Abuse in the ranks: Three minutes that will change the Australian Defence Force
If there was any doubts about the significance of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, they were dispelled within three minutes. Here’s why.
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Analysis: If there was any doubt on the significance of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, they were dispelled within the opening three minutes of the hearing on Monday.
While the directive of the commission remains the same, it is now very clear its scope will not just unravel the causes behind suicide or suicidal ideation in veterans or the armed forces but shake up every aspect of the Australian Defence Force.
We are talking from recruitment, culture, service and deployments and transition, critically right through to ADF governance and leadership and an urgent need for transparency and accountability.
Also now likely to be in for change our various State and Territory coronial “systems and processes” and their interaction or not with government agencies.
The royal commission has shown its bite and for those we have failed or continue to fail, it couldn’t be soon enough.
The Commonwealth knew it was coming, deploying a legal counsel for the first time today to represent the interest of the bureaucracy, which the commission has already heard has for more years than there have been wars, failed our fighting men and women.
In his opening address, the Royal Commission’s assisting counsel Peter Gray QC revealed more than 150 “please explain” notices have been issued to Defence, Department of Veterans Affairs and various other government agencies.
Mr Gray said from those notices, the departments have swamped the commission with more than 320,000 pages of material to review but through the responses and evidence taken from earlier hearings in Brisbane, the commission had developed 36 “lines on inquiry”.
Staff had been organised into teams with some of those lines of inquiry, he said, requiring urgent or immediate action from the bureaucracy if further trauma and or suicide was to be prevented. These had to be made before the commission is expected to make an interim report expected sometime in August.
Abuse in the ranks was one line of inquiry with a focus on justice and oversight mechanisms from both within and outside Defence.
Commission Chair Nick Kaldas said: “What we have seen and heard since the commencement of the Royal Commission has only served to strengthen our commitment and resolve to make a real and lasting difference to the lives of veterans and their families, and for this reason, we must bear witness to their lived experience.”
The commission has heard numerous harrowing stories from former troops or families.
If you need help, please contact one of the following services:
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or defence.gov.au/health/healthportal.
Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608.
Originally published as Abuse in the ranks: Three minutes that will change the Australian Defence Force
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