Television Interview - News24 "AM AGENDA" with Laura Jeyes

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
TELEVISION INTERVIEW
NEWS24 "AM AGENDA" WITH LAURA JEYES
FRIDAY, 31 JULY 2026

SUBJECTS: Low-level blast exposure research

LAURA JEYES, HOST: A new partnership has been announced between the ADF and Monash University to better understand how repeated low-level blast exposure may affect the brain. The government is investing into this research to decrease the risk where possible for any Defence Force personnel going forward. I spoke with the Defence personnel and Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh earlier.

MATT KEOGH, MINISTER FOR VETERANS’ AFFAIRS AND DEFENCE PERSONNEL: We saw this mentioned in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide, there was a recommendation that we continue to do further work on this. We have been doing some research in a small group over the last year or so and we're now expanding that out to, as part of phase two of that research, to 400 Defence Force personnel.

JEYES: OK, so if a soldier's blood tests do show signs of a brain injury after routine training, what actually happens? Are they, they stood down? Is there, you know, some kind of rugby league rule here?

KEOGH: Well, we're still in the understanding phase of this sort of research, Laura. One of the issues is that there hasn't been good research to support what are safe levels of exposure to low-level blasts. And what we're talking about there is where our Defence Force personnel are using large weapons. Obviously there's a blast that comes from that when they fire the weapon or other sorts of equipment that they may use when, say, breaching into a building. They're small blasts at the time. But the concern is that over time, when they're continually doing this, whether it's in training or in actual operation, that this can have a negative effect. We don't know the full effect of that negative effect. So getting those biomarkers, understanding the impact not just at the time of use, but also over time, and that's why they'll have blast monitoring as part of this. They'll be wearing that when they're using these sorts of weapons in training, for example. And then doing those blood tests allows us to build up that better understanding of what is that impact and work on what are the sort of safe levels of exposure. And it's not just us doing this. Countries around the world, the United States, Europe, they are also really interested in these questions and are doing their own research and we're working closely with them to improve our understanding so we can keep our people safe as we should.

JEYES: This does seem to be focusing on small arms fire rather than major blasts. So, does it suggest that perhaps routine training itself may have carried risks that we don't and haven't properly understood for decades.

KEOGH: Certainly that has been a concern and it's a concern that's been raised with me by the veteran community as well. And it's why we have put in place limitations on how long certain training exercises can go for monitoring those exposures. And that's why we're wanting to understand this better, so that we are not unnecessarily exposing our Defence Force members to harm. But we need to understand what those impacts are, depending on the level of exposures and over time as well.

JEYES: Ok. Could this ultimately change the way our soldiers train?

KEOGH: I think it may impact the way in which we train. Of course, the most important thing is making sure that we have lethal capability in our Defence Force. We're always going to make sure that we maintain that. But making sure that in the process we're not causing damage to our Defence Force members because we need them to be ready and able and capable to participate in conflict, if that's what's required, and also making sure that they can go on to have long and successful lives and careers after they're in the Defence Force. So, it may result in change. We need this research so that we can better understand to put in place any of those changes that may be required. This is just part of that, but it's a big step up in the research we're doing as we work with our partners in other defence forces around the world as well.

JEYES: Blast impacts, and we see this not just in the ADF, there is a massive link now between mental health and suicide. So, is your message also to people you join the ADF, “we're going to look after you”, not just “you're going to have a good time”?

KEOGH: Absolutely. This is, you know, my core focus in the work that I do as the Minister for Defence Personnel and Veterans’ Affairs, is making sure that we are looking after our people in service and after service as well. Improving that is incredibly important. It's why we called for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in the first place. That's why we're so committed to implementing the recommendations from that Royal Commission. By the end of last year, we already had a quarter of those recommendations implemented. We're on track for two thirds by the end of this year. And that's involved some big changes. Things like legislating an oversight body, looking over the work that we're doing and implementing the recommendations. A new Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency looking at those broader supports for veterans and for families to make sure that they are looked after and helping those that might be at risk, vulnerable, like some of those that are transitioning from defence into civilian life, especially those that are medically discharged or administratively discharged, making sure that they have access to the supports they need more broadly. And we do want people to know that if they sign up to join our Defence Force, that they will be looked after through their service and afterwards, because that's the least we can do as a nation to support those people that sign up to wear our uniform.

JEYES: Do you admit that successive governments have failed on that in the past and we haven't done the least?

KEOGH: Absolutely, I do. I've been very clear about that since I started in this portfolio some four years ago, that it was very clear, and we saw this through so much evidence presented in the Royal Commission, that successive governments have failed in this task. That there has been areas where we need to improve and that's what we're working on doing now. You know, there's been improvement over time on different areas and, for example, in this blast pressure issue, there was some work that was done back in 2016. But defence dropped the ball and we weren't unique in that. Other defence forces have looked at this in the past and then not done the further work that's required, and this is probably true across a range of different areas over time. The important thing now is recognising that is that we're committed to moving forward and improving things for our Defence Force personnel and veterans. 

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