Lambie sparks veterans debate as Labor strikes deals

Jacqui Lambie, a former army veteran, sparked a debate among veterans after sharing her personal struggle with her health and the difficulties she faced in receiving adequate medical care. Lambie's vagina prolapsed and her bladder was affected, requiring surgery, which she attributes to her back injuries from her time serving in the army.

Lambie, who is now a member of the Senate, took matters into her own hands after hearing about the challenges faced by female veterans like Kate, who had to wait for three years to find a gynecologist due to low prices paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Lambie criticized the government's proposed $5000 cap on veterans' allied health spending, which is aimed at tackling dodgy providers.

The cap was announced in the budget and is expected to come into effect next year. Veterans are skeptical about the department's ability to administer the cap fairly. Meanwhile, the Coalition used Question Time to exploit the rift between the veterans affairs minister and former defence personnel on the matter. The government struck deals with the Greens and the opposition on various issues, including negative gearing, gambling advertising, and the widow's tax.

However, the debate remained emotive, especially for those who had served alongside the late Labor MP Peta Murphy. Pauline Hanson made headlines by declaring that cash-strapped Australians should be able to access their superannuation early, while the treasurer, Jim Chalmers, took a swipe at Hanson and Liberal senator Andrew Bragg in a text message campaign.

The tobacco excise debate saw One Nation proposing a significant reduction in the cost of cigarettes, while the Coalition considered a more moderate 80% cut.