New Queensland Veterans Strategy Announced In 2025-26 State Budget

Queensland Treasurer David Janetzki handed down the LNP’s first Queensland State Budget in 11 years on Tuesday 24 June. While the 2025-26 Queensland State Budget primarily focuses on health, crime prevention, housing affordability and easing cost-of-living pressures for Queenslanders, it also includes a new Queensland Veterans’ Strategy and Premier’s Veterans’ Fund.

RSL Queensland State President Major General Stephen Day DSC AM said the inclusion of a new Queensland Veterans’ Strategy was important to maximise the government’s commitment to veterans in Queensland and acknowledge the significant economic and social contributions veterans and their families have on our communities.

“It’s promising to see that, through this new strategy, the state government is committed to supporting and identifying the needs of veterans to address recommendations from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide,” MAJGEN Day said.

“With Queensland home to the highest proportion of veterans in the country, we are pleased to see that the government is committed to supporting and honouring the veteran community through initiatives that enable their wellbeing and commemorate their service.

“Veterans choose to serve their country and continue to give back to Queensland and their local community in many ways every day. This funding is a step in the right direction to honour that service.

“RSL Queensland is committed to advocating for and representing the interests of veterans and their families with all levels of Government to ensure that the support needed continues to be prioritised now and into the future.”

Key measures for veterans and their families within the Queensland State Budget include:

• $9 million to support veterans and their families with legal, employment, homelessness, and education initiatives, and to develop a Queensland Veterans’ Strategy.
• $8 million for commemorative initiatives, events and memorials including the Anzac Day March in Brisbane, annual Anzac Day Dawn Service and Student Service, and Nurses Memorial Candlelight Vigil.
• A new Premier’s Veterans’ Fund, funded with $2 million over four years, will support initiatives to benefit veterans and their families.
• Additional $7.4 million funding boost to the Queensland Veterans' Council for Brisbane’s Anzac Square and its Memorial Galleries, bringing total funding to $12.6 million over five years.

Advocating for Queensland veterans

In the lead up to the Queensland State Budget, RSL Queensland called for five specific budget measures to support veterans and their families.

“It’s heartening to see several measures we called on the government to include part of this year’s state budget. The commitment of these measures provides a clear signal that the government recognises the vital role veterans play in the state’s economy and are taking steps to support their health and wellbeing,” MAJGEN Day said.

State Budget measures RSL Queensland advocated for:

RSL Queensland will continue to work closely with the State Government to advocate for Queensland veterans and their families, and help inform the strategy Queensland Veterans’ Strategy.