Barnaby Joyce criticizes Albana and Brittany Higgins’ government Compensation payment of $2.4 million.asking whether military veterans have ever received the same amount for workplace injuries.
Ms Higgins was forced to reveal the value of her claim against the Commonwealth in the Federal Court. last weekwhich was settled last December after just one day of mediation.
The figure she told the court—$2.3 million—was about $145,000 less than the actual cost.
Last week Joyce pointed out the stark contrast between how Ms Higgins’ claim was handled and how the diggers’ mental health and personal injury claims are handled.
In a question asked in Parliament, Mr Joyce asked: “How many veterans or dependents in each of the last ten years have received compensation since the present Government took office?”
“In each month, how many veterans or dependents received compensation or other forms of payment totaling at least $2.3 million?
“What was the time period from filing a claim to approval of payment in each case? Without asking for identifiable personal information, what injuries, conditions or circumstances are each payment associated with?’
Ms Higgins’ payment was intended to cover general damages, past economic losses and assistance with future household responsibilities, as well as future economic losses, based on claims she would not be able to work in politics for 40 years.
