Families welcome royal commission into veteran suicides
Bradley Carr was born on Remembrance Day and took his life on Anzac Day. It’s one of the most harrowing statements about the fate of our veterans but finally his family’s pleas have been heard.
NSW
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Afghanistan veteran Bradley Carr suicided on Anzac Day in the most harrowing of statements about the fate of troubled veterans in Australia but the desperate pleas of families and those who have served have been heard.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a royal commission into the hundreds of defence and veteran suicides, in addition to the rolling commission into the horror toll of deaths announced last year.
Mr Morrison said the “great risk” Defence Force personnel take was “not just” when they deploy to war.
“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 those times,” he said.
“But increasingly, we must also understand the long tail of cost. I mean the human cost. And that cost is most significant when we see it in the death by suicide of our veterans.”
As the two-year anniversary of the death of her 34-year-old former Army private son Bradley approaches, Glenda Weston said it was a “relief” a royal commission would be established.
It pains Ms Weston that her son was born on Remembrance Day and took his life on Anzac Day.
“My son took his life on Anzac Day because he couldn’t take another Anzac Day,” she said.
“It’s been a worry since Brad died about how many would end their lives.”
Ms Weston said since her son’s death the veteran community had lost “many more” as they continued the “draining and emotional” fight calling for a royal commission.
“To know it will be called before Brad’s anniversary is a blessing,” she said.
“Our sons are gone … but this announcement is an important step for veterans who are still alive.”
Retired 2 Commando unit Major and now veteran advocate Heston Russell said the terms of reference for the royal commission must be broad and the commissioner must have the power to expand as required.
“We need to do this once and do it right the first time,” he said.
“A big part that has been missing in the process between veterans, families and the government is trust in the process.”
Mr Russell said Mr Morrison had done his part by calling for a commission and it was now up to the community to take it further.
“The resolve is there, and now the formality has been achieved,” he said.
Mr Russell said it would be an “emotionally high” time for veterans, who would need support in the lead-up to Anzac Day as the announcement could dig up “both good and bad” memories.
Julie-Ann Finney has also cautiously welcomed the royal commission, having previously collected almost 400,000 signatures to support one since her 38-year-old navy poster-boy son David died in February 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,” she said.
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.”
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