Media releases
Long-awaited Women Veterans' Strategy a Welcome First Step
RSL Australia, Women Veterans Australia (WVA), the Defence Force Welfare Association (DFWA) and Legacy Australia have welcomed Australia's first Women Veterans' Strategy as a good first step and called for the resources and transparency needed to deliver it.
Veterans Aren't Sales Leads: RSL Takes Fight Against Predatory Providers to the Senate
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has told a Senate inquiry that veterans are carrying the burden for predatory providers, calling for national laws with real enforcement and better use of the consultation forums already in place.
Defenceless: Four Corners confirms what RSL has told a Senate inquiry, and the public, for years
RSL Australia welcomed and supported Monday night’s ABC Four Corners investigation into unethical businesses exploiting veterans and overcharging taxpayers.
Around The Table, Not Through A Megaphone: Veteran Sector Secures Removal Of Allied Health Threshold
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL), together with nine national veteran service organisations, has welcomed the Minister for Veterans' Affairs' announcement that the proposed $5,000 annual threshold for allied health services will not proceed.
Clinicians, Not Compliance Officers: Veteran Sector Secures Key Improvements to Allied Health Reform
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL), together with nine national veteran service organisations thank the Government for addressing some of the key concerns raised in the sector's open letter to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs last month and is urging veterans and their families to take part in consultations now underway.
Clarity From Government needed On Allied Health Cap For Veterans
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) is actively engaging with the Government and the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) for more information on the $5,000 annual cap on allied health services announced in the 2026–27 Budget, to make sure that no veteran is left behind.
RSL Warns Strategic Urgency Must Translate Into Delivery, As Government Bolsters Investment In Defence Capability
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has acknowledged the Federal Government’s increased investment in Defence capability and national resilience in the 2026-27 Budget but says Australia can no longer afford delays in translating strategic intent into tangible capability outcomes.
RSL Welcomes Long Overdue Investment In Veteran Healthcare But Raises Concerns Over Major Savings Measures
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has welcomed the Federal Government’s long-overdue investment in veteran healthcare in the 2026-27 Budget, while warning that significant savings measures announced alongside the package risk undermining the overall benefit to veterans and their families.
RSL AUSTRALIA CALLS ON FEDERAL BUDGET TO FIX VETERAN HEALTHCARE INEQUALITY
The RSL is calling on the Federal Government to urgently address the growing disparity in veterans’ specialist healthcare payments in the 2026–27 Federal Budget, warning that outdated Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) fee settings are causing wait times of up to nine months for specialist appointments and deterring practitioners from treating veterans.
RSL Commends Key Appointment to Progress Peak Veteran Service Organisation Body
The RSL has commended the appointment of international independent expert Nick Booth MVO to progress the establishment of a peak Australian veteran service organisation (VSO) body. We will engage closely with Mr Booth and our partner ESOs with the aim of delivering a strong, united body that can achieve significant outcomes for veterans and their families.
RSL Calls for Courageous Leadership and Royal Commission to Review of Bondi Tragedy
The RSL Australia has called for courageous leadership and supports the establishment of a Royal Commission to independently review the failures that resulted in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley AM said Australia needed to know how the failures occurred and what needed to change to ensure such events never happened again.
RSL Welcomes Progress on Implementing Royal Commission Recommendations
On 2 December, in an update, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Hon Matt Keogh MP announced that recommendations of the Royal Commission which relate to sexual violence and safety are being implemented by Defence as a priority
RSL Supports Veteran Processing Streamlining
The RSL has welcomed the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA) streamlining its claims processing system aimed in part at curbing unscrupulous practices by some private providers. The RSL has been consulted and the changes being implement by DVA to modernise its processes should assist in combatting these practices.
RSL Welcomes Government Update on Royal Commission Implementation Progress
RSL Australia National President Greg Melick said today’s statement to parliament by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh MP, indicated the work already undertaken but also showed that much remained to be done to implement all 122 recommendations of the Royal Commission to enhance the wellbeing of all veterans, Defence personnel and their families.
One Year On and Progress on Implementation of Royal Commission Recommendations
This September marks one year since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report and the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has received assurances that the Government is making strong progress on the implementation of the recommendations.
The RSL is continuing to advocate for the implementation of all recommendations and is working closely with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) on key issue arising from the Royal Commission’s report.
Changing Landscape of Claims Advocacy
Over the past few months, RSL has become aware of increasingly concerning behaviours in the claims advocacy sector – impacting veterans, advocates and DVA delegates. We are hearing reports of "kickbacks" being offered to individual advocates for referrals, directing clients away from not-for-profit service providers in favour of commercial entities that are driven by profit.
RSL Supporting Research on Brain Injuries in ADF
The RSL has welcomed and is supporting research into brain injuries to service personnel, being undertaken by the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). As well, the RSL has also repeated its call for the Government to establish a brain injury program as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Don’t Throw the DVA Baby Out With the Bathwater
The RSL says the new Australian Government elected this Saturday, May 3 must continue the good work of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) in clearing veteran compensation and entitlement claims backlog.
Parties Respond to RSL Australia Election Asks
The Labor, the Liberal / National Coalition and the Greens parties have responded to a series of key questions posed by the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) to support the veterans and Defence community.
RSL Reiterates Call for Full Implementation of Royal Commission Recommendations
The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has reiterated its call for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and says the current election provides the opportunity for all parties to commit to this.
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