Qld veteran changes govt policy

Ten years ago, navy veteran Dave George was homeless and crying in front of the Shrine of Remembrance at Sydney's Hyde Park.

On Thursday, the 55-year-old was in Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's parliamentary office having a cup of tea with her, having just had a hand in changing government policy.

Housing Minister Mick de Brenni on Thursday announced income eligibility for bond loan and rental grant programs would be expanded to include veteran disability payments.

Mr de Brenni said the government had no choice but to act after meeting Mr George and hearing his plight.

"As a result, a bloke named Dave just changed government policy and has helped improve veterans' lives," Mr de Brenni said.

Mr George, who watched Mr de Brenni's speech proudly from the public gallery, spent 18 months on the streets after he was medically discharged from the navy due to severe asthma and moved to Sydney.

He also developed post traumatic stress disorder and became bipolar from the medication, he said.

"One of the things about mental illness is the feeling of worthlessness, the feeling that you're not worth anything, the feeling that you don't contribute to anything," he said.

"But as a result of today I can actually say I feel worthwhile."

Mr George hoped his actions would help others who found themselves at risk of homelessness, recalling how a Vietnam veteran first helped him when he ended up on the streets.

"There was a seat there near the Shrine of Remembrance in Hyde Park and I was crying, I didn't know what to do," he said.

"Then there was another guy there ... he was a veteran from Vietnam and he was telling me what his story was like.

"He was the one who basically looked after me because I had no street smarts."

Mr de Brenni said the changes would provide assistance for people receiving the Veterans' Affairs Total and Permanent Impairment Disability Pension and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act Special Payment.