Open Letter Calls for Senate to Reject Veteran Commissioner

Media release – Senator Jacqui Lambie, 1 December 2020

OPEN LETTER CALLS ON SENATE TO STOP SCOMO’S VETERAN STITCHUP

Eleven Australian veterans have lost their lives to suicide in the last three and a half weeks, and this year that number is snowballing.

Today an open letter has been published in the Sydney Morning Herald & The Age, calling on the Morrison Government to establish a Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicides.

This letter has been signed by more than 40 veterans, advocates, ex-service organisations, politicians, media personalities like Alan Jones and Peter FitzSimons, and parents of veterans who have tragically taken their own lives.

“The National Commissioner into Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention, announced in February 2020, does not have the requisite independence, structure, power and resources to achieve the equivalent outcome to a Royal Commission,” the letter reads. “Only a Royal Commission, with broad powers, complete independence, wide terms of reference and a clear start and end date, can draw the line in the sand.”

One of these brave and diligent parents has been working tirelessly to bring this urgent issue to the forefront since her son took his own life in February 2019. “My son, and everyone of his brothers and sisters deserve so much more than the PMs thoughts, prayers and bogus commissioner. Lest we forget”, said Julie-Ann Finney, mother of David Stafford Finney.

“This very concerning and serious state of affairs is something that does, or certainly should, worry all of us. Answers and solutions can only emerge from an independent inquiry,” said Margaret White, Royal Commissioner into Juvenile Detention in the Northern Territory.

“The clear message from families, veterans, advocates and allies is that nothing less than a Royal Commission will do justice for their families. We believe that their opinions matter,” said Senator Jordan Steele-John, Greens Senator for Western Australia.

“The National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention, set up by the very organisations it is meant to investigate and headed by a former Defence Force member, cannot possibly expect to obtain the confidence of veterans’ families and the public. A Royal Commission is what is required,” said Senator Rex Patrick, independent Senator for South Australia.

“Decades of abuse, cover-up and maladministration has left a spectre hanging over the reputation of Defence and DVA. Major General Justice Len Roberts-Smith said it best: you can’t do away with that spectre, that shadow of doubt, without a Royal Commission,” said Glenn Kolomeitz, ex-CEO of NSW RSL and former Army lawyer.

“When people join our military to defend our country, it’s not just ‘another job’. They are in many ways our most precious natural resource, and when faced with a crisis like the alarming and heartbreaking numbers of suicides the country needs some hard answers. That can only come from a Royal Commission,” said David McBride, Afghan Files military whistleblower and military lawyer for special forces.

“This is serious. It needs to be done properly. Do it properly,” said Geoffrey Watson SC, barrister and former Senior Counsel to the NSW ICAC.

“To veterans, these imposing numbers aren’t just names. They’re our mates and comrades. They’re the men and women we defended Australia alongside. When we return home, we don’t stand alone. We stand by our mates, and we’ll give a voice to those who have lost theirs,” said Lucas Moon, President of the Hawthorn RSL sub-branch.

A copy of the advertisement is below.