The Voice of the Alliance of Defence Service Organisations (ADSO) in the fight for a FAIR GO for Australian Defence Personnel, Veterans & Families

ADSO PLATFORM TOWARDS 2030

12 Mar 2025

Who We Are

ADSO is a non-partisan Alliance of Defence Service Organizations across all Australian military services and Branches of Defence. It was formed as a peak national advocacy body for the Defence Family (DF) to provide a united voice to governments and all Australians.

The Defence Family comprises both current (Regular and Reserve Forces) and past serving persons, their immediate dependent family and their broader kin: estimated at five million people.

What We Do

Our role is to protect the Defence Family’s well-being and their service entitlements. We advocate assertively to the Australian government, parliamentary members and senators, political parties, independents, national decision makers and the Australian community.

We work closely with our Defence Family, other ESOs and VSOs, researchers and advisors in our advocacy’s areas of interest.

We campaign publicly for our issues when and where necessary.

ADSO per se does not provide DVA services: those services are provided by ADSO’s member organisations to their members.

Our Vision

For ADSO to be an effective advocate on matters relevant to the Defence Family and

to enjoy theirs and the full confidence of the government, parliament, government agencies and the Australian community.

Our Values

  1. Respect for those we serve and to those for whom we advocate.
  2. Mateship/Caring/Civility
  3. Trustworthiness
  4. Integrity
  5. Professionalism
  6. Collaboration across a wide spectrum of interests
  7. Valuing volunteers
  8. Patriotism
  9. Innovation

Our Beliefs

  1. We believe the Australian Government acknowledges:
    • The unique nature of military service and the sacrifice demanded of all who serve to defend our nation and their families.
    • Its duty of care to military veterans and their dependent families to provide for their well-being and their service entitlements as pledged by Prime Minister Hughes in 1917.

RCDVS Final Report Volume 1:  Executive summary (An extract below)

“Serving and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) make unique contributions and sacrifices on behalf of the nation – on behalf of all of us.

As Commissioners and members of the Australian community, we want to acknowledge and honour those who have served or are currently serving in the ADF. We recognise the pride many of you have in your service and in being part of something bigger than yourself. We also recognise that many have been adversely impacted by experiences related to service that are outside their control.

We also pay our respects to the families and loved ones of serving and ex-serving ADF members who also make sacrifices, year in and year out.

Many people are failed by institutions who have a duty of care towards them…”

  1. We believe that the Australian Defence Family has the independent right to advocate through its own representative national peak body direct to governments.

The Pledge

In 1917 Prime Minister Billy Hughes’ pledged to Australia’s World War 1 military veterans and their families that “When you come back, we will look after you”. A pledge that led to the Australian Soldiers’ Repatriation Act 1917.

In more recent times successive Federal Governments have failed to keep that pledge.

We believe it has deteriorated over the decade as evidenced by the following:

  1. The Royal Commission 2024 Report into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s stark revelations of Governments, Defence and DVA’s failure to veterans’ well-being.
  1. The Brereton Report.
    • Public statements of previous PM Morrison and CDF Campbell perceived denial of the presumption of innocence.
    • Delay in implementing its recommendations: Justice delayed is justice denied.
    • Defamation cases arising from media reporting (Ben Robert-Smith and Heston Russell).
    • Defence Family’s perceived lack of adequate support from the ADF higher command to the special forces: SAS and Commandoes.
    • Media misreporting.
  1. Delaying action on the 2019 Productivity Commission’s Report’s DVA-A Better Way to Support Veterans recommendations into and in consulting with the veteran community over them. It found that the veterans’ compensation and rehabilitation system was not fit-for-purpose. However, the Report was included in the 2021 Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Terms of Reference
  2. Ceasing the regular face to face meetings previously had with DVA and Defence Personnel Ministers to discuss and advise on relevant DF policy issues.
  3. Removing the DVA Minister appointment from the current Labor Government’s Cabinet.
  4. Disbanding the Prime Ministers Advisory Council on Veteran matters/ Mental Health.
  5. Comparative wage increases (wharfies’ to ADF) and comparative compensation process settlements and speed (Higgins to veterans)
  6. Ignoring, by not responding to ADSO’s Policies (2022 -2025) submission to both major political parties prior to the May 2022 Federal Election.

