Louise Miller-Frost (Boothby, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

One of the particular honours that I've experienced since being elected in 2022 is the opportunity to get to know so many defence personnel and veterans living in my electorate of Boothby. As well as the Warradale Barracks, we have a number of RSLs in Boothby and also the statewide Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia South Australian branch. We also have the Veteran Wellbeing Centre at the Repat Health Precinct in Daw Park. The centre was established by the Plympton-Glenelg sub-branch of the RSL and in particular the late Bill Hignett. It is under the auspices of SA Health but consists of a number of agencies, such as Open Arms and Military Advocates, and it provides free services, including advocacy for DVA claims. They are always generous with their time and their insights, and I greatly enjoy visiting them.

It's a fairly uncontroversial statement, I hope, to say that in Australia we respect and honour our serving defence personnel and the veterans for their service and sacrifice in our name and for our protection. It is no small thing to put your life on the line to serve your country. It is part of our Australian way of life that we know that we have the Australian Defence Force there to protect us.

It was while I was campaigning in 2021 that I first started hearing from veterans and their families seeking assistance with their claims. Their stories were remarkably similar. They had submitted their total and permanent incapacity claims usually around 18 months or so earlier, and they'd heard nothing, and when they contacted the department, they couldn't get any information about where their claim was up to. What we know about veterans is that they have a tendency to not put their TPI claims in until things are pretty dire. They don't put them in when they're just a bit wobbly. So these veterans were in dire circumstances when they finally put their TPI claims in, and then the department and we as a country left them sitting for 18 months or more with no response.

Of course we have since discovered that there were close to 42,000 TPI claims sitting in the department that had not even been allocated to a staff member to look at them. I'm pleased to say that, during the last term of this government, addressing this backlog was a priority for the minister and for the government, and that backlog has now being addressed. TPI claims submitted now are allocated to a staff member to assess within two weeks, and the majority of claims are finalised within a matter of a few months, depending on their complexity. This is as it should be.

People are our most important defence capability. They need to be respected. We want Australians to choose to serve their country and be confident that they and their families will be well supported by their leaders, the broader defence organisation and their country. Every member of the ADF should be safe in the knowledge that, whatever may happen in service, they and their families will be looked after and acknowledged by a grateful nation. It is our nation's duty to empower and support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence and veteran community. There is an expectation that they will be looked after. For too long, this was not the reality.

When the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in 2021, it heard from thousands of current and former serving defence members and families, particularly families of those who are no longer here to speak for themselves. I'd like to particularly acknowledge Julie-Ann Finney, the mother of the late David Finney, who was in the chamber earlier to hear the minister's statement, and thank her for her unrelenting advocacy. We heard of systems that were broken, of a culture that was toxic, and that not enough was being done to support our personnel during and after service. We've heard those calls, and we have acted. The royal commission released an interim report in 2022 containing recommendations they deemed the most urgent. We have acted, and we will continue to act on them all.

We've legislated the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 to simplify the veteran compensation system. These changes begin next year, and they will replace the current complex system that causes confusion and frustration, which the royal commission identified as a contributor to suicidality among our veteran community. This will mean all veteran claims will be assessed for compensation and rehabilitation under a single piece of legislation that will be simpler and faster to process. This is the most significant reform to how we support veterans in a century. As a result, we will be better able to provide the services and supports the veteran community needs when and where they need them.

The final Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide report was released in September 2024—seven volumes, 122 recommendations, harrowing reading. It showed a way forward and once-in-a-generation opportunity for cultural change and reform. The government has agreed or agreed in principle to 104 recommendations, noting 17 for further work. As at the beginning of August, nine recommendations had been fully implemented, and a further 110 are under way.

Changes to date include the establishment of the royal commission implementation taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to focus on the implementation and the establishment of a new statutory oversight body, the Defence and Veterans' Service Commission, with a dedicated and sustained focus on suicide prevention, which will be up and running at the end of September. This was considered by the royal commission to be the most significant action the government could take to address defence and veteran suicide. We're currently recruiting the inaugural defence and veterans services commissioner through a merit based recruitment process. This commissioner will have significant independent investigation powers into veteran supports and progress on the implementation of the royal commission's recommendations. We will introduce standalone legislation for the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission to ensure its independence and enhance its oversight of the implementation.

The royal commission identified the need for a holistic approach to wellbeing when supporting Defence personnel, veterans and their families. Today we have released the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. In addition to early intervention and comprehensive care, it prioritises wellbeing from the day a person signs up for our ADF until well after they have hung up their uniform for the last time. This ensures veterans who are transitioning to civilian life and their families don't fall through the gaps during a time that we know is of particular risk. We will introduce a mandatory obligation to consider mental health issues during involuntary separation processes. Defence is working closely with the Department of Veterans' Affairs on establishing a comprehensive brain injury pathway to improve prevention, early detection and treatment for current and former ADF members with neurocognitive issues.

The royal commission's final report also contains several significant recommendations related to sexual violence in the ADF, which are being actioned as a priority. There is now an updated central policy on sexual misconduct that provides clearer, more consistent guidance for commanders and managers. It outlines when to engage the Joint Military Police Unit and how to determine whether conduct may constitute a criminal offence, and introduces structured return-to-work protocols for those impacted by misconduct.

Commanders and managers must now consider suspension from duty and involuntary separation of members alleged to have engaged in serious misconduct, including sexual offences, sexual harassment, intimate image abuse and stalking. Defence has now completed the work to support the implementation of a presumption of discharge in circumstances where ADF members are convicted of sexual and related offences. This will be in place by the end of the year and supported by further legislative change. These reforms represent a critical shift. They send a clear message that sexual misconduct has no place in our Defence Force.

Further work is being done to ensure the military justice system balances the need for military discipline with the protection of individual rights and minimises adverse mental health impacts on those who engage with the system and to ensure that support mechanisms available to members involved in the military justice processes are effective at meeting their needs and preventing harm. This includes an independent inquiry into potential weaponisation of the military administrative system, examining whether the system has been or could be misused in ways that cause harm to ADF members. The establishment of the military justice assurance branch will strengthen coordination of governance, assurance and policy functions within the military justice system.

The royal commission was an important, groundbreaking, sobering and necessary exercise, but it is the implementation of change that really matters. A year on from the final report, we're making good progress, and we are seeing more people choose to stay in the ADF longer as a result, but there is a lot more work to do. The royal commission's task for us as a government is no small feat, but implementing these reforms from the royal commission is vital to ensure that Defence personnel, veterans and families receive the care, services and supports they not only need but deserve. I'd like to finish by thanking any current or former serving members who might be listening for their service. (Time expired)

Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Little badge, big impact. That's the message being put out there by Legacy. This week is Legacy Week, and it's important in the context of the update on the implementation of the recommendations of the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide because it's not just about currently serving Australian Defence Force personnel or veterans; it's also about their families. Their families are very much impacted by the service and the former service of our ADF and our veterans.

