On the 60th anniversary of the battle of Long Tan – now officially Vietnam Veterans Day – the political focus shifted from Labor’s belated legislative success on gambling and media reforms, NDIS changes and amending the so-called widow’s tax, to a snub by Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh to a group of decorated veterans.
Keogh had refused to meet the veterans campaigning against his $5000 cap on allied health services for veterans, declaring he was too busy; when shamed into meeting them, he complained he was missing a meeting with the Governor-General.
After a silent standing protest in parliament on Monday and a walkout from the public gallery, fury and furore grew, with the veterans declaring Keogh’s position “untenable”. Albanese stepped in, offered them a meeting with his office and even offered a personal meeting later.
By chance, Albanese met the group in the corridors of Parliament House, greeted them and gladly shook hands – a point of disagreement in the meeting with the minister. Later, as Albanese watched Keogh like a hawk, the minister told parliament: “I got it wrong in not agreeing to meet with them last week. I own that.”
The damage had been done.
Even as Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi delivered another gracious pardon for the PM’s own distraction over disrespect towards Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ceremonial gift of esteemed melons, Keogh’s veterans’ snub gave the opposition new life.
Coalition leaders and frontbenchers were able to slam Labor over veterans and take the initiative on big legislative gains, with Angus Taylor telling parliament the Coalition’s demands had forced Labor to change on essential issues.
The opposition’s agreement with Labor meant the two real parties of government were able to freeze out the Greens, One Nation, the teals and independents and leave all the hangers-on hanging on.
Albanese, who did not personally vote against the Coalition’s attempted censure of Keogh on Monday, tried his best to draw the debate back to the big issues of the 2026 parliamentary sittings.
On gambling, he declared: “This new legislation is the most significant gambling advertising reform by any Australian government, ever.”
Labor is hoping to finally dismiss the distractions of the past two weeks and get back to the big agenda but, as Albanese pointed to the “work of parliament”, the Coalition will also emerge from this couple of weeks with a revived political and legislative mission.
Read related topics:Anthony Albanese
Dennis ShanahanNational Editor