NT MP Luke Gosling calls for ‘full’ Royal Commission into veteran suicide, saying a National Commissioner won’t go far enough
MEMBER for Solomon Luke Gosling has urged the federal government to establish a ‘full Royal Commission’ into veteran suicide in Australia
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MEMBER for Solomon Luke Gosling has urged the federal government to establish a “full Royal Commission” into veteran suicide in Australia, saying he is concerned the Coalition’s preferred approach of a permanent National Commissioner “will not be up to the job”.
In an opinion piece in today’s Sunday Territorian, Mr Gosling — who is himself a veteran — argues a National Commissioner may not have all the powers of a Royal Commission and could lack the necessary resources and independence to properly scrutinise defence and veteran suicides and key defence agencies.
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It comes as a pair of Bills to establish a permanent National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention — an independent office holder who would have the ability to investigate the issue on an ongoing basis, with the powers of a Royal Commission — continue to be debated in parliament.
“Labor and many veterans worry that the Federal Government’s proposed National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention will not be up to the job. That this is simply a marketing exercise, and won’t have the resources or independence to ask the hard questions,” Mr Gosling writes in an opinion piece for today’s Sunday Territorian.
“We have a problem. And we need a full Royal Commission to fix it, to lay out the plan for Australia, to hear from experts and families, so that the public understand the suffering of some … of the people that have served our nation, protecting us and our interests, and to get enforceable recommendations on how we can prevent these tragic, avoidable deaths.”
Mr Gosling also says he is concerned the government has opted out of a Royal Commission because of the estimated $100 million price tag.
“It makes me sick that the federal government, which has just splashed one trillion dollars in its budget, warns the nation that a Royal Commission on veteran suicide would cost up to $100 million,” he said.
In a statement, Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Minister Darren Chester defended the government’s push to establish a National Commissioner as the best forum for investigating the issue of veteran suicide.
“The National Commissioner offers a truly independent and enduring institution to inquire into and help us understand suicide in the ADF and veteran community,” he said.
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“Unlike a Royal Commission, which is a point in time inquiry, the National Commissioner will provide permanent scrutiny of the support provided to our ADF and veterans, and ongoing insights into what more we could be doing.
“Importantly it provides accountability to the parliament, to the public and most importantly to the families and loved ones who’ve been affected by suicide.”
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