DVA responds to Four Corners 'Defenceless' investigation, citing changes to its Medicinal Cannabis Framework

The Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) published a statement on 6 October 2026 responding to the ABC Four Corners episode "Defenceless", which aired on 5 October and examined commercial veteran advocacy businesses and service providers. DVA said the alleged incidents of fraud and misconduct shown in the program reflected concerns it already held about a number of providers and commercial advocacy businesses.

According to the statement, the behaviours identified by or reported to DVA include overcharging or inappropriate billing, referral arrangements, misleading advice and undeclared conflicts of interest. DVA said it has increased its scrutiny of providers through targeted manual reviews of higher-risk invoices and payment claims, provider audits and investigations, and stronger financial controls.

DVA said this work has included updating its Medicinal Cannabis Framework, introducing tighter prescribing controls, requiring initial GP consultations and strengthening clinical safeguards.

The statement said the Government has invested $203.1 million in provider integrity and advocacy arrangements. That includes $151 million for DVA's prevention, detection and enforcement capability, and $44.7 million over three years for free advocacy services delivered by ex-service organisations through the BEST Program. DVA said the work was about protecting veterans and the system, "not restricting access to care".

The ABC reported on 5 October that DVA spending on medicinal cannabis had more than tripled to $125 million over three years.

Source: Department of Veterans' Affairs — Response to ABC Four Corners investigation into veteran support: "Defenceless" (5 October 2026) (published 6 October 2026)
Additional source: ABC News — Doctors this veteran never spoke to prescribed him 'unheard of' amounts of cannabis (published 5 October 2026)