reproductive system,” Lambie said.

She said the DVA had statement of principle - a requirement for signing off on treatment for injuries connected to service - for penis-related problems like erectile dysfunction, but none for vaginal health.

“I would like to ask the Prime Minister, Minister Marles, and Minister Keogh what they would do if their penis was hanging by a thread?” Lambie said.

“What would they do with treatment for that injury, directly connected to their military service, was denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs?”

Lambie’s fiery speech came at a time of continued pressure for Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh.

Keogh had initially refused to meet with a group of veterans who were campaigning against the cap, but bowed to public pressure and sat down with them.

Independent MP Allegra Spender said on Today that Keogh should have met with the group “straight out”.

“I think it’s up to him now to redeem himself and actually really explain what’s going on and give people the confidence that those people in need are going to get the support that they want,” she said.

She said part of Keogh’s job was to maintain the confidence of Australia’s veterans.