This week, as I said, is Legacy Week.The Legacy Week appeal has been running since the 1940s. It's a time for all Australians to show their support for the widows and children whose loved ones have served our country. The Legacy badge, as the website says, is a special emblem of support for our veterans' families, symbolising our nation's greatest values of mateship, compassion and fairness. Legacy badges may be small, but the funds they raise make a big impact on the lives of our veterans' families.

Legacy Week is a time to give back to the families of those who have given so much. That's what the Legacy foundation says—and it is so very true. When you take those words and listen to them, they are very much aligned with the service of our veterans. I see the member for Spence entering the chamber. I thank him for his service. I thank each and every person who has ever worn a uniform for and on behalf of our nation, for and on behalf of our flag. They have kept us safe. They continue to do so.

Not every veteran is broken. That's an important distinction to make. When we talk about our veterans, sometimes we think of them as a bit of a mess from their service, and they are not. Many—in fact, most—are contributing mightily to the nation. In fact, all are. Some are incapacitated, absolutely. Some of them carry the mental and physical scars of their service. That is why, on 8 July 2021, the former coalition government announced the formal establishment of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which cast a light on some of the harrowing experiences of current serving personnel and our veterans.

The royal commission's inquiry concluded on 28 August 2024. It came to Wagga Wagga. It took evidence, and some of the evidence presented at those Wagga Wagga hearings was horrific. It examined the systemic issues and common themes in past deaths by suicide of ADF members and veterans. This included suspected suicides and lived experience of suicide risks. The royal commission delivered its interim report on 11 August 2022. By that stage, the government had changed. But this is and should always be above politics. The final report was delivered on 9 September 2024.

I thank the minister for his update today. Defence welcomed the royal commission as an opportunity to learn and bolster the department's approach to mental health and welfare, and I would say that, if there are veterans out there who have not sought help and need it, please do so. There's not just the Department of Veterans' Affairs; there are many wonderful organisations to help their mates and comrades. Please avail yourselves of that opportunity if you need help. There are many veterans who do not seek the assistance of DVA for whatever reason, and they are entitled to do that, but help is there if it's needed. Defence thanks those serving and ex-serving personnel and their families who bravely shared their stories with the commission. In many instances, it opens up old wounds. It's hard for veterans to talk about their experiences, whether they saw combat or whether they were in bases and never left Australia. They all shared different experiences; they all shared similar experiences.

The government's response, announced on 2 December 2004, outlines significant reform. This will hopefully have a positive impact on the defence community. Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs are implementing the agreed recommendations. There are 122 recommendations—104 are very much in the process of being followed through. I appreciate that 17 of those 122 were noted. I know it's a difficult task being the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, but that person is representative of those who have served and are serving, insofar as they're also Defence personnel. The stories that came out of the commission were very difficult for normal, average, everyday citizens to comprehend. The hurt, the experiences—if they lead to better outcomes for those who wear the uniform, then that absolutely is worth it.

The Chief of the Defence Force, the Secretary of the Department of Defence and the Secretary of DVA all made statements on the release of the government's response. A task force was established to support the functions of the royal commission while the inquiry was still underway. The number of documents and volumes that ended up leading to those 122 recommendations were voluminous—as they needed to be.

I represent an electorate which has all three arms of Defence in my hometown of Wagga Wagga. The colonel of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion, Colonel Gerard Kearns, takes his job very seriously. I've said on a number of occasions that I believe he has the most important job in Defence. I appreciate that the CDF probably think they do, but I think that if you are in charge of the base where they are recruiting people and turning ordinary, everyday Australians into something quite special—continuing that tradition of the long line of khaki—then you are the most important person in Defence, and I stand by that belief.

We also have RAAF Base Wagga. We have, with the Forest Hill airbase, a Navy presence of around 80 officers. That's significant, given we're a long, long way from the nearest drop of sea water. But Wagga Wagga is a garrison city, and it's very proud of its Defence roots. May that heritage lead to the longevity of those bases, which, I appreciate, we are very much updating with nearly $1.5 billion of infrastructure investment at the moment. The government is to be commended for continuing that investment that was announced and initially funded by a coalition government. It's important because our Defence people have to have modern support bases, modern infrastructure and modern equipment.

I also commend Bob and Gladys Bak at Bethungra. They run the Integrated Servicepeople's Association, helping veterans. Anybody who helps veterans is a good person—good of heart, well-intentioned. I do thank those two, who have been deservedly recognised with OAMs in the past for the work that they do. We say 'TYFYS'—thank you for your service. Those words should not be meaningless; they should be words with purpose, meaning and impact. That's what, hopefully, will occur with the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

I don't want to make too much of a political point about this, but I am, again, disappointed by the Defence Amendment (Defence Honours and Awards Appeals Tribunal) Bill 2025 passing through the House of Representatives last night. I think that disrespects our service people. They should have longer for that medallic recognition. They don't go out to serve to win tin that they can wear on Anzac Day or Remembrance Day, as proud an experience as that is. They do it for the country, and that piece of legislation should never have passed the parliament.

But, again, thank you for your service to all those veterans, and I commend this update.

David Moncrieff (Hughes, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no more important task assigned to the federal government than ensuring the safety and security of the Australian people, and there's no more important element of Australia's defence capability than the people who serve in our Defence Force. Every member of the Australian Defence Force should be safe in the knowledge that, whatever may happen in service, they and their families will be looked after and acknowledged by a grateful nation. Australians expect them to be looked after.

This is evident in the turnout we see each year at the Anzac Day dawn services. I've been going to the Engadine Anzac Day dawn services since I was a kid, and it's always amazing to see how many people turn out and how many people are passionate about ensuring our veterans are acknowledged each year. But the expectation that they are looked after is not one that's always been met. It is our nation's duty to empower and support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence and veteran community. During the world wars, my family served in the defence forces. Sidda Black, my great-grandfather, was injured on the Western Front during the First World War. Sidda came back with physical scars that stayed with him for the rest of his life. Of course, we now have a better understanding of the other forms of harm that are inflicted upon our Defence Force personnel during their service. In my electorate of Hughes, 3,640 people had served in the Australian Defence Force as of 2022. I want to honour and acknowledge that service and thank them for all they have done for our country.

I am privileged to represent in this place the Holsworthy Barracks, covering almost 20,000 hectares and comprising one of the Army's major defence presences in New South Wales. It's home to a number of Army and tri-service training institutions as well as various regular and reserve Army units, and it's also the staging location for domestic operations in New South Wales. In June I was lucky enough to attend the barracks and celebrate some of the newest graduates of the Army's School of Military Engineering with the Deputy Prime Minister. These young people represent great hope for the future of the Australian Defence Force. It is no small feat for them to put their hand up to serve their nation.

