Matt Keogh (Burt, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Spence for his very important question, and I recognise his advocacy for the veterans in his community and acknowledge his service in our Australian Defence Force. This morning, I joined Lifeline and my colleagues the member for Cooper and Senator Stewart at the Out of the Shadows Walk to remember those lost to suicide and reflect on the work ahead.

Veteran suicide is a national tragedy. That's why we supported the establishment of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has confirmed some 1,677 known cases of suicide amongst serving and ex-serving personnel between 1997 and 2021. Some three years and thousands of submissions later, the royal commission has handed down their final report. It's the culmination of the most significant inquiry conducted into suicide and suicidality in our defence and veteran communities. The royal commission and all of us have heard the harrowing stories of serving members, former serving members and the family members of those who have taken their own lives.

The report is comprehensive. It is some seven volumes long, containing over 3,100 pages and 122 recommendations. We're already putting in the work to properly understand and consider the recommendations and the detail behind them. It's incumbent on all of us—government, Defence, the ADF, the Department of Veterans' Affairs—to take the action necessary to identify and combat the drivers of suicide and suicidality in our defence and veteran community. We moved swiftly when we received the royal commission's interim report, taking action on all 13 of its recommendations. We recognise the urgency of the recommendations in this final report and we'll move swiftly to develop the government's response.

I want to thank everyone who helped campaign for and who contributed to the royal commission for their bravery in sharing their often harrowing stories about their own experience in service and those who have given a voice to loved ones no longer able to share their own story. I also thank the commissioners for their important and sensitive work. One death is one too many. We must do what we can as quickly as we can to prevent suicide across our defence and veteran community. For those who require support, please reach out to Open Arms on 1800011046.

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