SA former soldiers welcome Royal Commission into veteran suicide, say an independent commissioner is vital
SA ex-soldiers say the Royal Commission into veteran suicide must be free from politics – and completely independent.
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SA veterans have welcomed the long-awaited Royal Commission into veteran suicide but warn the road will be tough and there is no room for politics.
They say the Commission must address more transition support for veterans, especially those medically discharged, immediate access to mental health professionals and slashing claim processing times.
“We have seen so many reports and recommendations made over the years, now is the time to see some real action to address the problem of suicide among the veteran community,” said former combat engineer in Afghanistan Luke Adamson, 34.
Mr Adamson, founder of Adelaide-based charity Heroes on the Homefront, said an independent Royal Commission would bring accountability and remove politics from the health and wellbeing of veterans now and in the future.
The Royal Commission into veteran suicide, announced on Monday, follows Adelaide mother Julie-Ann Finney’s two-year battle with the Federal Government for an independent, systematic review of the rising suicide rate among veterans – her son included.
Afghanistan war veteran Tyson Potter, from Adelaide’s southern suburbs, said the head of the Royal Commission should ideally be an appointment that knows the experience of modern veterans well and must be completely independent from Defence and the government.
“We need someone who has walked in our shoes and we need the government to talk to us first, before they make an appointment – we need to be a part of that transparency otherwise veterans won't want to get involved,” said the former army engineer and Vice President of the Veterans Motorcycle Club Adelaide chapter.
Nathan Bolton, deployed twice to Afghanistan as part of the Australian Special Forces in 2010 and 2012, said the failings of successful transition and reintegration of active and veteran soldiers into and out of the Australian Defence Forces (ADF) needed to be a critical focus of the Royal Commission.
He said the independent inquiry into veteran suicide had been “years in the making” and had to result in an ADF that better served tomorrow’s servicemen and women.
“This is just the beginning,” said Mr Bolton, director of Bolton Brothers mental health service and part of the SA Premier’s Council on Suicide Prevention.
But getting there, he warned, would not be easy. For those who have served and were still serving, past traumas would resurface and difficult evidence would be heard, he said.
RSL SA president Cheryl Cates said the Royal Commission’s interim recommendations, when made, must be acted on immediately and not until the final report was handed down.
“The sooner the Commission is established, the sooner support can be provided to veterans,” said Mrs Cates.
For help, call Open Arms: 1800 011 046; Defence Family Helpline: 1800 624 608, or Lifeline: 13 11 14
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