We want Australians to be attracted to serving our nation in the Australian Defence Force and confident that they and their families will be supported by their leaders, their mates and the broader defence organisation. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in 2021, and it heard from thousands of current and former serving Defence members and families, particularly the families of those who are no longer here to speak for themselves. It heard of systems that were broken, of a culture that was toxic and of not enough being done to support our personnel during and after service. We've heard those calls, and we've acted.

The royal commission released an interim report in 2022 containing recommendations they deemed the most urgent, and we acted on them. This government has cleared the unallocated compensation claims at DVA so that new claims are reviewed within 14 days. We've legislated the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025, the VETS Act, to simplify the veteran compensation system that will kick in next year, overhauling the complex system that causes confusion and frustration and which the royal commission identified as a contributor to suicidality among our veteran community. This will mean all veteran claims are assessed for compensation and rehabilitation under a single piece of legislation that will be simpler to use and allow faster processing. This is the most significant reform of support to veterans in a century. As a result, we are able to better provide the services and supports the veteran community needs when and where they need them. In September last year, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released its final report. It contained seven volumes and 122 recommendations. It was harrowing reading. This government was tasked with effecting a once-in-a-generation opportunity for cultural change and reform. By December, the Albanese government responded, and we agreed or agreed in principle to 104 recommendations, noting 17 for further work. In my first speech in this place I noted how proud I am to be a part of the government that has agreed to these.

The royal commission's final report contains several significant recommendations related to sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force. Defence is taking decisive and immediate action to strengthen the way we respond to sexual violence within the ADF. I have spoken to women within the service who have been directly affected by this, and for whom the effects of it are ongoing. Recommendation 15 from the report has been implemented through an updated central policy on sexual misconduct. It now provides clearer, more consistent guidance for commanders and managers. It outlines when to engage the Joint Military Police Unit and how to determine whether conduct may constitute a criminal offence, and it introduces structured return-to-work protocols for those impacted by misconduct.

While the military justice system serves a distinct function, ADF personnel are also subject to civilian law, and Defence's policies must reflect that accountability. In the same month as the release of the final report, we established the royal commission implication taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to oversee the development of comprehensive and considered advice on implementing the response to the royal commission. We listened to our service members and the veteran community, establishing an independent taskforce to drive implementation rather than offering empty platitudes. At the beginning of August, nine recommendations had already been fully implemented, and there are a further 110 on the way.

There is of course still a lot of work to come to implement the recommendations of the royal commission, but, a year on from the final report, we're making good progress. However, the government has not limited itself just to the work coming from the royal commission. We set about improving supports for defence personnel, veterans and families before the work of the royal commission was complete. We're better supporting people in service, and we're seeing more people choose to stay in the ADF for longer as a result. We've also expanded our network of Veterans' and Families' Hubs, so people can access support close to home.

A common theme throughout the royal commission was discussion on difficulties engaging with both the Department of Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs, in relation to information access. While the implementation of recommendations 9 to 13 of the interim report has significantly improved this, there is still more to do. Engaging with the Department of Veterans' Affairs has also not been as straightforward as it should be for the veteran community, and mechanisms like the DVA website were perhaps more of a barrier to providing useful information than a useful tool. I am really pleased that today the new and improved DVA website has gone live. It's more user-friendly, and includes a first of its kind for the federal government: an AI search tool that will actively answer questions from veterans on the supports and services they can and should receive.

The royal commission's task for us as a government was no small feat, but we have no doubt that its delivery will ensure the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture that support defence personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia. The implementation of these reforms from the royal commission is not a nice-to-have; it is vital in ensuring that defence personnel, veterans and families receive the care, services and support that they not only need but deserve. We will continue to take actions that are not easy but that are right and essential. We'll take action on the royal commission as quickly as we can. It's our duty to those who have answered the call to defend our country. It's the least we can do to repay their commitment and sacrifices for Australia. I want to thank all of our veterans who might be listening to this today, and listening to us discuss these matters, and I acknowledge all their service and their commitment to this country.

Elizabeth Watson-Brown (Ryan, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide received nearly 6,000 submissions and conducted 900 private sessions. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity; it cannot gather dust. It cannot be treated the way other recommendations and reports have been, with their reform efforts quashed by Defence. I must express profound gratitude for the advice and time that so many in the veteran community have given to this commission, and to subsequent related bills and inquiries, in helping us understand the complex and interconnected challenges faced by veterans and their families. I am also very grateful for the work of veterans and advocates in the Ryan community, many of whom I've met. Ryan is home to the Army's Enoggera Barracks, and a large ADF and veteran community. Many in this community have shared moving stories with me of their experiences. Some remarkable veterans in my community—I'm very, very proud of this—are working tirelessly to seek support and justice for their very deserving comrades.

One absolutely non-negotiable recommendation that must be implemented is for a standalone statutory entity that oversees and drives the systemwide reform that this report calls for. I'm pleased that there is now support for standalone legislation for a truly independent commission, and the Greens are ready to work with the government on that. The commission, its report and those who contributed to it deserve more than just lip service. We need to be honest about the challenges, and continue on the path of respect and deep listening for this community. That is how we can change the lives of veterans for the better, and that must be our collective goal.

We know there are deep cultural issues in the ADF that are contributing to these tragic outcomes. The culture of silence and military values are fuelling suicide risk, and Defence leadership must be held accountable for failures to address that culture. These cultural issues ripple across our society, particularly for families and veterans. After losing loved ones or dealing with the fallout of a cruel system, families are often forced to navigate a cold and careless system and set of processes. It's a real credit to the veterans community and the families of veterans that this commission was secured in the first place. We owe it to all of those involved, and the loved ones that they have lost, to implement the recommendations.

Finally, I want to highlight that the goal of the commission must be no more suicides. I'll quote Julie-Ann Finney:

… we have to go for zero suicides because, if we don't, we're not doing our best. It's as simple as that. It doesn't matter what the answer is to that. We have to go for zero.

Matt Burnell (Spence, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to stand and speak today not just as a veteran but also as one of the co-chairs of the Parliamentary Friends of Veterans. I want to go back to a moment in time I shared with the Deputy Prime Minister just recently at the Mark Oliphant College. I got asked a question by some students about what shaped me and my journey to politics. I sat there and thought about the question that had been posed to me. After much reflection since I've been elected to this place, I realised my time wearing our nation's uniform really formed the basis for everything I've done following enlistment.

For, me my enlistment happened in December 1996. It was an extremely joyous period in my life. I'd just finished high school. My mates, who I'd been through primary school and high school with, were all sitting down, and we made a decision to enlist together. In January and February of 1997—maybe not so smart—we headed off to Puckapunyal and completed our basic training as enlistees to the Australia Army Reserves. And it started a learning process for me that helped shape me into the person that I am today, something that I'm extremely grateful for.

