Families of ADF soldiers demand action from Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

Heartbroken mothers of Aussie soldiers reveal what they want to see when the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide delivers its long-awaited findings.

Three years. Nearly 6000 submissions. 12 hearings. 346 witnesses.

And on Monday, the veterans’ community wants one result, when the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide delivers its long-awaited findings to the government: action.

“It’s been a complex and difficult inquiry, there’s no doubt about that. It’s also an important one,” chief commissioner Nick Kaldas, who with Dr Peggy Brown and James Douglas QC will hand Governor-General Sam Mostyn the seven-volume report, said.

“We’re aware of the hundreds of recommendations that preceded us in relation to all the problems with suicidality and related issues.

“And we’re aware that nothing has actually changed or improved.”

Royal Commission Chair Nick Kaldas with commissioners James Douglas and Peggy Brown. Picture: Julian Andrews

The grieving parents of at least 1677 Australian Defence personnel who died by suicide between 1997 and 2021 – more than 20-times the number killed in active duty over the same period – say the commission’s findings must not be in vain.

Patricia Fernandez de Viana, whose Royal Air Force electric engineer son James took his own life on July 25, 2019 while still serving, wants all the recommendations implemented.

“It’s way past the time that Australia stood up for all veterans. The once in a generation Royal Commission must not be in vain,” Mrs Fernandez de Viana said.

“All we want is to save lives. It is too late for our son, but it is not too late to save future lives. This can only be done by the Australian Government, who represent we the parents of veterans lost by suicide doing what the public demand, which is enacting all the recommendations.

“Let’s make the changes now to ensure the whole ADF changes for the best to ensure a strong and resilient and robust Defence Force and therefore preventing death by suicide.”

James Fernandez de Viana, 26, with his parents Michael and Patricia.

Patricia Fernandez de Viana says the Royal Commission must not be in vain. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Julie-Ann Finney, whose 38-year-old navy son David suicided in 2019, plans to decorate the lawns of Parliament House with images of veterans who have taken their lives on September 11, to place further pressure on the government to adopt the recommendations.

“I have consistently said don’t underestimate a mother, or anyone, whose loved one has been harmed. Definitely don’t underestimate thousands of us,” Ms Finney, who was backed by News Corp’s Save Our Heroes campaign in her calls for a commission, said.

“We will not accept any promises of actions or give any more time to politicians to gaslight us and feed us political talk.

“All of the voices of the past have failed and there are no more chances.

“What will we do to ensure not only implementation of the recommendations, but to ensure that they are action in the spirit intended by the commissioners?.”

At least 1677 Australian Defence personnel died by suicide between 1997 and 2021. Picture: Australian Defence

There have been at least 57 previous inquiries or reviews relating to Defence and veteran suicide over the last 20 to 30 years, which resulted in some 770 recommendations for change.

However, despite this, Mr Kaldas said there has been no improvement in military suicide rates and the senseless loss of life continues.

The Royal Commission has already flagged the need for a powerful new oversight body to monitor the implementation of its recommendations.

“I think one of the things we achieved is that we have really brought into sunshine, very clearly, all the problems so that they’re at a point now where they’re undeniable,” he said.

“We hope and pray that the public is more curious, more interested and more demanding of our government and bureaucrats in the future.”

Chief executive officer of the Families of Veterans Guild Renee Wilson. Picture: Supplied

For Karen Bird, whose son Jesse took his own life in 2017 at the age of 32, said the last three years “will be to naught” if an independent oversight body is not forthcoming.

“All we will have is pages and pages of “dirty laundry” exposed, pages and pages of bad-sad stories in the public domain without any hope of actionable change ahead,” Ms Bird said.

“It has been had enough that for many, justice has not been seen to have occurred, no disclosure of perpetrators, or individuals whose malfeasance and/or lack of accountability and associated transparency called to account.

“The investigation skills (by a new oversight body) must go beyond deaths, suicides to allow independent oversight of bullying, sexual assaults. no longer done internally by the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force’s model of imperfect protectionism.”

Karen Bird, the mother of Afghanistan veteran Jesse Bird who died by suicide in 2017. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen.

Jesse Bird committed suicide after Department of Veterans Affairs denied his request for help.

Chief executive officer of the Families of Veterans Guild Renee Wilson, who nearly became a war widow after a Black Hawk helicopter crashed in Afghanistan in 2010, killing three commandos and severely injuring her husband Gary, said it was time for the government to enact positive change.

“The response to the recommendations will be critical in achieving meaningful change for future generations,” she said.

“This royal commission shone a light on the systemic issues impacting the veteran community.

“While this is a win for veterans and their families, now we must see the rubber hit the road with the government driving real action.”