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

My question is to the Prime Minister. Today, the report from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was handed down. Why was this royal commission so important?

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Solomon for his question and for his strong advocacy of the need for a royal commission. On behalf of the government, the parliament and indeed the people of Australia, I want to thank everyone who contributed to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. In particular, I want to acknowledge the Defence Force members, veterans and their families who have shared experiences to shape the final report that will be tabled later today. For many, this meant revisiting the darkest moments of their lives. There were 12 public hearings, 340 witnesses and 900 private sessions. More than 5,800 submissions were made to this royal commission. It is a measure of the extraordinary courage of those involved and a reflection of their great selflessness and their determination to make sure that others are protected from what they have endured.

I do want to also, in addition to recognising the contribution of the member for Solomon, recognise Senator Lambie in particular for her steadfast efforts and other members of parliament, on both sides, who have been passionate about this issue. I also want to recognise some of the families. I note that Julie-Ann Finney is in the gallery today. She did so much to bring this commission about.

Royal commissions hold a special status in our democracy. They have power to seek the truth about what has happened in the past, but they also carry a weight and status to drive change into the future, to make our nation face up to our collective failures to not do better—and to demand that we do better in the future. This is why the government will thoroughly consider every recommendation, and we want to work across the parliament on these issues and do what we can to ensure that. Just as our veterans and defence personnel step up for our country, we have an obligation to step up for them.

I want to say that this will be a difficult day for many people. It will be triggering. I want to encourage anyone who's in need of support to contact either Lifeline on 131114 or Open Arms on 1800011046.

'Lest we forget' is Australia's most solemn promise. It's a promise we make to remember the fallen, to honour their sacrifice, to care for the loved ones who are left behind and to ensure that all those who have worn the uniform of this nation have access to the support and services they need and deserve. This will be a difficult day for many Australians, but I pay tribute to all those who have endured a difficult day today in order to make tomorrow better for those veterans.

Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

on indulgence—I thank the Prime Minister for his update to the House. On behalf of the shadow minister for veterans' affairs, the shadow minister for defence and all of my colleagues, I join with the government in what necessarily is a bipartisan response to one of the most critical issues facing our country. Our country, particularly because of the values we adhere to, should always treat with respect and dignity those who have served us in uniform, people who have left their families, parents and loved ones to go and fight in another part of the world.

When we remember back to those who came back from the Vietnam War, the shameful way in which our country treated those people on return had an enduring, scarring impact on them individually, on their families and on subsequent generations. When we think about the way in which we have provided support most recently to those who served in the Middle East, many, particularly on successive rotations, having been away from their loved ones and coming back from that high-impact service that they were performing in the Middle East, to expect them to lead a normal life, picking kids up from school or sport—all of that takes an enormous toll. The fact is that, over a long period of time, our country hasn't done well enough in providing support to those people.

I thank the Prime Minister for his words today. I thank all of those who have been involved in providing evidence to the royal commission. As the Prime Minister said, this will be impactful again today for many.

I was with the member for Herbert in Townsville only a week or so ago, speaking to some veterans up there about the impact on them—the way in which the services still don't do justice to the support that's required to help them through their mental and physical ailments.

Defence has let people down. The Department of Veterans' Affairs has let people down. Both sides of politics over a long period of time, despite the best of intent, have let these diggers down as well. So, in providing support to those who have given evidence and to those families who remain, we pay tribute to all of them.

I thank the families that I've met with over a long time, including the Halloran family but many others, whose stories will stay with us forever. We must do better in the future to provide support for those who serve us with great dignity and keep our name as a country so well-respected right throughout the world.