The reason why I want to start there, and start with that explanation, is, as rightfully the member for Riverina said earlier, not all veterans are broken. We must see through the scars and see the skills that our veterans have. There are some fine contributions that have been made by veterans, not just in this chamber but across our great country, post service.

But the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide did uncover a lot of alarming facts. I am one of those people who have had good mates that I served with commit suicide on discharge or not long after. I have watched some of my mates really struggle with PTSD after their service overseas. And, unfortunately, they had been left waiting when they most needed support.

That's why I'm so buoyed by the support that's now being put in place ensuring that we talk about veteran wellbeing from the day you enlist. When I enlisted, your discharge was never talked about; it was far off in the distance. It was a never-never. 'It's not going to happen to me.' I discharged after three years of service. I had friends who discharged after one year of service under medical reasons. It's when you discharge—when you least expect it—that things start to come down on top of you. And that's when we see things spiral out of control, often because it's never been a realisation that we need support. So I'm extremely encouraged by the fact that we are going to start talking about the process to civilian life following your time in uniform, as a key focus of the findings from the royal commission.

I do want to take special note of a very special person, who was sitting in the chamber, in the House of Representatives, earlier this morning whilst the minister gave his address—and that is Julie-Ann Finney, who is a remarkable South Australian, with a remarkable son, David. She really has been a shining light in ensuring that this royal commission got off the ground, and she has seen it through.

She has turned up time and time again in this place to make sure that this royal commission delivered outcomes to prevent suicide and a lack of support from being the norm for our ex-service personnel. I want to say to Julie-Ann Finney: thank you for everything you've done, thank you for being here today and thank you for everything that you will do in the future, because I know that you are not going to stop. You are making a huge difference and it does need to be acknowledged in this chamber.

I have the very great pleasure of being in a chamber with quite a number of ex-serving personnel on both sides of the chamber and on the crossbench. I think it does help when we have these types of discussions to have that type of experience from all sectors of the chamber to ensure that accountability and delivery of the findings happen. One of those findings was the backlog of claims—approximately 41,000 when we came to government in 2022. To hear today that we have cleared that backlog completely and are reviewing claims within 14 days sends a really clear signal to our veterans that they are valued and we are providing all the right levels of support to make sure that their claims matter and are of the highest priority for this government.

The Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act will also go to assisting this process. It helps simplify what has been an extremely complicated rehabilitation compensation scheme for veterans. When we go out to our RSLs across our electorates, the first thing we hear is about a veteran who has gone through delay after delay after delay to get the help that they need. They haven't been able to get a decision to be able to move forward and get the treatment that they desperately need, or they have had to go into significant financial hardship to get treatment just so they can stay on their own two feet and carve out a living. The simplification of these rehabilitation acts is massive—it will make a huge difference for so many veterans moving into the future. I can't wait for next year when this new act goes live. It's going to make life so much better for our veterans—and so it should.

When the final report was handed down last year—seven volumes, 122 recommendations, a lot of work—we agreed in principle or agreed to 104 of the recommendations, noting 17 for further work. We established in December the Royal Commission Implementation Taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to oversee the development of comprehensive and considered advice on implementing the response to the royal commission. At the beginning of August this year, nine recommendations were fully implemented, and there are a further 110 under way. We are making headway—we're getting there—but we've got a lot more work to do.

The new Defence and Veterans' Services Commission will be up and running by the end of September, a significant step in the right direction. We are recruiting the inaugural Defence and Veterans' Services Commissioner. This appointment will drive systemic change, and champion the wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF members across government and the ex-service community. It will also introduce standalone legislation to ensure its independence and enhance oversight of implementation.

I want to talk about defence and veteran mental health wellbeing briefly in the limited time I have left. This is such a big subject matter that it's hard to fit it into 10 minutes. When I think about veteran mental health and wellbeing, I think about my family and veteran wellbeing hub that we've just recently opened in my electorate of Spence at the Playford health precinct. It has been an absolute game changer for my community. We have RAAF Base Edinburgh, which sits right at the heart of my electorate. It has brought out ex-service organisations together. It has given us the ability to provide critical services to veterans and their families when they need them most. It really is making a huge difference. When I met with the team from Lives Lived Well down there two weeks ago, the information was clear: this is working, this is helping veterans and it is making a huge difference for their families.

Rob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a very important day for our broader nation and what's happening with the defence royal commission. We know that people who are in our Defence Force and their families are so important. We owe a lot to them, and we can never say thanks enough. It's important that, when we bring people into the ADF, we make sure that they are looked after. We make sure that they get everything they need. Particularly on finishing their service, we should make sure that the right thing is done by them. We know that this has been an issue in the past. We know that veterans went through a long period of time during the former government where at one stage over a thousand claims were sitting on the minister desk unopened. We know that veterans came to us saying that the problem they were having was with DVA in the previous government. The words that really haunt me still are the veterans' view when it comes to DVA and supporting veterans was 'delay, deny, die'. That was what veterans believed was happening. They believed that they were constantly being delayed and denied, and some took the worst-case scenario out. It was something that we had to fix, so we worked extremely hard to push for the royal commission into veteran suicide.

We know the issues, and I've met Julie-Ann Finney myself a few times—lovely lady. She is suffering quite a lot with what's happened to her, and she is not alone; there are lots of others like that. When you talk to people through the veterans community, you know that, for a range of reasons, this is not uncommon. It's why governments need to act and do the right thing. If someone put their life on the line to defend our nation, our values and everything we believe in, you have an absolute obligation to make sure that, if they're broken, you look after them. You make sure that, if they've got problems, you fix them and you give them the support that they need. As I said, this was something that never happened, and I was a bit miffed this morning listening to the shadow minister talk. I think about what issues were caused during the time that he was minister. Why were things not done quicker and faster? Why were these things that we all stand here and say we should address not addressed? It's not the right thing.

Now we have taken the royal commission and we are going through all the different recommendations, implementing them in principle and actually committing to seeing outcomes done that actually help our veterans and their families, because it is important. You can't speak enough of the importance of what veterans should expect from us. We heard of systems that were toxic and broken and heard that not enough was being done to support personnel during and after their service, and we have acted on those calls. With the many thousands of people that we've spoken to about this when we go to RSLs and talk to them, the No. 1 thing that keeps coming back is that we are just getting nowhere. We are really just pushing it uphill, but no-one is listening. Well, we listen. We made the commitment that we would listen, and we are acting on that and getting things done.

