Julie-Ann Finney raises worries over National Commission for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention boss’s military links

A mum whose son took his life last year says she worries the woman heading a probe into veteran suicide is too friendly with the ADF.

An Adelaide mother who is calling for a royal commission into veteran suicide says the Federal Government has appointed the wrong person to head an inquiry into the issue.

Julie-Ann Finney, of Blair Athol, will raise her concerns with the Senate this week over the appointment of Bernadette Boss as interim commissioner of the National Commission for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention.

Ms Finney, whose veteran son David Finney, took his life in 2019, said Dr Boss’s long association with the Australian Defence Force would hinder her impartiality.

“Not only is she an ex-Defence member but she would be inquiring into issues that might involve her peers,” said Ms Finney, adding Dr Boss would have personal and professional connections in the Defence Forces “spanning decades”.

Julie-Ann Finney. Picture Gary Ramage

Dr Bernadette Boss.

Dr Boss is a former commanding officer and Canberra magistrate and coroner. She will have power to investigate, monitor and recommend changes under proposed laws currently before Parliament.

Ms Finney is asking veterans and their families and friends to raise their concerns over Dr Boss’s appointment – as she has – with Attorney-General Christian Porter and their local federal MPs. Mr Porter said Dr Boss was an ideal candidate and would be required to disclose conflicts of interest.

But Steve Georganas, the federal Labor MP for the seat of Adelaide, said: “The issue is not the credibility of the new appointment but … that when someone spends 25 years working for a particular organisation it raises questions of their independence.”

Federal Labor has promised to hold a royal commission into veteran suicide if elected. Dr Boss declined to comment.

Lieutenant Colonel Bernadette Boss, commanding officer of Sydney University Regiment, with Fuzzy Wuzzy Angels Frederick Soka, Davidson YariYari and Benjamin Ijumi.

A special investigation – as part of the Sunday Mail and The Advertiser’s Let’s Talk: Our State of Mind campaign – has revealed a desperate lack of psychiatrists and medical professionals to support returned veterans, amid an alarming rise in suicides and waiting times, exacerbated by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.