Labor move to gag Queensland MP Phillip Thompson during debate about veteran suicide

A former soldier has condemned Labor for a “disgusting” attempt to stop him speaking during a debate on veterans issues.

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A Coalition backbencher and former soldier has slammed an attempt by Labor to gag him when he moved to speak about veteran suicides in parliament as “inappropriate and disgusting”.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson was cut off during a speech in which he planned to talk about how the government’s Defence Service Homes Amendment Bill, seeking to reduce living costs for veterans, could help in the prevention of suicide.

“Veterans suicide should be bipartisan, we should be working together, not for cheap political points,” he said.

Mr Thompson was visibly upset and angry as he told the parliament he had received a call from a friend just three days ago to inform him another mate in Townsville had died by suicide.

“Only a couple of days ago,” he said. “This is where people in this house need to be working together … veterans suicide is all our business.”

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson was trying to talk about veterans’ suicide when Labor moved to gag him. Picture: AAP Image/Lukas Coch

At the start of his speech Mr Thompson said he wanted to address some of the “falsehoods” about the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility discussed by Labor during debate on the Bill.

“Then I’ll talk on this Bill as well as suicide prevention and that all comes into the cost pressures (of insurance),” he said.

Mr Thompson then spent less than a minute rebutting comments from Labor’s Northern Australia spokesman Shayne Neumann about the NAIF before attempting to move to talk about veterans’ suicide.

It was at this time Labor’s Greenway MP Michelle Rowland moved a motion that he no longer be heard.

The motion was defeated as the Coalition hold majority but Mr Thompson was furious at the attempt to silence him as he had been about to address such as serious topic.

He launched into a fiery tirade against Labor, as Ms Rowland reportedly walked out of the room.

Labor later granted Mr Thompson extra time to finish his speech.

Phillip Thompson (second from the left) with members of the Afghan National Army at the Sarab check point prior to the Afghan Election. Picture: Corporal (CPL) Rachel Ingram

Mr Thompson told The Daily Telegraph he was “not just angry, but upset” at what had happened.

“Doing something like this is exactly what creates stigma around issues like suicide,” he said.

“Even though they didn’t know at the time that a friend of mine had just died, at the end of my speech no one came over from Labor to say anything, no one apologised, or acknowledged the situation.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned Labor’s move to gag Mr Thompson.

“The Leader of the Opposition (Anthony Albanese) has authorised political games in this place which has gagged a veteran of this country speaking about veteran suicide,” he said.

“The Leader of the Opposition should grow up from his political games and he should focus on the real issues that Australians wish to focus on and get over the politics and get on with the policy.”

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson and Prime Scott Morrison in Townsville during the election earlier this year. Picture: Evan Morgan

Mr Morrison said his government was working towards a zero suicide goal.

“One life lost to suicide is one too many,” he said. “As Prime Minister, I have made it a national priority for mental health and suicide prevention to be a focus of our government.”

“The statistics speak for themselves … and most sadly of all, Mr Speaker, 3,046 Australians in 2018 took their own lives, a tragedy that touches far too many families.”

Mr Albanese then stood to say Labor associated with the comments from the Prime Minister.

“I know that my shadow minister for health is working with the government minister for health to ensure that the response is as bipartisan and indeed as effective as the response to HIV AIDS was under the Hawke and Howard government and opposition respectively,” he said.

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Originally published as Labor move to gag Queensland MP Phillip Thompson during debate about veteran suicide