New agency proposed to hold military chiefs accountable for welfare of troops

A new body is set to hold Australian military bosses and their bureaucrats responsible for the welfare of current and former troops.

Military chiefs and defence agencies will be held to account for the wellbeing of personnel and veterans under a proposed new “oversight body” to be created next year.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has recommended a new agency be raised after it completes its work and releases its final report in June next year.

Critically, the body will not be answerable to the Defence Minister of the day nor the military but have its own commissioner with the power to hold hearings, summon public and private witnesses and demand documents or information be handed over.

Ironically the agency proposal is akin to the appointment of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Dr Bernadette Boss by then Prime Minister Scott Morrison in 2020 before he bowed to public pressure and established the royal commission.

Commissioners Nick Kaldas, Dr Peggy Brown and James Douglas KC, with Senior Counsel Assisting Kevin Connor SC, as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide hearing opened in Hobart. Picture: Supplied

According to the royal commission’s new proposal, the underlying reason for the agency was to reduce suicide and suicidality in the ranks and veteran community and ensure its recommendations are not ignored by the government, Australian Defence Force chiefs and Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

It had earlier said it feared Defence hierarchy was waiting for the end of its inquiry “so they can go back to business as usual”.

“The sheer size, complexity and power of the Defence portfolio warrant particular oversight arrangements beyond those that are applicable generally to the public sector,” it concluded. “Although Defence must have its own accountability systems, an external monitoring body can, through its inquiries and reports, assist the Government to hold Defence’s top leadership to account and assist the public to hold the Government to account.”

Royal Commissioners' Mr Nick Kaldas (centre right), Dr Peggy Brown (centre) and the Honourable James Douglas, learn about the role of Lavarack Health Centre during their visit to the 3rd Brigade at Lavarack Barracks. Picture: Brodie Cross

In its calls for public consultation on its proposal, the royal commissioners – Nick Kaldas, Dr Penny Brown and Hon. James Douglas KC – said a large amount of previous inquiries and reports had failed to secure transformative action.

“The problem of Defence member and veteran suicide is very grave,” the commissioners concluded.

“The Royal Commission’s inquiries have shown that the problem is worse than previously thought. This includes that service in the ADF may not be a protective factor in respect of suicide and suicidality, as had been said prior to the Royal Commission. The gravity of the problem justifies a significant response by the Government, including establishing the organisational architecture for ongoing learning, monitoring and reform.”

Matt Keogh, Minister for Veterans' Affairs in Parliament House in Canberra after his speech responding to the 13 recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide interim report. Picture: NCA News Wire

They added only the establishment of the body would prove the government was serious about addressing the national tragedy.

The government is reviewing the proposal and is awaiting the royal commission’s final report and recommendations next year.

An interim report released in August 2022 had already made 13 recommendations. The Royal Commission received 5889 submissions during its 27-month public consultation period. A public hearing is expected to be held in Sydney next March.