Raff Ciccone (Victoria, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to add my contribution following the tabling of the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Today is a significant day. It's a call to action.

I know that today will also be a very difficult day for many in the defence and veterans community, particularly those who have lost a loved one. I want to acknowledge Julie-Anne Finney, who is here today in the gallery—the mum of a veteran, her son David.

The immeasurable grief of losing a loved one to suicide is heartbreaking. It's a pain that cannot be described. The Albanese government first called for a royal commission when we were in opposition back in December 2019. It was something that I was very proud to support and champion for some time in this place. As a member of the government, a federal government that has to take responsibility for the actions committed by any government in previous years, I'd like to thank the many veterans, those serving and family members who are courageously sharing the experiences of the royal commission today and who have done so over some time throughout the course of the royal commission.

I want to briefly acknowledge the royal commissioners—the chair, Nick Kaldas APM; the    Hon. James Douglas KC; and Dr Penny Brown AO—for their work since the royal commission was established in July 2021. Throughout this time, the royal commission conducted 12 public hearing blocks containing 340 witnesses, 900 private sessions and over 5,800 submissions. There were stories, personal stories, from veterans and their families on the impact that suicide has had on them and their family. The royal commission has presented its final report, as the minister has now tabled, with 122 recommendations over seven volumes to address the cultural and systemic issues that current and former ADF members face, and the government will now work through the recommendations in a way that I hope will have bipartisanship and, in fact, the support of the whole chamber here, because we have an obligation to step up and fix the wrongs of the past.

In August 2022, the royal commission released its interim report. Back then, it also made 13 recommendations, and I'm happy to say that the Albanese government has taken action on all 13. The interim report recommended a simplification of veteran compensation legislation. The government has taken on the challenge by putting forward the most significant improvements to the veteran compensation system in a century. The bill before the Senate, the Veterans' Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024, was introduced in the parliament in July. Under this bill, all new compensation claims from 1 July 2026 will be handled under one single piece of legislation regardless of when or where a veteran served.

The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee, which I chair, has been undertaking an inquiry into the bill since it was referred on 4 July this year. The committee held a public hearing on 16 August here at Parliament House, and we will continue to have further insight and investigation into the bill as the matter progresses through the appropriate committee stages. The proposed reforms will make it easier for veterans and their families to understand what they're entitled to and allow DVA to process claims quicker. This year's federal budget set aside an extra $222 million for veteran and family entitlements across the two years from the start of this legislation.

I'm proud of the work the Albanese government is taking to address veteran services, entitlements and wellbeing, but we know that there is a lot more to be done. Our ultimate objective here is to ensure that defence personnel, veterans and their families are well looked after and that they receive the care that they need and deserve. A fortnight ago, the Minister for Veterans' Affairs attended a public forum on the bill in Melbourne, as he has done in different parts of the country.

It was a privilege to join him and many other veterans at the information session in Hawthorn and hear firsthand the experiences of veterans in attendance. I want to thank each and every one of those who made the effort to come to the public forum. The government is committed to a thorough and considered process which will deliver better outcomes for veterans and their families, because it is the right thing to do. Since coming to office, federal Labor has been working to improve the welfare of our defence personnel, our veterans and their families.

I'd like to take a moment to pay tribute to Australia's current ADF personnel, who have pledged their service to defend our great nation and its national interests. For anyone who might be listening to this debate today or reading through the royal commission's report, it is important to remember there is support out there. There are services that provide support 24/7, whether that be Lifeline on 131114 or Open Arms—Veterans & Families Counselling on 1800011046, but you can also seek support from your mates, your comrades and your local RSLs and the many other organisations and people whom you trust. If there is an issue, please speak up. Talk to someone.

The royal commission is a step forward. It's the first step by which the government is keen to challenge and make sure that we fix those wrongs of the past. The government will now consider the recommendations presented by the royal commission, and I look forward to working with fellow senators across the board, because here in the Senate we have an obligation to each and every one of our veterans, current and former. They deserve our support. We want to see people in the ADF have a successful career. They need to have a place that everyone can feel safe in, from the time they join to the time they transition to civilian life.

I want to commend the work of our commissioners again and say thank you to the government for their support and for the support across the board in this place for the establishment of the royal commission. I look forward to discussing the recommendations with our veterans' community over the weeks and months ahead. I seek leave to continue my remarks, although I know that other senators will have to make a contribution as well.

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