War Graves in Gaza Suffer Further Damage, Australian Government Expresses Concern
Canberra, ACT – Further damage has been reported at a cemetery in Gaza containing the graves of Australian servicemen, according to revelations at a recent Senate estimates hearing. Preliminary assessments by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, based on photographic evidence, indicate “additional damage on the south border of the cemetery, which was allegedly caused between the 5th and 16th of April.”
The Deputy Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Alison McLaren, confirmed these findings. She stated that the Australian government has “made very clear its position in relation to the damage to war graves to the Israeli government.”
However, Senator David Shoebridge has voiced strong criticism, accusing Israel of demonstrating “complete contempt” for the graves of Australian soldiers. During the hearing, Senator Shoebridge questioned officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding further damage to Commonwealth war graves in Gaza, which he attributed to “bulldozers.”
“Are you making inquiries to Israel about why they bulldozed the Commonwealth war graves?” he asked.
Senator Shoebridge pressed further, inquiring whether the government would “directly challenge Israel for having bulldozed Commonwealth war graves in Gaza and a cemetery that has loads of Australian veterans buried in it?” Minister Jenny McAllister acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, “The damage to the Gaza war cemetery and to the Australian war graves is deeply distressing and deeply concerning.”
Department officials indicated that direct confirmation of the damage was challenging due to safety concerns preventing entry into the affected area.
These reports follow earlier testimony in March, where a parliamentary inquiry was informed that over half of the graves of Australian soldiers interred in a Gaza War Cemetery had sustained damage amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. This cemetery, along with another in the vicinity, serves as the final resting place for more than 3,000 Commonwealth servicemen who perished in World War I and II.
A report from September of the previous year revealed that out of 263 Australian headstones at the Gaza War Cemetery, a significant 146 had been damaged. Wade Stothart AO, Director of Australian War Graves, informed the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee in March that conducting a comprehensive survey of the graves and remains was difficult. He noted that while direct reports of exposed or damaged human remains had not been received, the available imagery suggested it was “quite possible” that the graves of Australian servicemen had been affected by the damage.
The two sites house the remains of servicemen from various nations, including Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Canada, India, Greece, and Germany, among others.
Veterans’ Reforms Spark Fierce Opposition Over Allied Health Cap
In a separate but equally contentious issue, Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie has vociferously criticised proposed changes to veterans’ healthcare, specifically a new $5,000 annual cap on allied health services for veterans, announced in the 2026–27 budget. Senator Lambie directly challenged the government, questioning how many widows and Vietnam veterans they anticipated would “drop dead” as a consequence of these cuts.
Disability Minister Jenny McAllister and departmental officials faced intense questioning regarding the changes to veteran entitlements. The Albanese government has defended the measure, alongside an increase in fees for providers, asserting it aims to offer “more assurance for treatment effectiveness.”
However, Senator Lambie delivered a passionate and personal critique of the reforms, demanding clarity on how the government intended to save $94 billion.
“Let’s be honest here, just say this is how many war widows we expect to drop dead, this is how many Vietnam veterans, because we’re losing them at a rate,” she asserted. “I mean, be bloody honest with the veterans here. How did you work the money out? How can you save that much when we’re not getting what we need?”
Senator Lambie, a veteran herself, revealed that she had already exhausted the $5,000 allowance within approximately 10 weeks. “I’m wearing it,” she stated. “When we are down and out and we are trying, we’re using multiple services, and I’m not even using all of mine because of my own experience and because I’ve got mates that’s giving it to me for free on the sidelines.”
She detailed her personal experience, noting that physiotherapy alone was costing her $450 per week and that she was “trying out peptides because I’ve got nothing left.”
“So, when it comes to complex pain management stories, do you want me to go and beg and borrow for more hours to you?” she questioned. “You want me to wait another week or two to get a tick off because it takes me that long when I’ve got to go to the hospital. This is what I’ve experienced over the last 10 months. I can’t even get into hospital the next day even if there is a position because DVA take too bloody long. That is putting my health, and many other veterans … it is taking too long and its putting it at risk.”
Speaking over officials, Senator Lambie expressed the government’s actions were “scaring the hell out of us,” arguing that as veterans strive to recover, “then you are mucking around with our lives.”
In response, Minister McAllister stated that some of the veterans’ frustrations were “really directly addressed through this measure.” She explained, “We don’t want people needing to return to their GP through the treatment cycle on such a regular basis, and the initiative actually seeks to remove that problem for veterans.” She assured that veterans with complex and higher needs would continue to receive care, even after reaching the $5,000 threshold, noting that 90 per cent of veterans do not exceed this limit.
The inquiry was informed that the government was consulting with veterans requiring more than $5,000 in support, with plans to streamline access to necessary services. However, Senator Lambie remained unconvinced, pressing officials for a commitment to a timely response. “Are you going to promise me in 24 hours that you will get back to me and every other veteran out there … because that is where you are failing miserably,” she demanded.
