Scott Morrison announces veteran suicides royal commission

The families of veterans who died by suicide have cautiously welcomed Scott Morrison’s announcement of a royal commission saying “it is only the very beginning of our journey”.

A royal commission into the shocking rate of veteran suicides in Australia will be “comprehensive” and have a mandate to examine the “systemic issues” and “common themes” among any past deaths.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced he would ask the Governor General to establish a royal commission into death by suicide for veterans, saying he had “listened” to past service men and women.

“I think and I hope it will be a healing process,” he said.

“I hope it will be a process by which veterans and families can find some comfort, but it obviously can’t replace the loss, we understand that.

“I think this will be a process that will assist in the comfort that those families have been seeking.”

Mr Morrison said the royal commission would have a mandate to examine the “experience of members and veterans who may continue to be at risk of suicide” and “all aspects” of service in the Australian Defence Force.

He said it would also consider the experience of those transitioning from active service, the availability and quality of health and support services.

The Royal Commission will also look at the pre-service and post-service issues for members and veterans, social and family contexts such as family breakdown, as well as housing and employment issues.

Julie-Ann Finney’s son David died after a battle with PTSD.

David Finney.

Mr Morrison said the “great risk” Defence Force personnel take was “not just” when they deploy to a conflict.

“That immediate risk that is there, that is rightfully and well considered when those decisions are sensibly made and wisely made, we hope, by governments at the those times,” he said.

“But increasingly, we must also understand the long tail of cost.

“And I just don’t mean the financial cost. More importantly, I mean the human cost.

“And that cost is most significant when we see it in the death by suicide of our veterans.”

Mr Morrison said existing supports for veterans would continue while the royal commission took likely 18 months to two years to make final recommendations.

Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said the royal commission announcement was an opportunity to “reset the agenda” and unite the veterans community in what had been a very “difficult, sensitive and incredibly complex issue”.

“This announcement of a royal commission is another step in our ongoing efforts to build confidence, to build trust but, perhaps most importantly, to restore hope for those who’ve suffered or are still suffering today,” he said.

“We do understand and we do understand that some people in our veteran community and their families will not heal until we have this royal commission.”

Glenda Weston lost her son, Bradley Carr to suicide. Picture: Matt Taylor

How The Daily Telegraph reported Ms Weston’s fight.

Grieving mum Julie-Ann Finney, has cautiously welcomed Mr Morrison’s announcement of a royal commission into veteran suicides, an issue that’s plagued Australia’s military for decades.

The Adelaide woman had collected nearly 400,000 signatures calling for a royal commission since her 38-year-old navy poster-boy son David died in 2019. She was backed by The Daily Telegraph’s Save Our Heroes campaign.

“This is the very beginning of our journey of getting what is necessary. We have heard this before, but we want to make sure this time we listen to veterans and families not politicians and the Defence Force,” she said.

“We’ve been fighting for this royal commission for 100 years, and now that it has been announced we must get it right.

“I am thankful for Adella Beaini and The Daily Telegraph who were always hearing my voice, and I am so grateful for that support from the very beginning.

“I would like to thank every Australian and veteran who has stood with this argument of a royal commission.”

The royal commission coincides in the lead up to the anniversary death of Glenda Weston’s son Private Bradley Carr, 34, who was born on Remembrance Day and died on Anzac Day in 2019.

Glenn Kolomeitz in Kabul (right)

“My son took his life on Anzac day because he couldn’t take another Anzac Day. It’s been a worry since Brad died about how many would end their lives,” she said.

“In the two years since his death we have lost many more and it’s been a big fight, we shouldn’t have had to fight this hard. It’s been tremendously draining and emotional.

“To know it will be called before Brad’s anniversary is a blessing and a big step. Our sons are gone and we have to drive, but this announcement is an important step for veterans who are still alive.

Heston Russell, who spent 16 years in the military reaching the ranks of Special Forces Commando Officer, welcomed the announcement but said it was “important” that the commissioner had “broad powers”.

“I am very excited that we finally have some progress. Now, we really need to make sure that the accuracy and diligence is applied to terms of reference,” he said.

“We need to ensure those who are appointed to lead the royal commission are eminent, as well as appropriate, so that there’s the maximum trust and participation from the veteran community.

“I now implore the government to engage with the veteran community and all sides of government to establish the proper terms of reference and to do it right and put politics aside.”

Lawyer and former Army officer Glenn Kolomeitz said: “It’s been a long time coming. Admittedly we could’ve been a year into a royal commission.

Retired Special Forces Officer and founder of Voice Of A Veteran Heston Russell. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“But regardless, this is a good thing that it’s happening. Now let’s get on with it and get the appropriate terms of reference written up from a broad consultation and make things happen.”

Former commando Damien Thomlinson, who lost both his legs in a Taliban-planted bomb while he was on night patrol in 2009, knows how hard it is to switch from a highly structured military career to civilian­ life. The 39-year-old has felt the pain of veteran suicides­ personally — with two friends from his commando unit taking their lives.

“It’s a relief to see that leadership are giving the issue of Veteran suicide the attention that isn’t deserves,” he said.

“The announcement is extremely important to the mental wellbeing of veterans as an indication that Veteran lives are important and care is being taken to provide support.

“I think it is crucial the terms of reference are broad as there is no defined path to any form of resolution as individual cases are so different.

“I would like to see the government ensure previous changes are implemented and explore every Avenue available past and present to assist us as a community to attack this problem.”