Anthony Albanese has vowed the government’s response to a damning royal commission report into veteran suicide won’t be delayed, as advocates call for urgent action.
A key recommendation in the seven-volume final report included setting up an agency dedicated to the wellbeing of veterans to help with the transition from military to civilian life.
The federal government said it would consider all of the report’s findings, handed down on Monday after three years of hearings.
The prime minister pledged to respond as soon as possible, saying the government wouldn’t be delaying a response.
“I’m confident that this will be an area where the parliament will work across the political divide to make sure that we address this, that we give respect to those men and women who wear our uniform or who retired from the defence force,” Mr Albanese told an event at Parliament House on Tuesday.
Afghanistan veteran Bradley Carr took his own life on Anzac Day in 2019.
His mother Glenda Weston was part of a group of grieving mothers who successfully petitioned the former Morrison government to set up the royal commission into veteran suicide.
“In honour of my son Brad, I feel I have done the best I could, to bring justice and recognition to his life serving his country,” she said.
“The trauma we as a family have suffered from the day he arrived home from Afghanistan to this day was unjustly put upon us.”
Ms Weston said the pain of losing her 34-year-old son to post-traumatic stress disorder has had an “outstanding and devastating effect”.
“I have found peace in the knowledge that hopefully now and in the future more care will be taken in observing and determining results that will prevent this damage ever occurring again,” she said.
“It has been a long and heartbreaking journey, but at the end of the day, I still can’t hold my son and tell him I love him.”
RSL Australia president Greg Melick said it was critical all the report’s recommendations were acted on immediately,.
“The final report demonstrates how Australia has systematically failed those who have served and continue to serve our nation, and importantly, it provides a clear pathway to redress those failures,” he said.
The report had been a milestone for the defence community, Suicide Prevention Australia chief executive Nieves Murray said.
“There are on average three deaths by suicide by serving or ex-serving defence members every fortnight across Australia,” Ms Murray said.
Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said the coalition would work closely with the federal government to implement reform.
“The men and women of the ADF serve our nation with honour and bravery. But paying lip service to them is not enough,” Mr Hastie said.
“These findings are a stark reminder that we must do better by those who defend us.”
Lifeline 13 11 14
Open Arms 1800 011 046
