Julie-Ann Finney will continue her battle for a royal commission into veteran suicides, saying the PM’s plan doesn’t go far enough
Grieving Adelaide mother Julie-Ann Finney’s fight for a royal commission into military suicide isn’t over. She has now examined in detail the PM’s plan to address the crisis – and isn’t satisfied.
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- In depth: Julie-Ann Finney’s relentless fight for justice
- How her year-long campaign culminated in a partial victory
The grieving Adelaide mother who has spent the past 12 months fighting for a national solution to veteran suicide is maintaining her calls for a full-blown royal commission.
In an exclusive interview with The Advertiser, Julie-Ann Finney said her fight for a full-blown royal commission was not over.
Ms Finney, from Blair Athol, said the PM’s proposal to appoint an independent commissioner to investigate veteran suicide did not address the issues she believed were causing the crisis at the centre of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).
She met with the PM on Thursday to present her petition signed by more that 283,000 Australians.
“Mr Morrison told me what he has proposed is better than a royal commission but I’m not convinced by his argument,” said Ms Finney, who lost her son, David, a former marine technician, to suicide last year.
“At this point, it is a two-page fact sheet. This not justice for so many broken men and women.”
Ms Finney said there was no detail about the legislation or who the commissioner would be.
“There is no terms of reference so there’s not enough detail to have any confidence,” she said.
“I told him (PM) if his proposal has all the powers of a royal commission, then just call a full royal commission.”
Ms Finney said she had received “strong backing” from the veteran community.
“The only ones backing the PM are those with a vested interest in their careers, financially and their political views,” she said.
“If this plan is better, why didn't we do this rather than call the aged-care royal commission? I don’t disagree with the concept of a commissioner but it must come after the royal commission that has investigated all aspects of the DVA and ADF.
“The commissioner has no power to investigate the hundreds of tragic suicides caused by a broken system. I don't trust it will deep-dive into the ADF and VDA where the core of the problem exists.”
Ms Finney – who was joined in her meeting with the PM by Nikki Jamieson and Colleen Pillen, whose sons Daniel and Michael, both military veterans, also died by suicide – said her battle for justice for all military veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress would continue.
She has the support of federal Senator and veteran Jacqui Lambie and the federal Opposition.
“(Labor leader) Anthony Albanese told me his position hasn’t changed,” she said.
“Labor called for a royal commission last year and they won’t be backing any plan that is not one. We are all of the view the PM’s plan is not a proper investigation, just another barrier of bureaucracy.”