In September last year, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released its final report. It was seven volumes and had 122 recommendations. I know that when I went to the Doreen RSL, they wanted a copy of it. They wanted to see what was there, because so many of their members have issues that they have faced from their time in service and the problems that happened with that. I took this quote from former minister Gee, who was the Minister for Veterans' Affairs in the Morrison government: when he asked for more money, he threatened to resign because he believed we needed to do more. And he was right. But the response from the former government was the government was only prioritising funding to those that had a political advantage, and they're words that should turn everyone's stomach. That's what he said, on 29 May 2024. It should not have happened. It's not about prioritising funding; it's about doing the right thing.

I know from my own time being in this place working with the DART, the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce, the problems that have happened there. I've had veterans come to me with tonnes of paperwork showing the abuse they had in the Defence Force. They've sat in front of DVA and been told, with the minister—of both colours—that it never happened. But, when you produce the military medical professionals reports and the military police reports that all show it did happen, two weeks after that meeting—this is after veterans have been fighting for 12 or 18 months—suddenly DVA says, 'Oh, yes, it did happen. We will do that; we'll pay to take you to a psychologist because you've been abused. But we won't pay the psychologist.' The idiocy of that had to stop.

I know that some of my friends have been more brave and courageous than I could imagine by bringing forward their sexual abuse in the Defence Force. Hearing their harrowing stories and what that's done to their lives is phenomenal. This is why what we're doing today and what we're doing with the royal commission is so important. We have to stop this from happening again. We can't have these situations happen. Men and women go into the Defence Force to serve our nation, and they do it well. They don't need to be keeping an eye on their backs the entire time. That's why it is so important we do these accommodations. That's why it is important that we have these systems in place—to make sure that, when they put on that uniform, they know their government has their back and they know they're going to be safe. They put themselves in harm's way enough without having to worry about what's behind.

We know that for a lot of the situations we deal with there are issues in the way of the tribunals working. These things have been overcomplicated and made very difficult. I really congratulate Minister Keogh for doing something that no-one else has done. He has worked excessively hard to make sure that our veterans' entitlements are paid in a timely manner and that they get what they're entitled to. Again, I go back to those harrowing words: delay, deny and die. No more should that happen.

When you look at how we've been working through this in the 12 months since the royal commission report, you see we are continually working to improve the situations for veterans and our defence personnel. We made a commitment that we would fix these things when we called the royal commission. I give credit to Senator Lambie, who was very vocal as well. To get this done is so important. What it shows is that we do value our veterans, we do value our defence personnel and we're actually stumping up to show that. They're not hollow words. They're not words about trying to find a political advantage. It's about actually doing the right thing.

I think about when my grandfather came back with shell shock. He got the hard nut: 'You'll be right. Out you go.' Like many veterans of World War II and many veterans of Vietnam, he took the hard way out through the bottom of a bottle, and that's not right. We've all got to pull our socks up and really work hard to get this done, but we've taken these first steps on the journey to fixing that. No more should we hear of the Julie-Ann Finneys of the world.

I want to give a big shout-out to Jeb Summers, a young bloke from the seat of Hawke. He was in McEwen, but, unfortunately, the AEC downgraded him to Hawke. He runs Save our Services. He stood at an Anzac Day ceremony and threatened to hand back his medals—that was shocking—because he couldn't get the support. Now he gets that. He's running these great programs for veterans refusing to deal with mental health and he's supporting people. But veterans threatening to give back their medals because they feel their country isn't helping them is not on. It's got to be stopped. That's why I've continued to push and fight to get as much done as we can as quickly as we can to help these people. As I said at the beginning, when we ask them to put on a uniform to do things for our country, it is our obligation to make sure that, when they return and finish their service, we look after them.

Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Australians mostly understand that service and sacrifice are the hallmarks of our ADF veterans, their families and community. As a fourth-generation veteran, I had the great honour of being appointed by the Prime Minister as the Special Envoy for Defence, Veterans' Affairs and Northern Australia. As a result of that, I have many opportunities to meet with ADF members, veterans, their families, ex-service organisations and other people that come into contact with this community of outstanding patriotic Australians.

To give you an example, this morning I was honoured to represent the minister at the Australian War Memorial to lay a wreath with the Australian Federation of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated Ex Service Men and Women. I was there with the Chief of the Defence Force and Matt Anderson, the Director of the Australian War Memorial. I thank them for facilitating the wonderful event in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and then to see the names that have been added in recent times to our honour roll to mark those who were killed on operations.

Before that, I attended the launch of Bravery Trek, a national fundraising challenge held every year by Bravery Trust. It was wonderful to see my good friend and former not-quite-classmate—she was a second-year when I was a first-year at the academy— Lieutenant General Susan Coyle. It was great to walk with her this morning and Khalil Fegan, our repat commissioner. I want to say well done to Steve Patrick and the whole team at Bravery Trust, who are raising vital funds through Bravery Trek to provide a financial safety net for current and ex-serving members facing hardship. They also do longer term financial counselling and proactive financial literacy programs.

Also, this morning I attended a launch of the strengthened partnership between Invictus Australia and the University of New South Wales. I'm continually impressed by the way Invictus is leading the world in terms of its programs. I want to give a shout-out and thank the chair, Glenn Keys, and the whole Invictus team. It was great to talk to the vice-chancellor at UNSW, my alma mater. It was great to understand more about how they're recognising current competencies and prior learning in the military and helping defence members to move as they transition—or a long time after they've transitioned—with that commitment to lifelong learning and with the skills that are inherent in anyone who's served in the military by way of the values that are instilled and the passion to get after it, whatever it may be. I encourage all veterans, wherever you can, to look for mentoring opportunities where you can assist those who are working through that period of transition, so we can have more veterans working across the various sectors of our economy, including the Public Service, and so you can share your leadership with them.

Tomorrow morning I'll be attending the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School graduation at HMAS Cerberus down in chilly coastal Victoria. I'm looking forward to that. My brother, Xavier, graduated from HMAS Cerberus about a quarter of a century ago. I look forward to the opportunity to talk to those naval recruits becoming sailors tomorrow morning—after talking to Admiral Johnston, the Chief of the Defence Force, at the Australian War Memorial this morning—and learn more from them about how our ADF is positioned to take on the challenges that we ask them to take on. Serving is the greatest purpose one can have in life, in my view. Serving the family, serving the community and serving the nation. We want Australians to be attracted to serving our nation in the Australian Defence Force, in our national intelligence organisations, Australian Border Force and, for that matter, our first responders—anywhere there is a need for good people serving the common good.

I am also always talking to families so they understand that we pushed for and eventually had a royal commission, which is the subject of this morning's speech. The cultural deficiencies that were there and that led to unnecessary and unavoidable suffering by members of the ADF and veteran community are being addressed. It is with confidence that I say to families that you can be assured that the ADF of today and of the future is much more about supporting the individual to be a team member and to complete the mission, but also to be set up for a happy and successful life. That is my main message to family members and to those thinking about serving in the Australian Defence Force.

