ADF veteran suicide: Anthony Albanese, Jodi McKay back royal commission calls
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will use the Christmas break to ‘actively consider’ actions to address veteran suicide rates, but did not say if that included a royal commission.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison will “actively consider” options to address the high rate of veteran suicides but has not ruled on a royal commission despite mounting pressure to call for one.
Mr Morrison told his party room on Tuesday he was committed to considering actions to deal with the issue over the Christmas break, but did not specifically mention a royal commission.
“We are considering options for further action, and will take the time to get those right,” he said.
When asked if he would call a royal commission in Question Time Mr Morrison said veteran suicide rates had been made a “national priority” by his government as part of its broader focus on its “Toward Zero” goal to address mental health issues.
“I’ve given an undertaking that we will continue to reflect on these things over the break before making a decision on this matter,” he said.
“But I can assure you of this – what I am seeking to do is ensure that whenever a veteran has sadly taken their life … that on every single occasion there must be justice, there must be accountability, there must be learnings and there must be change.”
It comes as NSW opposition leader Jodi McKay backed Anthony Albanese’s call for a royal commission.
“I support a Royal Commission into veteran suicides in Australia. Anthony Albanese and The Daily Telegraph are right the numbers are shocking and can’t be tolerated,” Ms McKay said.
“NSW owes its veterans a huge debt, which must include taking better care of them when they return home.”
It comes after the Berejiklian government made the surprise announcement it would join calls for a royal commission into defence deaths at The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heroes summit.
Mr Albanese, after meeting Julie-Ann Finney whose son David died in February, said while the government had done a lot to support ex-serving men and women he urged the Coalition to stop holding back from a royal commission into veteran suicide.
“I’d say to the government, it’s time, it’s time for this to happen,” he said in Canberra on Tuesday.
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Mr Albanese said he had again spoken with Ms Finney about Labor’s commitment to holding a Royal Commission, calling it a “difficult conversation’’.
“She is a remarkable woman and an incredible advocate and there’s no one who could sit in a room with her and have a discussion and not come to the view I came to,” he said.
“She said today, that a Royal Commission for her is an act of love, compassion and gratitude for her son, and that’s the way these people feel.”
Mr Albanese’s move has heaped pressure on the Morrison government to join a bipartisan effort to investigate why so many defence veterans are taking their own lives.
‘The government should call a royal commission with terms of reference which include serving men and women, the transition period from service, as well as our veterans on an ongoing basis,” Mr Albanese said.
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Mr Albanese said official figures released last week showing the “disturbingly high” rate of suicide among ex-service men and women compared to the rest of the Australian population were “shocking”.
“The men and women who serve our country deserve our gratitude and respect and we owe it to them to have a comprehensive examination of how we can reduce and hopefully eliminate these tragic (suicide) numbers,” he said. “Their deaths cause immeasurable loss for their loved ones left behind, their local communities and indeed the nation.
“Labor calls for the government to convene a royal commission.”
Mr Albanese last week met with mother Julie-Ann Finney, who has collected more than 267,000 signatures in support of a royal commission since her 38-year-old son David took his own life in February.
Former petty officer David Finney’s naval career spanned two decades and he was confronted with distressing incidents on overseas deployments in Bougainville, East Timor, the Middle East and while rescuing asylum seekers off Christmas Island. He had devoted himself to a blog trying to help other young veterans battling post traumatic stress disorder.
Ms Finney told The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heroes Summit at NSW parliament last month that not only was her son abandoned when he needed help in life, she had to buy a navy uniform to bury him in and an ensign for his funeral.
“Julie-Ann Finney has a compelling argument which I am sure will convince anyone who has the privilege of meeting her,” Mr Albanese said.
“As a father I found the story of her son David absolutely heartbreaking.”
Ms Finney said she was “elated” at Labor’s backing and hoped the government would follow.
“Thank you to The Daily Telegraph and thank you to the hundreds of thousands of supporters who helped bring this right to where it needed to be,” she said.
“Anthony, thank you. Scott Morrison, thank you for listening because I now you will support this call.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said he was “actively considering” holding a royal commission after meeting Ms Finney and five other grieving mothers whose sons had taken their lives at The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heroes Summit.
The mothers included Glenda Weston, whose Afghanistan veteran son Bradley Carr was born on Remembrance Day and died on Anzac Day this year. The mothers of fellow lost Afghanistan veterans Jesse Bird and Brock Hewitt also joined the call, along with Colleen Pillen from Sydney whose son Michael Powers died before he was due to be deployed to Iraq, and Nikki Jamieson, whose son Daniel Garforth died at a barracks in Darwin.
“It gave me a much better understanding of what they were seeking out of a royal commission,” Mr Morrison said.
“They were aware I had not ruled it out and it was something I am actively considering.”
He subsequently met with Ms Finney last week in Canberra and said he would continue to consider a royal commission over his Christmas break.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester has repeatedly said he sees no point in spending money on a royal commission despite growing calls for one.
At the Telegraph’s summit, the Berejiklian government made the surprise announcement it would join calls for a royal commission into defence deaths.
“The system is broken. The NSW government is committed to supporting this call for a royal commission,” said acting Veterans’ Affairs Minister Geoff Lee.
“Clearly we must do better.”
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie has also backed the inquiry.
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, an Afghanistan veteran who suffered serious wounds in battle, is also supporting a royal commission.
“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 expect a royal commission, I will back them every single day.”