Richard Marles (Corio, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I present the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report, volumes 1 to 7. In doing so, I say that the Albanese government welcomes this report. As the Prime Minister said earlier today at the beginning of question time, I'd like to acknowledge the many people across this parliament who have advocated for this royal commission, of which the report is its product. I particularly want to acknowledge Julie-Ann Finney, who is in the gallery today. I know and the Prime Minister knows—and I am aware that so many across this parliament know—that this report would not have been tabled today but for Julie-Ann's advocacy. I have had the honour of meeting Julie-Ann and hearing firsthand her story, and her advocacy has been singularly brave. I want to say to Julie-Ann: this report is for David and for the many others like him who have worn our nation's uniform.

The Albanese government called for the royal commission when in opposition, in December 2019, and the Morrison government commissioned the royal commission in July 2021. Throughout this time the royal commission conducted 12 public hearing blocks, comprising 340 witnesses, 900 private sessions and more than 5,800 submissions. The report and its 122 recommendations over seven volumes and more than 3,000 pages mark the culmination of the most significant, the most comprehensive inquiry conducted into suicide and suicidality in the defence and veterans communities. The government thanks all of those who were brave enough to contribute to the inquiry, those who told their story and came forward to give their evidence. That act of bravery has made an enormous difference. The government also wants to thank the royal commissioners, Nick Kaldas APM, the Hon. James Douglas KC and Dr Peggy Brown AO, for their thorough and compassionate inquiry.

Since coming to government, we have continued to demonstrate our commitment to improving the welfare of defence personnel, veterans and their families. We've been working to deliver real change each and every day. In August 2022, the government acted swiftly to table the interim report of the royal commission and, in the process, agreed to implement all of its recommendations.

Wearing our nation's uniform is a sacred act. It is an act of service to all of us. It is an act of humility. Inherent in the act is putting one's comrades in arms, one's community and the nation ahead of oneself. Most significantly, it is an innate act of sacrifice—each and every day, where so many of those days are spent away from family and friends—in the sense that in that most critical moment, that darkest hour, there is a willingness when wearing our nation's uniform to lay down one's life in complete commitment to the decisions which are made in this building on behalf of each and every one of us. So, it is utterly incumbent upon us to do honour to those who wear our nation's uniform.

I have had the distinct pleasure and privilege to have met so many who have made this choice. I understand what a special group of people they are, who decide to wear our nation's uniform. So, it is most important that we do everything within our power to make sure that the environment in which they operate is the best that it can be. Our government's priority is to ensure that those who pursue a career in the ADF have a safe and inclusive workplace and are supported from the time they join through to transition and service. The royal commission's final report and recommendations will strengthen our approach to the mental health and welfare of defence personnel, veterans and families. We will now work through the recommendations in a timely and methodical manner.

The government, as the Prime Minister said earlier, recognises that today may be a mixed and difficult day, involving significant emotions for people. If you are struggling or in need of extra support, please know there are services available to you: Lifeline on 131114 and Open Arms Veterans and Families Counselling on 1800011046. The government is committed to responding to this report shortly. We will do so soon, in a manner which is timely. We will do so with complete thoroughness, because those who wear our nation's uniform deserve nothing less.

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

on indulgence—I, too, would like to recognise the presence here today of Julie-Ann Finney and acknowledge her great loss of Dave. There were around 3,000 Daves—lives lost tragically to suicide—between 1997 and 2021.

We have a responsibility in this nation. If someone signs their name on the dotted line—therefore they offer their life for this land—we have to protect them when they come home. There is something wrong when a person is more likely to die once they've finished their service and get back onto civvy street than they are when they're actually in the service. I hope on a bipartisan level that we can work to our very best on this. I'd like the minister—I acknowledge he's here at present—to expedite this process, get it through and get it resolved out of respect for those who have died.

I'd also like to acknowledge those in the chamber who have served—the members for Canning, Herbert, Braddon, Menzies, Leichhardt, Solomon and Spence—and all the other reservists who have served. When people do this, they are making sure that our nation is safe. You can't have a superannuation fund, a house, a business or a future if you don't have a nation, if it's just not present. For us to have that nation, we have to have people, men and women, who are prepared to serve.

Those who have tragically died are someone's mother, father, brother, sister, son or daughter, and that hole in that family's life, in that circle of people's lives, will remain with them forever. The questions as to why remain with them forever. The photos of their family member in a service uniform will stay on the mantelpiece for as long as they are alive and then be handed on, with pride, to family members. Those who serve our nation are from families of honour because they offer their lives for the future betterment of this country.

I look forward to this report being handed down, and I look forward to doing what we can, on this side, to work with the minister in good nature and with honour to make sure whatever can be done is done as quickly and as properly as possible, so that people such as Dave are remembered. We can never bring him back, but, Julie-Ann, the respect we can show is that we have taken this very seriously and to the best of our ability.

I'd also like to acknowledge those who were so fully in support of bringing this forward and the fights that they've had. This was an issue as to which, at the start, there might have been some conjecture, but, once it was in train, there was not one doubt whatsoever that this was an item of the utmost importance.