Radio Interview – ABC "AM" with Rachel Mealey

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC “AM” WITH RACHEL MEALEY
FRIDAY, 31 JULY 2026

SUBJECTS: Low-level blast exposure research; Luke Gosling

RACHEL MEALEY, PRESENTER: The Federal Government has announced a new partnership between the Australian Army and Monash University to learn more about repeated low-level blast exposure on the brain. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide recommended more research in the area to better understand the nature of brain injury and veteran welfare. Matt Keogh is the Minister for Veterans’’ Affairs and Defence Personnel. He joined me earlier. Minister, thanks for speaking to AM.

MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL: It's great to be with you.

MEALEY: Can you give me an example of when and where our defence personnel are exposed to low level blast pressure?

KEOGH: So, it can be quite regular, usually from the use of weapons. So, for example, if you're using a large gun like a howitzer, it can be the use of things that are commonly referred to as a flashbang when breaching into a building. There's a whole range of things that our Defence Force personnel use on a reasonably regular basis and certainly when they're doing training that exposes them to a low amount of blast pressure if you like. So, a small explosion relatively close to them, which if you experience it once you notice it obviously, but you don't think much more of it. But there's been a build-up of concern about what does this do to our Defence Force personnel over time when they're doing it regularly.

MEALEY: So this study involves gauges on soldiers helmets which register the blast and that'll be followed up by a blood test. What will that tell researchers?

KEOGH: One of the problems that we've had in trying to address the issues coming from exposure to low level blast is that there hasn't been good research about what are the impacts on the body. We're not talking about a big explosion near somebody, which we know all about that, but what happens when you're exposed to these low level blasts. And so doing the blood tests looking for biological traces of impacts that it may be having, especially on the brain. And is a really important way to build up that knowledge base and over time. So not just when they've immediately been exposed to that pressure, but also over time afterwards to see what is the cumulative effect of that exposure so that we can work out what are the safe levels of use.

MEALEY: And it's just Army personnel at this stage. What about the Navy and the Air Force?

KEOGH: So, yes, we started phase one was just with Army and with phase two now we're moving to doing the study across 400 defence personnel. That's going to start with an expansion in Army but also moving to Navy and Air Force as well.

MEALEY: Minister on another matter, Labor MP Luke Gosling has been charged with assault. Should he stand down from some of his duties while that matter is dealt with?

KEOGH: Well, I've worked closely with Gos in his role as the Special Envoy for Defence and Veterans’ Affairs and Gos is a veteran himself. But of course, it's a matter for the prime Minister.

MEALEY: Minister, thanks for joining AM.

ENDS

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