Attacks on DVA staff V harm caused by DVA staff to veterans
Dear Department of Veterans' Affairs,
Attn Matt Keogh's Chief of Staff
Please forward this to the most appropriate person and ask that the request be expedited as impugning the reputation of the men and women who served and risked their lives to protect Australia and Australians is highly insulting and I do not feel that this person is suitable for the position he holds.
Australian ADF members and veterans have been trained to use their skills to protect others from attack and to defend those who cannot defend themselves, I would question why Mr Kefford feels at risk for himself and his staff "
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Under Australian freedom of information legislation and with regard to the comments made by
Deputy SecretaryMr. Andrew Kefford PSM Mr. Kefford PSM the 2 I/C of DVA describes his veteran client base to an APS forum:“The Department's client base is disproportionately comprised of people who have received significant military training compared to the client base of other agencies which have extensive client contact, such as Services Australia or the Australian Taxation Office. There is an overall higher risk that a disgruntled client of the Department will be a person who also has the skills, training and capacity to identify staff, determine their location and carry out threats or acts of violence or engage in other behaviour that is dangerous or frightening to staff.”I would like to formally request the number of physical attacks made by disabled Australian Ex Service Veterans on Department Of Veterans Affairs Staff in the last 25 years.
I do not require any identification of victims of attacks, simply the number of physical attacks made on DVA staff that were reported to the relevant worksafe Safe Work Australia or to state and or federal police for investigation.
If there is any question about this please accept my DVA recognised disabilities and contact me in an appropriate manner (By Phone) so as not to cause any further harm to myself.
I would also like to request the number of Ex Service veterans who have suffered serious self harm or taken their own lives after dealing with DVA staff over the same period of time.
I would like to be able to compare the numbers of DVA staff harmed by Veterans
to the number of veterans harmed by DVA staff
Yours
Yours faithfully,
Doug Steley
0408754250
If anyone else wants information about this please contact me on this number
I'm a disabled ex serviceman who has PTSD Major Depression and Anxiety disorder from my service and I am badly dyslexic and have problems writing on some issues
Dear Mr Steley,
The Department of Veterans' Affairs (the department) has received your
request for access to information under the Freedom of Information Act
1982 (FOI Act). I note you have requested access to the following:
''Under Australian freedom of information legislation and with regard to
the comments made by
Deputy SecretaryMr. Andrew Kefford PSM Mr. Kefford PSM the 2 I/C of DVA
describes his veteran client base to an APS forum:"The Department's client
base is disproportionately comprised of people who have received
significant military training compared to the client base of other
agencies which have extensive client contact, such as Services Australia
or the Australian Taxation Office. There is an overall higher risk
that a disgruntled client of the Department will be a person who also has
the skills, training and capacity to identify staff, determine their
location and carry out threats or acts of violence or engage in other
behaviour that is dangerous or frightening to staff."I would like to
formally request the number of physical attacks made by disabled
Australian Ex Service Veterans on Department Of Veterans Affairs Staff in
the last 25 years.
I do not require any identification of victims of attacks, simply the
number of physical attacks made on DVA staff that were reported to the
relevant worksafe Safe Work Australia or to state and or federal police
for investigation.
I would also like to request the number of Ex Service veterans who have
suffered serious self harm or taken their own lives after dealing with DVA
staff over the same period of time.
I would like to be able to compare the numbers of DVA staff harmed by
Veterans to the number of veterans harmed by DVA staff.''
Your request was received by the department on 6 March 2025 and the
ordinary 30 day statutory period for processing your request commenced
from the day after that date.
If we are in a position to make a decision on your request earlier than
this date, we will endeavour to do so.
The statutory period may also be extended if we need to consult third
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Further assistance
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Kind Regards
Arthur Information Access Registrations Officer
Position Number – 62341836
Information Access Unit
Client and Information Access Branch
Ministerial, Engagement & Communications Division
Department of Veterans’ Affairs
1800 VETERAN (1800 838 372)
[3][DVA request email]
[4]www.dva.gov.au
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References
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