Media release – Andrew Wilkie, independent MHR for Clark, 10 September 2024
Government must act swiftly on royal commission into defence and veteran suicide
“The release of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Report yesterday is a significant moment for a great many Australians,” Independent Member for Clark, Andrew Wilkie, said. “I welcome its release as a blueprint for change, but the Federal Government must prioritise acting on the recommendations.
“In the last 30 years, there have been at least 57 separate inquiries relating to Defence and veteran suicide which have never been acted on. This is disgraceful when on average there are three deaths by suicide of serving and former Defence personnel every fortnight. The Government must respond to the Royal Commission as quickly as possible and look to address all 122 recommendations. To do anything less would be a betrayal of the more than 1,500 serving and ex-soldiers who have suicided, as well as their families and loved ones. To be clear, the Government must have responded to the Report and launched strong remedial action before the next federal election.
“Service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is dangerous and there are many risks. But the sad reality is that the high rate of suicide is a result of many other factors. This includes poor leadership and culture in the ADF, the under-resourcing of the Department of Veterans Affairs, long processing times for claims, and the lack of support for veterans after they’ve returned to civilian life.
“The Royal Commission addresses these concerns and makes good recommendations that will ensure our serving personnel and veterans have the support and services they need. It is now up to the Government to act quickly on these recommendations with the utmost priority.”
Mr Wilkie is one of the longest-serving Australian Defence Force veterans in the Australian Parliament, having served 20 years in the Army and achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Royal Commissioners, Nick Kaldas APM (Chair), The Hon James Douglas KC and Dr Peggy Brown AO presented the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide to the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, on 9 September 2024, and it was tabled in Federal Parliament on the same day.
The Final Report of the Royal Commission is the culmination of three years of inquiry into the suicide crisis in Australia’s Defence and veteran population. It comprises seven volume and nine parts – and contains the Commission’s analysis of complex cultural and systemic issues relevant to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members.
The Final Report also includes 122 recommendations to Government, which form the Royal Commission’s blueprint for real, meaningful and long-lasting reform.
You can read the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide online. Members of the public who cannot read the Final Report online can order hard copies. As the Final Report is over 3,000 pages long and weighs approximately 12 kilograms, we recommend reading it online if you are able to do so. Please allow at least 10 days for processing on all hard copy orders and note that all hard copy orders are for the entire Final Report, including all seven volumes, and it is not possible to order individual volumes separately.
