Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Now that both the House of Representatives and the Senate have called for the government to establish a royal commission into veterans' suicide, will he now respect the will of the people and our parliamentary democracy by unequivocally announcing that he will establish one?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the Leader of the Opposition would know, I have never opposed the establishment of a royal commission. What we've been seeking to do as a government is to put in place a permanent statutory independent commission with the powers of a royal commission to address these issues. I have made it very clear in the way that the government has responded to that motion that we do intend to go down this path, but I'm working through those issues currently.

I'm also working with crossbenchers in the Senate, because I believe that both of these mechanisms are very important. I would call on the opposition to support the government's bill that deals with the independent statutory commission; that can ensure that we have actions and powers in place now as well. I would invite the opposition to support that—

Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It won't work!

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Solomon!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would invite them to join us in that. I think that both measures can support veterans, which is what I think we all want.