Tony Abbott backs growing support for Senate inquiry into first responder PTSD

Former PM Tony Abbott says our first responder heroes cop ‘endless critical scrutiny’ from people who ‘don’t understand what happens in the fog of action’.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has declared Australians “don’t sufficiently value people who put their lives on the line to keep us safe”.

After Lindt siege hero cop Ben Besant called for a senate inquiry into first responder PTSD, Mr Abbott said he agreed that “trauma-exposed people often don’t get the right treatment”.

“But this is where we really need better people — including people who have been on the front line themselves — in senior management,” Mr Abbott said.

“Instead of giving them the medals and the citations they deserve, we subject them to endless critical scrutiny from people who weren’t there and don’t really understand what happens in the fog of action.

“That’s what fundamentally needs to change.”

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott says first responders should be treated like heroes, even if not everything goes right. Picture: Martin Ollman

Mr Abbott, who was leading the nation when lone gunman Man Haron Monis took 18 people hostage and announced that Australia was “under attack by the Islamic state”, said first responders should be “treated like heroes even if not every single thing went exactly right”.

“It almost never does in the heat of battle,” he said.

Last week Mr Besant went public with his battle with the crippling mental health condition to spark a national conversation and bring to a head the failures of organisations across the country in their dealings with first responders.

Since then, another NSW police officer has suicided.

Support is mounting for an inquiry, with NSW Opposition Leader Mark Speakman on board.

“I would strongly support such an inquiry,” Mr Speakman told The Sunday Telegraph.

“We all owe it to our first responders to look after them properly.

Lindt siege hero cop Ben Besant says its time for meaningful change and real conversation and action around PTSD in first responders. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“We know there is a high rate of PTSD among first responders,” Mr Speakman said.

“In the case of NSW Police (it is) particularly prevalent, and a national inquiry would be very helpful to compare jurisdictions and discover the best approaches and methods.

“It’s absolutely horrible what Mr Besant has been through.”

Senator Jacqui Lambie has vowed to “make sure the Senate inquiry happens” and volunteered to chair the hearings.

“This is not good enough, our first responders are dying.

“I have heard of an officer suicide in the AFP in the past few weeks, its not good enough we need to get this inquiry happening, get serious and get change happening.”

She urged all first responders around the country to contact her and “speak up, be brave, even anonymously. Do it for your mates”.

Police storm the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place to end the siege, led by former officer Ben Besant, who shot dead the terrorist. Picture: AAP

Independent Senator David Pocock has also supported the call.

“Our first responders put their lives on the line for us and to keep our communities safe,” he said.

“They deal with the most traumatic events and support us when we are at our most vulnerable. We owe them the same duty of care, but too often governments fall short in the support they are providing.

“The rates of suicide, self-harm and mental distress among first responders remains far too high. Governments need to treat this with the urgency it deserves.

“There is a huge disparity between how we support defence force personnel and first responders, despite the similarities in service and trauma experienced. We need to treat both cohorts better and more equitably.”

Mr Pocock said a 2019 inquiry was a “seminal piece of work” that put forward 14 recommendations but “too many remain unimplemented”.

NSW Liberal leader Mark Speakman fully supports a call for a national inquiry into first responder PTSD. Picture: Nikki Short

Mr Besant said he had been “overwhelmed” by the “immense” support he had received in relation to his call for an inquiry.

“So many serving and ex-cops, first responders and military right across the country have reinforced to me just how immense and important this issue is and how devastating the effects of PTSD are on so many people’s lives,” he said.

“These people aren’t interested in current processes in place that are clearly not working.

“An example of this is the NSW Police’s piss weak, tokenistic and fluffy initiative, Pulse program, that the police hierarchy are trying to push at the moment. It’s now time for a serious look into this issue.”

In 2023 the NSW government allocated $79 million over the next five years to the Pulse health and wellbeing program.

Senator Jacqui Lambie has offered to lead an inquiry. Picture: Martin Ollman

Senator David Pocock also supports an inquiry. Picture: Martin Ollman

Keith Banks, a decorated former Queensland police officer who served in the tactical response team for nine years, also supported the call for change.

‘I have a strong network of police and former ADF members across Australia,” he said.

“I have been told by those ADF veterans that, whilst thousands of troops are deployed, only 3 to 5 per cent see actual combat.

“Additionally, those who serve overseas receive up to six months training as preparation for that deployment, combined with psychological and medical support on their return.

“Police officers, on the other hand, face the potential of death or serious injury every single day.

“All the ADF veterans I speak with are astounded that once police resign or retire there is zero support for the psychological impacts of their work. This must change.”

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Originally published as Tony Abbott backs growing support for Senate inquiry into first responder PTSD