Veteran volunteers at the ready when disasters strike

Volunteer organisations led by former defence force personnel are a good model for responding to national crises, Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh says.

Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt on Wednesday released a discussion paper on ways to take the burden off the Australian Defence Force when the country is facing disasters.

The government has agreed in principle for the ADF to be used as a last resort for crisis response, except in extreme emergencies.

Mr Keogh said having additional support to help the states and emergency services was important.

He said the government had invested in Disaster Relief Australia, a veteran-led organisation, to make use of the vast reserve of skills.

"That's been proven to be a useful model," Mr Keogh said.

He was joined by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in meeting with veterans and their assistance dogs at Parliament House on Thursday.

Speaking alongside his service dog Bella, army veteran Chris Hodder said the program was saving lives.

Mr Hodder, who spent three decades in the ADF, has been helped by Integra Service Dogs Australia which matches up an assistance dog to a veteran or first responder.

"I always say to people, if $1 or $1000 or $100,000 are spent on the dogs and they save one veteran from committing suicide, then it's money well spent," he said.

"I've got so many friends and people I know that have taken the wrong road and that's not where we want veterans to be."

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