ADF sex offenders to be targeted in royal commission response

Sex offenders will be forced out of the ADF and officer promotions will be tied to “emotional intelligence” in a major overhaul to stamp out a veterans’ suicide epidemic.

Australian special forces soldiers move towards waiting Blackhawk helicopters in Afghanistan. Many veterans of the war continue to suffer mental health difficulties as a result of their service. Picture: Defence.

Sex offenders will be forced out of the Australian Defence Force and officer promotions will be tied to “emotional intelligence” in a far-reaching overhaul of the nation’s military culture to stamp out a veterans’ suicide epidemic.

The Albanese government has rejected a push for soldiers injured in training to receive the same compensation as those hurt in war, and put off a decision on equalising rebates for veterans’ healthcare with those under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

In its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, the government also offered “in-principle” agreement to establishing a new brain injury program, despite growing concerns among serving and former ADF personnel over blast-­induced trauma.

The government agreed with the overwhelming majority of the royal commission’s 122 recommendations, committing to a new inquiry into sexual violence in the ADF, and new mandatory discharge rules for personnel convicted of sexual offences.

A new “presumption” of discharge will also be introduced for ADF personnel found to have engaged in certain types of sexual misconduct, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, obscene conduct and “intimate image abuse”, while new workplace protections will be provided to victims to ensure their careers are not ­adversely affected.

A new statutory organisation will be established to oversee “enduring and systemic reform” to prevent veterans’ suicide, and a new “wellbeing” agency will set up within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The promised changes come as the government battles to turnaround a workforce crisis that has left the ADF under-strength by 5000 personnel, threatening the rollout of new capabilities including promised nuclear-powered submarines.

Defence Minister Richard Marles, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh and Anthony Albanese announce the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence And Veteran Suicide. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The royal commission found in its September report that at least 1677 serving and former serving ADF personnel died by suicide between 1997 and 2021, but said the number of preventable deaths could be more than 3000.

It warned that the DVA was not capable of delivering optimal support to veterans, and together with successive governments, the ADF and the Department of Defence, had failed to provide adequate support to those who had served their country.

Responding on Monday to the inquiry’s “harrowing evidence”, Anthony Albanese vowed to undertake “the most comprehensive reform to the culture, systems and processes across Defence, the ADF and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to prevent suicide and improve the mental health and wellbeing of service personnel and veterans”.

“We can’t bring back those that we’ve lost, but we can fight to stem this terrible epidemic and we can strive to bring it to an end,” the Prime Minister said.

Among the sweeping changes will be new rules requiring prospective ADF commanders to face psychometric testing to assess their emotional intelligence and performance against “wellbeing targets”. ADF leaders will also face “upward feedback” from subordinates on their performance in meeting cultural benchmarks.

One of the key agitators for the royal commission, independent senator Jacqui Lambie, said the government’s response was a “good start” but there was “more work to be done”. She said the new statutory body overseeing the reforms needed to be independent of Defence and DVA to ensure it could provide frank and fearless advice to ministers.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie urged the government to work quickly to establish the new body, and the RSL – which had long called for such an entity – said it would be vital to delivering enduring reform.

The chair of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, Nick Kaldas, centre, with commissioners Peggy Brown and James Douglas. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The government rejected only one of the royal commission’s recommendations – that it remove the so-called “service differential” for permanent impairment that sees higher payouts for those injured during operational service than those injured during training.

“We regard that feature as being important and that is why we’ve made the decision to maintain it,” Mr Albanese said.

The government “noted”, without agreeing or disagreeing, the royal commission’s recommendation that fees paid for veterans’ healthcare be boosted to the same level as those for NDIS recipients.

It acknowledged the fee gap “can have a negative impact on access for veterans”, and said the recommendation would be con­sider­ed as part of a wider examination of health fees and charges.

The government’s in-principle acceptance of the royal commission’s recommendation for a new brain injury program comes as veterans push for pro-active management of the risks of blast-induced brain injuries

It said a taskforce to be established in the Prime Minister’s Department would provide advice on establishing the brain injury program, “noting the complex nature of brain injury and their evolving understanding”, while the government would leverage research by the US and other Five Eyes partners on the condition.

The royal commission found in its seven-volume report that at least 14 personnel found guilty of sexual misconduct against a colleague remained in the military, while almost 60 per cent of such complaints were not prosecuted.

Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh said the government was still working through the details of the promised inquiry into sexual violence, as Mr Albanese declared: “Quite clearly we need to do better.”

If you or a family member needs help, contact: Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467; Lifeline Australia 13 11 14; Open Arms 1800 011 046; Defence All-hours Support Line 1800 628 036