The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has made 122 recommendations to reform Australia’s military.
The Commission was set up to look into mental ill-health and suicide rates in the Australian Defence Force (ADF). It was tasked with examining gaps in support, army culture, and the role of Government departments.
Over three years, it heard from hundreds of witnesses, experts, advocates, and senior military officials.
Background
Federal Senator Jacqui Lambie, who served in the ADF, began calling for a Royal Commission into the treatment of veterans in 2014.
She named high rates of suicide among ADF members and veterans as a key reason for the Commission’s existence.
Following community pressure, in 2021, the then-Morrison Government set up a Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide.
Royal Commission
The Commission received more than 5,800 submissions and heard from 340 witnesses about the “systemic issues and risk factors to suicide and suicide behaviours of serving and ex-serving Defence members”.
It looked into recruitment, the culture of the military, healthcare and support available after military service.
It cited data showing that at least 1,677 serving and ex-serving Defence personnel died by suicide between 1997 and 2021 — 20 times more than those killed in active duty over the same period.
Former Defence chief, General Angus Campbell, gave an apology during the hearings.
Final report
In its seven-volume final report, the Commission made 122 recommendations to improve the “health and wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF members and their families”.
Its recommendations included establishing an independent watchdog to oversee “the whole Defence ecosystem”, and several ways to make ADF members’ return to civilian life easier.
It also called for an overhaul in how military leaders are chosen, assessing factors such as emotional intelligence.
Another recommendation was that the ADF reduce how frequently service members are moved to different postings. It also called for improved supports for their families when they do move.
Several recommendations centred on sexual violence in the ADF, including improving workplace protections for victim-survivors throughout their careers. It also suggested making it mandatory to discharge members who’ve been convicted of sexual offences.
Ahead of the final report’s release, Commission Chair Nick Kaldas asked the Government and defence leaders to “work to turn the tide on defence and veteran suicide”.
Government response
Defence Minister Richard Marles said the Government was committed to ensuring the ADF is a “safe and inclusive workplace” and creating adequate support services for those moving back to civilian life.
Marles also said the Government was considering the recommendations.
Shadow Veterans Affairs Minister Barnaby Joyce called on the Government to “expedite the process”.
