Andrew McLachlan (SA, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I wish to provide the Senate with some early reflections on the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. These are early reflections. Members would know that I'm a proud legatee of Legacy. Legacy has dedicated itself to supporting veterans' families for over a hundred years. I joined them after a short sojourn in the shadow of the Hindu Kush myself, and that time reinforced the importance of family to veterans, veterans communities and those currently serving. Legacy has issued an open letter calling for the implementation of all the recommendations, especially recommendation 122, which seeks to create a new statutory authority to supervise the implementation of the remaining recommendations. I wish to associate myself with that open letter and its calls to action not only as a legatee but also as a veteran.

I also wish to put on the record my congratulations to Senator Lambie and my acknowledgement that she fought very hard for this royal commission and did so on behalf of families. She should be rightly acknowledged for her great work.

This royal commission report is the 58th report in a sequence and the 892nd recommendation. It represents or lays out before us an utter failure of Defence to implement change. It's a national shame. In fact, the commissioners had so little confidence in Defence being able to implement their own recommendations that they recommended a statutory authority to oversee it. That's a tombstone, a totem to the failure of Defence.

Here are some things I am considering. This parliament should seriously consider a national apology to veterans and the defence community. When we're dealing with veterans entitlements, we should think about reversing the burden of proof so that, when you apply or make a claim, the process is not so truncated that it adds to the trauma. It's something I've fought for and continue to fight for for the paramedics in South Australia. We need to find ways to ensure cultural change in Defence. That may mean changing the way we deliver leadership training. Senator Lambie has indicated that perhaps ADFA and its place in the defence establishment should be reviewed. I am open to that suggestion. We should also think about the allocation of honours and awards to senior defence officers. They can't keep receiving honours simply for their service whilst a national shame is occurring in the background. It is a scar on our body politic.

I want to thank all those that are currently serving and that have served. My thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who were hurt as a consequence of Defence neglect. I'm very sorry.

I thank the commissioners for their diligence and incredible work. It must have been quite a burden to listen to the evidence from the families in pain. We have a moral obligation to care for veterans and their families in need. Now is the time to steel ourselves and work hard to build a better future for those in our defence forces, for those that are currently serving and those serving in the future.