Veteran advocates warn against ‘narrow’ focus in suicide royal commission

Advocates for military veterans say the coming royal commission into veteran suicides must have a broad focus and look into several areas.

Veterans and their families, state governments and ex-defence service groups are being encouraged to provide input for the terms of reference for a royal commission into suicide rates.

Public consultations have opened for anyone to submit their views on what the royal commissioner should consider, after the federal government announced it would look at both defence and veteran suicides.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Darren Chester said it was “vital” that all those involved in the Defence and veteran support system had their say.

Afghan veteran Brock Hewitt went missing on January 7, 2019, and was found dead 3 weeks later. Picture: Supplied

“Over the coming weeks I will be undertaking a public consultation process to ensure the Royal Commission is focused and based on the experiences and perspectives of those who have been impacted by Defence and veteran suicide,” he said.

“Any member of the community or any organisation is able to provide their input regarding the broad themes released on Monday 19 April and I would encourage them to provide their feedback.”

The themes announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison included the experience of defence personnel transitioning from active service, the availability and quality of health and support services.

Mr Morrison said the Royal Commission would 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.

Once the consultation process has ended, the feedback would be given to the Attorney-General’s Department, which would then draft the Terms of Reference.

Mr Chester encouraged any veterans or defence members who were finding the royal commission process “difficult” to reach out for support.

“Help is available and can make a difference,” he said.

“Current serving members can access support through their local Garrison Health Centre or by contacting the All Hours Support Line available 24/7 on 1800 628 036.”

It comes as advocates warn that suicide rates among veterans who have not been in combat and the impacts of military culture and hierarchy must be examined in a royal commission, advocates have warned.

The veteran community has cautiously welcomed the federal government’s decision to call a royal commission into veteran and defence suicides.

Military analysis expert Deborah Morris said it was crucial the probe not exclusively focus on soldiers returning from war or overseas deployment.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a Royal Commission into veteran suicides on Sunday after months of increasing pressure. Picture: Jenny Evans/Getty Images

“What we do know is that many that have taken their own lives have not even been deployed,” she said.

“Military suicidality is about the institution and a lot of the time about the abuse of power within those institutions.”

Ms Morris, from Griffith University, said it would not be as “simple” as focusing on a mental health issue.

“It is about culture, but it’s about the structural arrangements within the organisation that allow that culture to thrive,” she said.

Retired Army officer Stuart McCarthy said the “miserable leadership of the generals club … will be one of the most important things to be scrutinised” in the commission.

“Veteran suicides are a predictable outcome of toxic leadership by these generals, who consistently fail to live up to the standards they impose on their diggers,” he said.

Labor’s veterans affairs spokesman Shayne Neumann said the Opposition was prepared to work in a bipartisan way to get the terms of reference “right”. He said it must include scrutiny of government departments and the ADF, as well as issues like housing.

“One in 10 people living on the street and homeless in this country tonight will be a veteran,” he said.

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TIME FOR ANSWERS ON SON’S DEATH

More than two years after the suicide of their son, Jan and Rick Hewitt are still waiting for answers.

Brock Hewitt, 29, went missing from his Perth home in January, 2019 and his body was found after a three-week search in Western Australia.

The young father had been battling PTSD after serving for three years in Afghanistan with a cavalry squadron. He was medically discharged from the army in 2012 and was working as an FIFO worker.

His parents have spent the past two years asking questions in an effort to understand how their son became ­another casualty of war after his return from the Middle East.

Brock Hewitt in Afghanistan.

They are now pinning their hopes on the royal commission into veteran suicides, announced by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday.

“Myself, Rick and the family are happy it has finally been called. It’s been a long two-and-a-half years fighting and waiting for the royal commission to be called,” Mrs Hewitt said.

“We hope now that we can get some answers, everything should be investigated, no stone should be left unturned.”

While his family never found out what happened to Brock on his tour of Afghanistan, it changed his life — and theirs — forever. They said while Brock joined the army at the age of 19, a different person returned home and he failed to get the support he needed.

“He brought the war back with him,” they said following his death in 2019.

Mrs Hewitt hopes the royal commission will help save another family from a similar heartache.

“We know we won’t get Brock back,” she said. “But fingers crossed this will stop any other family ­having to go through this. Too many have succumbed to the war within already.”