Andrew Bartlett (Queensland, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Ellison, the minister representing the ministers responsible for veterans and Defence personnel issues. I refer to media reports that 121 Australian Defence Force personnel who have recently fought in Iraq and Afghanistan have been discharged as being unfit for further service due to mental illness—including anxiety and depression—with 23 of those people reported to have serious psychological problems as a result of their service. There have also been reports that two returned soldiers have committed suicide after returning from the war zone. Can the minister confirm these reports and can he indicate what ongoing assistance is being provided to those personnel who have been discharged in these circumstances and their families? What action is the government taking to ensure the incidence of harm such as this being done to our servicemen and servicewomen is significantly reduced?