Barnaby Joyce (New England, National Party, Shadow Minister for Veterans' Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I concur in my remarks on the observation of the interim report. In listening to the minister's statement, I see no great gulf between our two positions. Our endeavours are absolutely focused on making sure we deal with the tragedy of veteran suicide. It's a travesty that one of the safest places you can be with regard to suicide is in the full-time service or in the reserves but some of the most afflicted groups are ex-servicemen on their way out of the services—one of the highest suicide rates—and those who by reason of medical discharge have gone out of the services. We want to make sure that civvie street is as safe as the barracks, and we on this side are very proud of having brought about the royal commission. Once more I commend the efforts of the member for Wide Bay, the member for Braddon, the member for Herbert and the member for Canning on their efforts to bring about the royal commission. Those who have served our nation and especially those who have paid the supreme sacrifice deserve no less from us than our greatest endeavours to make sure that our people are safe and those who have served our nation are treated with respect and live a fulsome life that is warranted to them and to the honour of their families, who have given so much for the protection of our land.

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