These matters have undermined our Defence Family’s trust and confidence in the Government delivering its pledge.

We are frustrated by being ignored. The only way to be heard is by protest through media and social media

ADSO’S PLATFORM

Our Ten Priorities

The ten subject Headings below each identifies their current sub-issues.

Note: RCDVS refers to Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s Report Chapters and recommendations.

  1. Establish a Veteran’s Advocacy National Peak Body independent of Government

Reference:

RCDVS Chapter 24 – Empowering veterans to Thrive

Recommendation 89. Establish a national peak body for ex-service organisations.

Note: This recommendation does not accord with the recommendation from the RSL National ESO Forums to the RCDVS for an independent of Government body.

Comment: ADSO will initiate, with RSL’s Greg Mellick and the ESO National Forum Team (sponsored by RSL National), a continuance of the National Forum’s recommendation by establishing its own independent Planning and Development Team (PDT) to progress our own advocacy to government National Peak Body.

  1. Improved Governance and Operational Performance of Veterans Affairs in Federal, State and local governments
  1. ADSO to be included as a member of any Ministerial Council dealing with veteran matters

RCDVS Chapter 24 – Empowering veterans to Thrive

Recommendation 87: Establish a new agency to focus on veteran wellbeing The Australian Government should establish a new executive agency focused on veteran wellbeing.

Government response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s Final Report is the establishment of The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission

  1. The DVA Minister/Defence Personnel Minster to be returned as a member of Cabinet.
  2. Better consultation with the DVA Minister on veterans matters.
  3. Better consultation with the Minister for Defence Personnel (DP) on veterans’ recognitions of service claims.
  4. Increased Financial Grants-in-Aid to $30K (and be indexed annually to CPI)
  5. Financial support to ESO’s and VSOs for their delivery of Federal and State government services through Pensions & Welfare Officers.
  6. Funding support to ADSO of $300K p.a. grant for research into veteran’s advocacy issues and their presentation to government.
  7. Funding operational support for Veterans and Families Hubs.

Note: RCDVS Recommendation 86: Ongoing funding for Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs.

  1. Funding commemorative grants.
  2. Strengthen the Australian Defence Veterans’ Covenant.
  3. Monitor DVA’s National Consultative Framework.
  4. Transition from military to civilian life.

RCDVS Chapter 23:

Recommendation 79: Ensure that respect for and recognition of service are embedded throughout Defence and DVA.

Recommendation 80: DVA to take responsibility for supporting members to transition out of the ADF. The new executive agency to be established in DVA (Recommendation 87) should take responsibility for supporting members to transition.

Recommendation 81: DVA to fund a program to support members’ wellbeing during transition to civilian life.

Recommendation 83: Increase opportunities for members to gain civilian qualifications from Defence training and education.

Recommendation 84: Issue separating members with a reference that states their skills, experience and capabilities.

Recommendation 85: Develop employment pathways for  ex-serving members in public sector agencies.

  1. Other Issues?
  1. Better Veterans’ Health and Mental Health

RCDVS Chapter 18: Health care for ex-serving member

  1. Extending the Gold Card to reflect operations short of global declared war involving modern era campaigns and younger veterans.
  2. Australian Operational Service Medal as qualifying service for Repatriation entitlements.
  3. White Card access for Reserves.
  4. Veterans and the federal and state health systems, hospitals, mental health, GP’s, hearing, medical specialist rates, brain trauma injury any other health related concerns.

