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

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Does the minister agree that this degree of severe psychological harm is unacceptable? Does the government believe that more can be done to prevent or to assist in the treatment of psychological illness as a result of active service? Can the minister indicate to the Senate whether the government is planning to do anything differently from now on to guarantee that we do not create a new group of returned service people who have put their lives on the line for their country and their government only to suffer enormously when they return? What is the government planning to do differently before it seeks to commit further troops to these same theatres?