News and Media

A statement regarding publication of the 20-year Review of the Office of the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force.

The Australian Government has tabled the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide in the Australian Parliament. The seven-volume report, containing 122 recommendations, is the culmination of an exhaustive three-year inquiry which has examined cultural, structural and systemic issues contributing to alarming rates of suicide and suicidality among Australia’s Defence and veteran population.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide will today hand down its final report containing 122 recommendations to drive improved health and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel – and save lives.

‘It’s now time to fight for our veterans’. That’s the message to all Australians from the three Royal Commissioners who’ve spearheaded a three-year inquiry into the suicide crisis within the nation’s Defence and veteran population.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has published a special book honouring the contribution of people with lived experience of military suicide to this landmark inquiry.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has completed its final private sessions with past and present Australian Defence Force personnel, as well as Defence families, touched by military suicide.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide had planned to deliver a special report to the Governor-General in June 2024, detailing a proposal for a new entity to follow the Royal Commission.

Analysis conducted by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide show there are on average three deaths by suicide by serving or ex-serving defence members every fortnight across Australia.

Supporting serving members, veterans and their families is important to do every day, not just on Anzac Day.

New research conducted for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide estimates that one serving or ex-serving Australian Defence Force member has suicide-related contact with emergency services every four hours across Australia.