Opinion Piece - We've let diggers down for too long. We can't fail them again.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has made it abundantly clear that for decades Australia’s Defence personnel, veterans and indeed their families have not been treated as they should have been.

They’ve been failed by successive Australian governments.

The harrowing stories we’ve heard from veterans and their loved ones over the last three years has made sure that fact is now undeniable.

They’re stories that cannot be swept under the rug, can’t be left to gather dust on a shelf.

They’re a call to action.

And the time for action is now.

The Albanese Government fought for the Royal Commission from Opposition, because the rate of defence and veteran suicide is a national tragedy.

This week the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has confirmed that between 1997 and 2022 there were 1,763 known deaths by suicide amongst serving and ex-serving personnel.

As a Government, we’re committed to taking action, and taking that action swiftly.

The Albanese Government will be delivering our response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s 122 recommendations, before the year is out.

We are working through those recommendations and their detail, meticulously stepped out in more than 3,100 pages, across seven volumes, in a timely and methodical manner.

Since Monday, 9 September, the day the report was delivered to Government, we’ve been working on how and when these recommendations can be implemented.

The Royal Commission has noted governments at all levels must work together to improve veterans’ wellbeing and reduce the risk of suicide and suicidality. So I’ve already met with my State and Territory counterparts to start this work.

In recent decades we’ve seen some 57 inquiries and more than 770 recommendations for change – and ultimately not much to show for it.

I appreciate the apprehension from across the Defence and veteran community that we won’t take up the challenge put to us by this Royal Commission.

We remain accountable and must serve you better, after all, you’ve done your job, serving for us.

Recommendation 122 of the Final Report was to “establish a new statutory entity to oversee system reform across the whole Defence ecosystem”.

This is not a new idea.

The Albanese Government agrees with the need for an independent oversight body as recommended by the Royal Commission and is working through the detail of this and the other recommendations through the usual Cabinet processes.

I hope you take this as a sign of things to come, and judge us not on what we say, but what we do.

In this regard it is worth noting that we have taken action on every recommendation made by the Royal Commission in its 2022 Interim Report, with 9 of its 13 recommendations already implemented in full.

I want to thank everyone who helped campaign for and who contributed to the Royal Commission for their bravery in sharing often harrowing stories about their own experience in service, and those who have given a voice to loved ones no longer able to share their own story.

I also thank the Commissioners for their important and sensitive work.

One death is one too many. We must do what we can, as quickly as we can, to prevent suicide across our Defence and veteran community.

For those who require support, please reach out to Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or Lifeline 13 11 14.

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Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608