History will judge leaders on military suicide response: Royal Commission Chair

The Chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide says history will judge Government and military leaders on how they respond to the suicide crisis in Australia’s military community.

The inquiry has today concluded its final public hearings, which have again examined issues of leadership and accountability with a focus on how Government, the Australian Defence Force and Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs have responded to high rates of suicide and suicidal behaviour among serving and ex-serving ADF members.

Chief of Defence, General Angus Campbell, was the last in a long list of Ministers, military chiefs and departmental heads to front the Royal Commission over the past four weeks.

General Campbell begun his evidence today by apologising for deficits in the care Defence has provided its people and pledging to do better.

"Our people deserve and should rightly expect the wellbeing, support and care they need, both during and after their service. I acknowledge that this has not always been the case and has tragically led to the death by suicide of some of our people," General Campbell said. "I apologise unreservedly for these deficiencies. Defence is committed and I am committed to doing better."

In his closing statement, Chair of the Royal Commission Nick Kaldas invoked the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, who told the inquiry on 7 March that "history will be our judge".

"History will absolutely judge those who are in a position to make a difference – and service members, veterans, their families and the future workforce of the ADF will be watching," Commissioner Kaldas said. "We all owe it to our sailors, soldiers and aviators to ensure they receive the protection and support they need and deserve."

Commissioner Kaldas reiterated that this Royal Commission must be the catalyst for long-overdue reform.

"We hope this Royal Commission has been the much-needed shock to the system that will inspire the change required to address the national tragedy of Defence and veteran suicide once and for all," he said.

Evidence provided in the final, four-week hearing underscored the contemporary nature of the cultural and systemic issues within Defence and DVA that are failing serving and ex-serving members, and their families.

A number of witnesses gave heartbreaking and, at times, harrowing accounts of their own experiences of suicide and suicidality – and how they or their loved ones were let down by the organisation they had sworn to defend.

Significantly, the Chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force acknowledged for the first time the link between what happens in service and negative, potentially tragic, outcomes for veterans.

The Secretary of DVA, Alison Frame, was also asked about ongoing cultural and systemic challenges within her Department.

Commissioner Kaldas acknowledged the progress towards simplifying the legislation governing veterans’ entitlements and the clearing of the backlog of unprocessed claims as significant results.

But he stressed there is still much work to be done.

"The Commission will be watching closely over coming months to see whether or not the 73,700 claims with a DVA officer as at 29 February this year are dealt with in a more-timely manner, and whether their ‘business-as-usual’ approach delivers faster decisions for veterans, and their families, who historically have been driven to the brink – and in some tragic cases, beyond – while waiting years for their claims to be even looked at," he said.

As the Commission completes its inquiry phase, Mr Kaldas said Commissioners are determined to deliver a final report with robust and practical recommendations, including a potential recommendation for a new entity with oversight powers to ensure long-lasting change.

"It’s clear to us that the problems we’re grappling with; a lack of public interest in and understanding of the issues; a level of distrust in Defence’s ability and willingness to change; and the need to maintain a relentless focus on these issues once the Royal Commission ends; warrant the standing up of an independent body to watch this space for the foreseeable future," Commissioner Kaldas said.

The Royal Commission will have a Ceremonial Closing at the State Library of NSW on 28 August. Its final report is due to be handed to the Governor-General by 9 September.