We needed a royal commission, and we fought for it so hard and are now getting after those recommendations, because anyone who serves in the ADF should know their nation will do everything it can to provide the conditions for success, for one, and it will also provide the support that is only fit and proper for a grateful nation. It's our nation's duty to empower and support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence, veterans and families communities and to look after them. Many others have said this, and I acknowledge all those who have contributed to this debate.

There was an interim report of the royal commission in 2022 containing recommendations, and we started getting after those recommendations when we came to government. There was a backlog at DVA that we've acted to fix. We've legislated around the overhauling of complex systems and harmonised legislation. We're at a year now since the royal commission was handed down, with seven volumes and 122 recommendations. It's really important that we have a continued sense of urgency in the implementation of those recommendations. We've established an implementation taskforce within PM&C. At the beginning of August, nine recommendations had already been fully implemented, with a further 110 underway.

The establishment of an oversight body is important. The new Defence and Veterans' Services Commission will be up and running by the end of September. It will provide—as I'm sure many others have mentioned—oversight and evidence based advice that drives systematic reform to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for the Defence and veterans community. We are currently recruiting for the inaugural Defence and Veterans' Services Commissioner through a merit based recruitment process. The commissioner will have significant independent investigative powers into veteran supports and the progress of implementation of the recommendations from the royal commission—and that is important. Today we released the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. That is important as well. We're doing everything we can, as we should.

Renee Coffey (Griffith, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As we approach World Suicide Prevention Day next week, it's important to reflect on what we have learned from the recent Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and the progress we, as a government, have made. On 8 July 2021, the Australian government established the royal commission. The inquiry, which concluded on 28 August last year, examined systemic issues and common themes in past deaths by suicide of Australian Defence Force members and veterans. Importantly, this included suspected suicides and the lived experience of suicide risk. The royal commission delivered its interim report on 11 August 2022, and the final report was delivered in September last year.

I sincerely thank those serving and ex-serving personnel and their families who bravely shared their stories with the royal commission. Anyone who has read the report has encountered heartbreaking and devastating stories of anguish and loss. I say to those who spoke up that your courage and your commitment have provided us all with an opportunity to learn and strengthen how we, as the federal government, approach the mental health and welfare of current serving members, veterans and, as importantly, their families.

Last year, the Albanese government released the Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy. This delivers on Labor's commitment to identify ways to better support the families of Defence personnel and veterans, and it will further assist in responding to the royal commission. Delivering the strategy will help families to access appropriate housing solutions, offer greater certainty around locations for Defence Force personnel and their families, and provide better support during and after transition for ADF families.

I listened with great interest—and, to be frank, quite a bit of pride—this morning as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Hon. Matt Keogh, updated the House on the progress that has been made since the royal commission and its final report. I'm fortunate to have some unique insight into the impact of Defence life on children and families. Before running as a candidate for my electorate of Griffith and stepping into this place as a member of parliament, I was the CEO of the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation.

Kookaburra Kids was founded by Dianne Madden more than 20 years ago to support young people impacted by family mental illness, with the aim of empowering them to build resilience and lifelong knowledge and abilities so that they can reach their potential. Kookaburra Kids also supports the children of currently and formerly serving Australian Defence Force personnel through the Defence Kids program. The Department of Veterans' Affairs funds this foundation to deliver Defence Kids across Australia. The organisation provides camps, activity days and age-appropriate mental health education, focusing on coping skills and resilience, while allowing children to bond with peers who are facing similar challenges.

For Defence families, challenges can be vast. Relocation challenges and, for children, the challenges of making new friends, changing schools, parental absence—missing mum or dad—and, sometimes, dealing with the impacts of mental ill health within families, which might look like depression, anxiety or PTSD. Through camps, activity days and online programs, these young people find connection and community. They meet peers who understand the challenges of relocations, deployments, or having a parent affected by service. This unique program is supporting the unique needs of children from serving and ex-serving ADF families, and it has been made possible by the Australian government.

The most impactful story that I encountered in my work with the Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation involved two little boys, not much older than eight years old. I was at a camp where these boys were participating in a chat group, which is where mental health literacy is taught to young people. One of our supervisors was sharing information about different mental health conditions to raise these children's awareness of them, and they started to speak about PTSD and what that can look like for somebody experiencing it. One of the symptoms that was shared with the young people was an aversion to and a sensitivity to loud noises. One of the little boys was very distracted. He was playing with little fidget toys and was very much focused on something else, I thought. Another little boy spoke up and said, 'When my dad's home, we have to be really, really quiet. We can't make any noises,' and this other little boy who I thought wasn't paying attention looked up, as sharp as anything, and said, 'Me too.' It's those connections that children form with Kookaburra Kids and the knowledge that they gain about mental health that really empower them to go on and understand their family dynamics and how we can break cycles of mental ill health.

Our service men and women willingly stand ready to protect our nation, sometimes far from home, with their families adapting to frequent moves and managing everything that comes with the deployment. They contribute so much, and families carry hidden sacrifices every day. It's only right that we stand beside these families, not just with gratitude but with tangible, meaningful support.

In my own electorate of Griffith, I see firsthand the extraordinary work being done to support our veterans and their families. Gallipoli Medical Research is based in my electorate of Griffith and is leading world-class research into the mental health and wellbeing of our veterans. I want to acknowledge the work of Miriam Kent, their fabulous CEO, and her team. Their work on PTSD, transition and long-term health impacts is giving us insights that shape policy and improve lives. I've had the privilege of visiting the foundation multiple times over the last year, once with Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and again with my colleague and good friend Luke Gosling OAM, the member for Solomon, who just addressed this place. He's a fourth-generation veteran and also special envoy for defence and veterans. Each visit to the Gallipoli centre has been a reminder of the commitment and compassion that drive their work, and this year it was my great honour to commemorate Anzac Day at a very wet dawn service at Gallipoli Medical Research. The service reinforced just how deeply their research is connected to the stories, the service and the sacrifice of our defence community.

I want also to pay tribute to Legacy Brisbane, headquartered in South Brisbane, in my electorate. Legacy Brisbane supports almost 4,000 family members of fallen and injured veterans across South-East, Central and western Queensland. They work to make a tangible difference to children, partners and ageing parents, ensuring that no-one is left behind. I especially want to thank Legacy Brisbane CEO Brendan Cox and his whole team for their tireless service and relentless advocacy. The compassion, respect and practical support that they provide is extraordinary.

We know there is so much more work to do. Too many families still struggle to access timely, appropriate support, but we are making progress. Veterans claims are being processed faster, more people are choosing to stay in the ADF for longer and our veterans and families hubs are expanding so that support is closer to home. The royal commission tasked us with nothing less than a once-in-a-generation reform, and that is exactly what we are delivering. As the minister outlined this morning, we are not limiting ourselves to just the work of the royal commission. We are already seeing more people choose to stay longer as a result and we have expanded our veterans and families hubs so people can access their support close to home. We're working hard to ensure we achieve the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture to support Defence personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia. Implementing these reforms from the royal commission is vital to ensuring that Defence personnel, veterans and also families receive vital care, services and support.

