PM announces Nick Kaldas to lead veteran suicide royal commission
Retired senior NSW police officer Nick Kaldas has been officially appointed to lead the royal commission into veteran and defence personnel suicides.
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Retired senior NSW police officer Nick Kaldas has been officially appointed to lead the royal commission into veteran and defence personnel suicides.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed Mr Kaldas would take on the significant role and unveiled the terms of reference for the inquiry on Thursday.
Mr Kaldas has been given remit to examine a broad range of concerns including the “systemic issues and any common themes among defence and veteran deaths by suicide”.
Recruitment, training, culture within the defence force, external supports, mental health services and support for veterans’ families are among the areas outlined in the terms of reference.
Mr Morrison said the royal commission “recognised the unique nature of military service”, and the “ongoing effects on the physical and mental health of members and veterans as a result of their service”.
“The death of any Australian Defence Force member or veteran is a tragedy that is deeply felt by all Australians,” he said.
“As a government we are committed to addressing the ongoing impact of service, including preventing future deaths by suicide and providing opportunities for healing.”
Mr Morrison said Mr Kaldas would be supported by James Douglas QC, an esteemed former Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland and Dr Peggy Brown AO, a consultant psychiatrist and national leader in mental health policy.
Mr Morrison said the royal commission would conduct its inquiries in a “trauma-informed way” and private sessions will be available to those who wish to share their story in private.
A legal financial assistance scheme will be available to people called as witnesses, and mental health support services will be offered to all involved in the inquiry.
EX-COP TIPPED TO LEAD VETERANS ROYAL COMMISSION
Retired senior NSW police officer Nick Kaldas is the federal government’s top pick to head the Royal Commission into veteran and Defence suicides.
The former police deputy commissioner also has extensive experience in conflict zones overseas, including a recent stint as the United Nation’s chief investigator in the office of the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Syria.
The Daily Telegraph understands the Royal Commissioner could be formally announced as early as Thursday.
Senior government sources said the “frontrunner” for the role was Mr Kaldas.
A royal commissioner must be approved by the Governor-general before officially assuming the role.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a royal commission would be held into the high rates of suicide among veterans and serving military personnel in April after sustained pressure from the community and some Coalition MPs.
“We have always recognised that the rate of suicide of Australian Defence Force members and veterans is unacceptably high,” Mr Morrison said.
“We owe it to members, veterans and their families to continue to take action.”
The government has already received more than 1000 submissions with feedback about the proposed terms of reference for the commission.
The “themes” taken to the public for consultation included examining the impact of “systemic issues” in recruitment, training, information sharing, support for veterans’ families and the availability of health and wellbeing support services.
The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heroes campaign backed a royal commission, highlighting the shocking rates of mental illness and suicide.
Prior to working for the UN in Syria, Mr Kaldas had spent time in other parts of the Middle East during conflicts.
In 2004 he spent eight months in Iraq where he trained local police, and in March 2009 he was seconded to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon investigating the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese PM Rafic Hariri.
He served with NSW Police for 34 years, including as head of the homicide squad, during which time he oversaw a number of high profile murder investigations, including the deaths of Sam Knight and John Newman.
The return of Barnaby Joyce as leader of the Nationals also heralded in a new Veterans Affairs Minister in Calare MP Andrew Gee, who was promoted to the cabinet role in the reshuffle after the leadership spill.
Mr Gee is the sixth Coalition MP to hold the position since 2013, but Mr Joyce said he believed the former regional barrister had the “requisite skills” needed going into a royal commission.
“He is the sort of person that has the capacity to go through all the nuances of what is required,” he said.
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