RCDVS Recommendation 72: Expand and strengthen healthcare services for veterans. Note: Veterans Military Council – The Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission

  1. Confidentiality of medical records.
  2. Other issues?
  1. Accessible and appropriate Veteran’s Entitlements

RCDVS Chapter 18: Health care for ex-serving member

RCDVS Chapter 26: Supporting DVA claimants and clients

  1. Harmonisation of the three Repatriation Acts into one Act.
     Note: Legislation has been passed – the implementation date is 1 July 2026.
  2. DVA claims management, backlog.
    • Note: Well covered in the RCDVS Ch 12
  3. Repatriation and Compensation – promote an Institute of Professional Advocates ADTP (Pensions & Welfare advocates).
    • Note: In progress and well covered in the RCDVS Ch 12
  4. Issue to do with veterans’ entitlements and how they are administered. Note: Covered in the references
  5. A review of rates paid per injury compared with State OH&S schemes and NDIS.

RCVDS Recommendation 71: Increase the Department of Veterans’ Affairs fee schedule so it is aligned with that of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. DVA should reduce the time taken to pay healthcare providers, and track and publicly report on the time taken to provide

  1. Other issues?
  1. Fair and adequate Veterans’ Superannuation
    1. DFRDB: Indexation, Commutation and Reversionary benefits.
    2. MSBS.
    3. ADF Super.
    4. Veterans Board representation in the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (CSC).
    5. Inequitable taxation treatment of Veteran Superannuation Invalidity Benefits
    6. Other issues?

  1. Improved Veterans Welfare and Wellbeing

RCDVS Chapter 24 – Empowering veterans to Thrive

Recommendation 86: Ongoing funding for Veterans’

Recommendation 87: Establish a new agency to focus on veteran wellbeing. The Australian Government should establish a new executive agency focused on veteran wellbeing.

Action Completed – Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission. Mr Manthorpe will head the interim organisation and work across government to deliver the establishment of a legislated oversight body by September 2025.

  1. Monitor RCDVS recommendations.
  2. Aged care services.    Note: Aged Care Act recently reviewed
  3. Well-being supports.
  4. Homelessness.
  5. Incarceration.
  6. Chaplaincy.
  7. Monitor DVA’s claims processing KPI/KRA
  8. Other issues?
  1. Support for Veterans Families

RCDVS Chapter 24 – Empowering veterans to Thrive

RCDVS Chapter 27: Importance of families

  1. War widows.
  2. Families of Veterans.
  3. Legacy.
  4. Children of deceased and injured veterans.
  5. Domestic violence.
  6. Other issues?

Note: DVA’s Veteran, Family and Stakeholder Engagement Strategy

  1. Better Legislative Protections for Veterans

RCDVS Chapter 12: Role and functions of the Inspector-General of the ADF

Recommendations 42 -54

  1. Abuses of the military justice system (presumption of innocence),
  2. IGADF/ OSI and war crime allegations proceedings to be concluded.
  3. Australia out of ICC and Rome Agreement.
  4. Laws of Armed Conflict.
  5. Security and Australian Miliary Secrets Act.
  6. Enforcement of Administrative Law principles, PM’s Ministerial Standards, APS Codes of Conduct and Values. See the Whitton Report
  7. Monitor Federal or State laws adversely impacting veterans.
  8. Other issues?
  1. Improved Recognition of Service Claims post WW2
  1. Defence Honours and Awards Reform.

Note: Senate Inquiry – Defence Honours and Awards. Hearings 7 Feb and 10 Mar 2025. Report now due 17 Apr 2025. See the Hearings here.

  1. Statutory consideration veterans’ claims for recognition of their service:
    • RCB Malaysia;
    • Recognition for CT/ST operational service; and
    • Peace keeping/making operations
    • Others?
  2. Definition of ‘Qualifying Service’.
  3. Medallic recognition:
    • Death and injury on operations, and
    • For KIA Family
  4. AWM honour roll including the Virtual War Memorial.
  5. Other Issues?
  1. National Security and the Defence of Australia

  1. Threats to our strategic environment, our defence size and capability and the Defence of Australia’s Strategic Plan.
  2. Delays in the implementation of the Strategic Defence Reviews recommendations and Defence procurement inaction that threatens Australia’s national security.
  3. Defence’s retention and recruitment policy failures and their potential remedies
  4. Other issues?

Current Issues

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