A breakdown of a new funding includes $64.1 million to retain 480 DVA staff for frontline service in 2023–24, $254.1 million over four years to modernise and sustain IT systems and $2 million to continue mental health awareness and suicide intervention training for volunteers supporting veterans.

The federal government has also pledged to expand eligibility for the Acute Support Package, introduced in the October 2022 budget, to include grandcarers or grandparents who are full-time carers of children of veterans.

The new funding supports the federal government’s response to the interim recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, as well as the acknowledgement of the different challenges experienced by veteran families.

Defence spending as a proportion of GDP will lift 0.2 per cent higher by 2032–33, according to the 2023 federal budget.

In addition, over the next four years, the federal government will invest more than $19 billion to implement the immediate priorities identified by the Defence Strategic Review.

To learn more about how this year’s federal budget will impact Australia’s national security posture, hear directly from the nation’s key decision makers on the Defence Connect Budget Lunch livestream here.

Robert Dougherty

Robert is a senior journalist who has previously worked for Seven West Media in Western Australia, as well as Fairfax Media and Australian Community Media in New South Wales. He has produced national headlines, photography and videography of emergency services, business, community, defence and government news across Australia. Robert graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Public Relations and Journalism at Curtin University, attended student exchange program with Fudan University and holds Tier 1 General Advice certification for Kaplan Professional. Reach out via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or via LinkedIn.