Mr MARLES (Corio—Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence) (14:13): I thank the member for her question and acknowledge her service. On 9 February 2021, former prime minister Morrison attended RAAF Base Williamtown for a defence announcement. For those opposite, the substance of that announcement was less important than the theatre. We had Top Gun music. We had pageantry. We had hoopla. A year earlier, on 4 January, at the height of the Black Summer bushfires, those opposite produced an ad featuring the Australian Defence Force to raise money for the Liberal Party. These two incidents characterise the essence of the Liberals. As they see it, defence is all about politics; defence is all about them. But, while all of this was happening, our veterans, the men and women who have worn our nation's uniform, were suffering. Mr Chester interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for Gippsland will cease interjecting. Mr MARLES: While the Liberals were using defence for a political fundraiser— Mr Sukkar interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The Deputy Prime Minister will pause. Before I deal with the member for Canning, I've got one issue to deal with, and then you'll get the call. The member for Deakin was on a warning on the first question. He's continued to interject through every answer. It's the same old story. He'll leave the chamber under 94(a). The member for Deakin then left the chamber. The SPEAKER: Everyone gets a fair go, but if you get a warning, chances are that if you keep interjecting, you won't be staying. Now, the member for Canning, I will deal with his point of order before we return to the question. Mr Hastie: Mr Speaker, the question was about the government's support for veterans. There was no 'alternative approaches' qualifier. This was an easy chip shot onto the green, and— Honourable members interjecting— The SPEAKER: Resume your seat. The member for Canning has raised his point of order. He has been heard in silence. I will now hear from the Leader of the House on a point of order. Mr Burke: Mr Speaker, the question referred to 'years of neglect', and 'years of neglect' is exactly what the defence minister is going through. The SPEAKER: The minister was asked about a previous decision, so I'm going to listen to his answer to make sure he's being relevant. He has the call. Mr MARLES: While the Liberals were using defence as a political fundraiser, the backlog in veterans' claims—that is, claims which no-one had even looked at—was about 20,000. A year later, as the Top Gun music was playing, that number had risen to more than 30,000, and by the time of those opposite left government that number stood at more than 40,000. This has been described as a stain on the former government— Mr Joyce interjecting— The SPEAKER: The member for New England will cease interjecting. Mr MARLES: but the last Minister for Defence in that government was the Leader of the Opposition and the shadow minister was a minister in the broader portfolio. It is a stain on them as well. Since coming to government, from our very first budget we have increased the number of public servants in the Department of Veterans' Affairs by 1,000 so they can deal with this backlog and get entitlements flowing to our veterans, to the men and women who have served our nation— Mr Hamilton interjecting— The SPEAKER: Order! The member for Groom will cease interjecting. Mr MARLES: and, as of today, that backlog is entirely clear. Lest there be any confusion that this is a story about history, let's be completely clear: this is a story about right now. Thirteen days ago, when the Leader of the Opposition delivered his budget reply, the closest he came to a policy announcement was a commitment to cut public servants—a commitment which was backed in by the shadow minister the very next day—the same public servants who are seeing entitlements flow to our veterans. For those opposites, nothing has changed. They just see defence as a political opportunity. This government understands that at the heart of defence are the men and women who have served and who continue to serve us all by wearing our nation's uniform to keep Australians safe. The SPEAKER: Order! Before I call the member for Kennedy, there are some acknowledgements to be made of the gallery.