Prince Harry has suffered another huge blow after the Australian government cut their spending on Invictus Australia.
The Anthony Albanese administration had previously earmarked AUD$9m over three years for Invictus Australia in the 2022-2023 budget, set to expire in the next financial year.
However, it has not been renewed in the 2026-2027 budget, which was passed down on Tuesday.
The charity, founded by Prince Harry, supports the recovery of wounded, injured and sick military service personnel through sport and competition.
Invictus Australia chief executive Michael Hartung told 2GB on Wednesday the had been left "in shock" by the decision to scrap funding.
"We found out about it on Tuesday evening... as they were going in, we had a little heads up, but that was really the first we’d heard of it," he told the outlet.
"So we had been working on trying to secure our long-term plans, and we have a lot in the pipeline over the next 12 months that we were working towards.
"So it has certainly come as a shock."
Prince Harry has suffered another huge blow after the Australian government yesterday cut their spending on Invictus Australia
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Mr Hartung said Invictus Australia had a "really positive working relationship" with the government, but added that the lack of funding meant it was "uncertain" what would happen to the veterans.
Invictus Games athlete Vanessa Broughill, who joined the Australian Army in 2005, and spent time in the Royal Australian Navy and the Navy Reserves before being medically discharged in 2022, warned the decision could be "life-changing".
"We lose six veterans a month to suicide and a lot of the time that can be taken back to the fact that they feel like they have no support," she told ABC Sport.
"There are so many people out there that rely on organisations like Invictus Australia to help them through all the things that they're going through, whether it be PTSD, anxiety, depression."
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Vanessa Broughill was diagnosed with both generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder following her service in the forces and won gold in the long jump during the 2020 games
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Mrs Broughill was diagnosed with both generalised anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder following her service in the forces and won gold in the long jump during the 2020 games.
Mr Hartung urged the government to reconsider their decision, adding: "Everything we do is evidence-backed, and the case is really clear."
The decision comes just four weeks after Harry and Meghan visited Australia.
A spokesman for Veteran Affairs Minister Matt Keogh’s office thanked Invictus Australia for their "effective work supporting the veteran community".
A spokesman for Veteran Affairs Minister Matt Keogh’s office thanked Invictus Australia for their 'effective work supporting the veteran community'
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"While the funding for these specific grant programs has now concluded, the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency will provide future opportunities to work with the sector to develop a competitive program to deliver wellbeing initiatives that support veterans and families of veterans."
The Invictus Games aim to provide veterans with an outlet and an opportunity to rebuild through international games, held internationally every two years.
Harry established Invictus Australia in 2014 and visited alumni from Team Australia during his tour Down Under with his wife, Meghan Markle, last month.
Following the 2025 games in Canada, the 2027 edition is due to be held in Birmingham.
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