Grieving mother gets her voice heard by Defence chiefs
The grieving mother spearheading the call for a royal commission into veteran suicides has finally been given an audience with Defence chiefs.
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THE grieving mother spearheading the call for a royal commission into veteran suicides has finally been given an audience with Defence chiefs.
Julie-Ann Finney, who has collected 260,000 signatures calling for a Royal Commission since her son Dave took his own life in February, met with Current Chief of Army Lieutenant-General Angus Campbell and Defence Minister Linda Reynolds in Canberra on Monday.
“I feel like I am gaining support from all the politicians and many of them are starting to come on board the more I talk to them,” Ms Finney said.
“I said to each politician that when I walk out of this room you will think about me a little and then forget.
“I and thousands of others live with this 24/7 and we don’t get it out of our heads.”
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A Defence spokeswoman confirmed the closed-door meeting took place but refused to give any details.
“The Minister and the Chief of the Defence Force care deeply about the health and wellbeing of the Australian Defence Force’s people, veterans and their families,” the spokeswoman said.
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, an Afghanistan veteran who suffered serious wounds in battle, is also supporting a royal commission into veterans suicide.
“Do I think a royal commission can be beneficial? Of course,” he told Sky News.
“My heart says if a group of mothers who have lost their sons to suicide and can’t see any other way forward except a royal commission, I will back them every single day.”
Senator Penny Wong, who met with Ms Finney on Tuesday, said she would be further discussing the idea of a royal commission with the ALP. More than 500 veterans have committed suicide since 2001.
If you or anyone you know needs help, contact either Open Arms on 1800 011 046 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Originally published as Grieving mother gets her voice heard by Defence chiefs
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