I stand here not just as a parliamentarian but as someone who has walked alongside families in this space in my career prior to coming to this place. I have found it an enormous honour in my career to have been able to work with those families and with those children and their parents. I see everything that they give up to support our country, and it is right that we support them in return. I know the difference that that support can make, and I have also seen firsthand the cost when it is absent. Our task is clear: to serve those who serve, to honour those who sacrifice and to ensure that no family ever feels alone. Together, with the voices of lived experience guiding us, we will continue this vitally important work for our Defence personnel, for veterans and for their families. As our minister said this morning, it is not just what they need; it is what they deserve.

Matt Thistlethwaite (Kingsford Smith, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Immigration) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On the one-year anniversary of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide's final report, I wish to pay tribute to the families of those who lost their lives in the service of our nation and to veterans for their commitment to putting on the agenda the plight of those who served our nation and unfortunately took their own lives. Those that campaigned for the royal commission deserve our recognition today. We, of course, remember all of those who have passed, and we think about their loved ones.

There's an expectation from the Australian community that we look after our Defence Force members and veterans, but, for too long, that wasn't the reality. We were tasked by the royal commission with effecting once-in-a-generation cultural change and reform, and our government has been working at pace to implement the royal commission's recommendations that will ensure the most comprehensive reforms to the systems, processes and culture that support Defence Force personnel, veterans and families ever undertaken in Australia.

We're doing this not only because it's the right thing to do but because our Defence Force personnel and veterans have risked their lives in the defence of our nation and deserve better. It's also a crucial component of building a defence force that people want to join, want to serve in and want to stay in. We've already legislated for the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission, an independent oversight body that the royal commission deemed their most important recommendation. That will be formally up and running later this month. Where changes were able to be made immediately, we've done so. Our priority is to improve the wellbeing of our people from the day they sign up to long after they've hung up their uniform for the last time. We want to strengthen suicide prevention and drive better outcomes for current and former serving personnel, making sure we're supporting them in ways they not only need but deserve.

I'd like to outline some of the outstanding work that's been done by Open Arms, the veterans and families counselling service, and also point out that people can contact Open Arms at any stage if they're struggling and need support. Our veterans make sacrifices in the service of their country, and they put their lives on the line to protect the rest of us. I want to thank Open Arms and their staff for their unwavering support to veterans and their families. Specialist staff are trained to provide military aware and trauma informed care at Open Arms, and many Open Arms staff are veterans themselves or from veterans' families. Open Arms was established by Vietnam veterans as the Vietnam Veterans Counselling Service. That conflict was a lengthy conflict and a contentious one, and many of those who returned to Australia from Vietnam struggled. From that experience, a dedicated group of Vietnam veterans banded together to lobby for a dedicated support service that's now grown into Open Arms and is doing fantastic work. Since 1982, Open Arms has provided millions of free mental health sessions for more than 300,000 veterans and their families.

I also want to congratulate the family advocate that works in the Defence Force as well. We recently appointed Annabelle Wilson as the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner for five years. This is an important role. Ms Wilson is the widow of a veteran and a respected champion for the veteran community, recognised for her empathy, drive and evidence based approach. The job of a veteran family advocate commissioner is a vital one which continues to implement the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The commissioner is tasked with giving voice to veterans and their families, providing strategic policy advice and fostering cooperation between government agencies and the veteran community. The Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner is a member of both the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, which oversee and administer the veteran and family entitlement schemes.

I want to pay tribute to the former veteran family advocate commissioner, Gwen Cherne. I want to thank Ms Cherne for her steadfast determination and her work on behalf of veterans. When I was the assistant defence minister, I worked very closely with Ms Cherne. She's a person who has a deep understanding of the plight of families that have been wracked by suicides of Defence Force members, given that her own husband, unfortunately, took his own life in the wake of his service. Gwen has devoted her life to assisting those veterans and their families to cope with service and ensuring that they get the best support and mental health services, which they deserve and require. I want to thank Gwen for her steadfast commitment to veterans and their families throughout this country and her sterling job in that role.

Earlier this year, the government reappointed Kahlil Fegan as Australia's Repatriation Commissioner for another five years. Kahlil is also someone I worked very closely with as the assistant defence minister. Since his appointment in 2023, he's lent his voice to fellow veterans, ensuring that they're heard on issues that matter to them. In that role as the Repatriation Commissioner, Kahlil, working with the RSL, has established the Middle East Area of Operations Scoping Study to look at the impact of service in the Middle East since 2002 on our veterans and their families. For each major conflict that Australia has been involved in, there has been some form of study or investigation into the effects that that service has had on veterans and their families. We did it after World War II, we did it after Vietnam, and it is the right time for us to do this again to ensure that the government, the Defence Force and veteran support organisations are responsive to the needs of veterans who served in the Middle East since 2002. It's important to point out that the needs of veterans change through the generations. The needs of Vietnam veterans will be very different to the needs of this generation, and the purpose of this scoping study is to make sure that we understand what those needs are and we can deal with them into the future. As Repatriation Commissioner, Kahlil will continue to engage with and advocate for veterans to ensure that they receive high-quality services from the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

I also want to thank, and highlight the unbelievable advocacy of, Julie-Ann Finney, whose 38-year-old son, Royal Australian Navy Petty Officer David Finney, died by suicide in 2019. Ms Finney played a crucial role in the establishment of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. She campaigned day in, day out, hour after hour, to ensure that her son's service and memory meant something and that our government responded. She also shared her deeply personal story when the royal commission's public hearings opened in May 2023. In my previous role as assistant minister, I worked quite closely with Ms Finney, and I pay tribute to her again for her advocacy. She is a wonderful Australian, and she deserves our praise.

The royal commission's task for us as a government is no small feat, but we have no doubt that delivery of this task is vitally important and will ensure the most comprehensive set of reforms to the systems, the culture and the processes of the Defence Force and our veteran support organisations. Implementing these reforms from the royal commission is a priority for our government and will ensure that our Defence Force personnel and veterans and their families get the service and support that they deserve for serving our nation.

Carol Berry (Whitlam, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have a strong personal interest in this issue. My maternal grandfather fought in the Borneo campaign towards the end of World War II, an operation conducted to liberate British North Borneo, as it was then called, from occupation by Japanese forces. My great uncle also served in World War II, including as part of the Kokoda campaign fought in Papua New Guinea. For both these men, particularly my grandfather, the scars left by those experiences affected them and their broader families for the rest of their lives. Tragically, the pain and anguish my relatives suffered, mostly in silence, after they returned home was similar to the internal battles faced by so many other veterans. In more recent times we have recognised that we have a duty to support the mental health and wellbeing of our defence and veteran community.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established in 2021, and I note the substantial contribution of Senator Lambie, who joined with us to secure its establishment. The royal commission heard from thousands of current and former defence members and families—importantly, this included the families of those who were not there to speak for themselves. These stories were frequently heartbreaking. It was clear that systems were broken and not enough was being done to support our personnel both during and after their service.

