Veteran Royal Commission: Darwin vets welcome chance to talk about experiences
For East Timor veteran Sam Weston, Monday’s announcement of a royal commission has been a long time coming. He says it will be good to speak out after many of his fellow soldiers lost their lives to suicide.
Northern Territory
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AFTER years of advocating for a royal commission, Territory veterans have finally got a chance to talk about shocking rates of suicides in their ranks.
For former soldier Sam Weston, yesterday’s announcement was a long time coming.
“Finally,” Mr Weston said.
“It’s taken quite a while really, it’s going to be good,” he said.
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Mr Weston, who was deployed twice in East Timor over his seven years in the army, has been pushing for a Royal Commission into the support veterans receive after service for two years.
“I felt like we weren’t looked after back then. I don’t feel like the support’s there now,” he said.
“There’s a general consensus among the veteran community and everyone I talk to.”
His battalion, 57RAR, lost “a significant number” of troops to suicide after returning to Australia.
Mr Weston, who now runs the Mad Snake 2 cafe in Darwin’s CBD, said he would be happy to talk about his experiences.
“I’m hoping people will be held accountable,” he said.
“I think the leadership of the defence force at the time has a lot to answer for.”
The veteran had previously told the NT News about how he had lost many fellow soldiers to suicide.
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Scott Morrison’s announcement yesterday of a Royal Commission was also welcomed by Labor MP for Solomon and former soldier Luke Gosling.
But Mr Gosling said the effectiveness of the Royal Commission would come down to how it was structured.
“As I’ve said all along, we need a systemic inquiry but it needs a broad terms of reference and enforceable recommendations, otherwise it’s like so many other inquiries,” he said.
“I’ve always said the Royal Commission is needed because we need something that’s arms length from the Department of Defence, from the Department of Veterans Affairs.”
But Mr Gosling, who has been advocating for the Royal Commission for 18 months, said yesterday’s announcement would be “too late for many”.
“It will be a lifesaver for others,” he said.
“It will also give individuals and families the confidence, so the future service people and their families will have more confidence in the veteran support system.”
Mr Gosling said in the 18 months since he and other colleagues began pushing for a royal commission, some veterans had taken their lives.
Darwin RSL president Stephen Glouster also welcomed the announcement, saying the issue of veteran suicide needed looking into.
“I’d like to see that they look after veterans the right way, that’s what it’s all about,” Mr Glouster said.
“The more they can do to help veterans, the better,” he said.
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