The royal commission released an interim report in August 2022, and this contained a list of urgent recommendations. I am pleased to say that the Labor government acted on all of them. We have cleared the unallocated compensation claims backlog, which included 41,000 cases that had been waiting to be actioned. We have ensured that new claims are now being looked at by someone in the Department of Veterans' Affairs within 14 days of being submitted. We are making good progress speeding up the system, with new liability claims under the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 being processed in around 100 days. We engaged with a range of stakeholders, and after hundreds of discussions we were able to pass the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2024 in February this year. This legislation simplifies the complex veteran composition system that too often causes confusion and frustration, and which was identified by royal commission as a contributor to suicidality amongst veterans. The new legislation means that all veterans' claims will be assessed for compensation and rehabilitation under a single piece of legislation that will be simpler to use and faster to process.

In September last year the royal commission released its final report with 122 recommendations. Within three months, the Albanese Labor government agreed or agreed in principle to 104 of those recommendations, and we are committed to conducting further work on the other recommendations. In December 2024 we established the royal commission implementation taskforce to oversee the development of comprehensive and considered advice on implementing the response to the royal commission. Significantly, this taskforce sits within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The royal commission recommended that the most significant action the government could take to address defence and veteran suicide was to establish a new statutory oversight body with a dedicated and sustained focus on suicide prevention. We have taken action to establish this as a priority. The new Defence and Veterans' Services Commission will be up and running by the end of this month. It will provide independent oversight and evidence based advice to drive system reform to improve suicide prevention and wellbeing outcomes for the defence and veteran community. In addition, this government has announced $44.5 million in funding over four years for the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission, and we are currently recruiting the inaugural Defence and Veterans' Services Commissioner. The commissioner will have significant independent investigative powers into veterans' supports and progress on implementation of the royal commission's recommendations. This appointment will drive systemic change and champion the wellbeing of serving and ex-serving ADF members across government and the ex-service community. We will also introduce standalone legislation for the Defence and Veterans' Services Commission to ensure its independence and enhance oversight of its implementation.

The royal commission identified a need for a holistic approach to wellbeing when supporting defence personnel, veterans and families. Today we have released the Defence and Veteran Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Department of Veterans' Affairs and the Department of Defence have been working together since 2023 to develop the strategy, together with the mental health and wellbeing action plan and the suicide prevention action plan. The strategy complements the Defence and Veteran Family Wellbeing Strategy 2025-2030, and the Veteran Transition Strategy. These are all key foundational documents for the new wellbeing agency. The strategy unites Defence and the Department of Veterans' Affairs to foster a culture of wellbeing and mental health care.

I note that we've provided $4.5 million to the Department of Veterans' Affairs to commence a codesign and consultation process with the veteran community on both the wellbeing agency and an ex-service organisation peak body. A national roadshow has been held throughout this year, and more than 600 people have been consulted. We are now working to finalise the wellbeing agency operating model so that it can be established by the middle of next year.

Another important initiative being pursued by the Department of Defence includes a range of preventive measures to minimise exposure to activities with a link to brain injury. Defence is working closely with the Department of Veterans' Affairs to establish a brain injury program to improve prevention, early detection and treatment pathways for current and former ADF members with neurocognitive issues.

The royal commission highlighted disturbing failures in the treatment of women across defence and veterans systems. These failures need to be acknowledged with honesty and addressed with urgency. The Albanese government is committed to addressing these failures through the development of the Women Veterans Strategy, a comprehensive plan to ensure both current and former serving personnel are valued and properly supported at every stage of their service and transition to civilian life. This strategy will, either directly or indirectly, implement 52 royal commission recommendations and is being shaped by the voices of the women who have served. It will address core areas such as health care, mental health, financial security, housing and family support, all through a gender informed lens.

I note that recommendation 15 has been implemented through an updated central policy on sexual misconduct, which now provides clearer and more consistent guidance for commanders and managers. It outlines when to engage the Joint Military Police unit and how to determine whether conduct may constitute a criminal offence and introduces structured return to work protocols for those who may be impacted by misconduct. Defence is also reviewing and updating key frameworks, including the Defence complaints and resolutions manual, to ensure definitions of sexual offences and reporting pathways are clearly articulated and in line with equivalent civilian provisions. Importantly, ADF prosecution councils are now required to invite impact statements to be considered by a service tribunal during sentencing, aligning military practice with longstanding procedures in civilian courts.

In November last year, the Chief of the Defence Force issued a directive that commanders and managers must now consider suspension from duty and involuntary separation of members alleged to have engaged in serious misconduct, including sexual offences, sexual harassment, intimate image abuse and stalking. Overall, these reforms send a clear message that sexual misconduct has no place in our Defence Force. There must be a culture that does not tolerate abuse, that acts decisively when harm occurs and that places the dignity and safety of all members at the centre of our actions.

One year after the final report was released, we've made good progress, but we are fully aware there is more important work to do. We want to deliver the most comprehensive reforms ever undertaken in Australia to reform the systems, processes and culture to support defence personnel and veterans and their families. The Albanese Labor government will continue to act on the royal commission's recommendations as quickly as we can.

Cameron Caldwell (Fadden, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise briefly today to make a contribution on this matter. I want to, firstly, pay tribute to the contributions that have been made on both sides of the chamber on this issue. It's one that I think has been taken extremely seriously by all sides of politics, and there is a genuine and deep recognition of the issues that needed to be resolved.

I rise particularly to pay tribute to some local residents that I've got to know very well: John and Robyn Halloran. John and Robyn lost their son, Tom, who served our nation. There was an enormous amount of pain for them and for Tom's sister, Annie, with his loss. The family first came to my attention when the local RSL at Runaway Bay approached me in my capacity as the local councillor to put a small plaque in memorial of Tom at our cenotaph at Runaway Bay. I was moved at the time by the story and by the family's efforts to not have lost Tom in vain. I supported that small gesture. Within a very short period of time, Anzac Day rolled around, and John, Robyn and Annie were there. In that moment, the realisation of their pain hit me quite deeply.

I was extremely proud to have played some part in ensuring that Tom's loss was never going to be without a lasting legacy. John, Robyn and Annie, I want to take this opportunity to say thank you to you because you have gone and turned your pain into a positive message that we can use as a nation to redirect what happens in the future. This royal commission has played a role in ensuring that the legacy that Tom and you as a family have put forward will not be lost and will not be in vain. Thank you so much.