Scott Morrison’s national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide faces Senate defeat

Scott Morrison’s bid to establish a national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide prevention is facing defeat in the Senate.

Labor frontbencher Shayne Neumann says the office of the national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide prevention is inadequate. Picture: AAP

Scott Morrison’s bid to establish a national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide prevention is facing defeat in the Senate, with Labor and Senate crossbenchers lashing the proposal as inadequate and pushing for a royal commission.

The national commissioner, which the Prime Minister announced in February after coming under pressure from bereaved defence families, lacks support in the upper house after One Nation leader Pauline Hanson and colleague Malcolm Roberts were the only senators outside the Coalition to endorse the legislation.

That leaves the Prime Minister one vote short of passing two bills supporting the role.

The government is also facing an uphill battle to make its four cashless debit card trials permanent but, with Labor support, it will be able to pass its coronavirus supplement extension and foreign relations bill, which gives the commonwealth powers to veto university, state and local government deals with foreign powers.

Labor will announce its position on the national commissioner on Tuesday but on Monday night recommended through a parliamentary report that the Senate oppose the legislation.

The opposition warned the scope of the national commissioner was too narrow and the families of Australian Defence Force personnel who had taken their lives had not been heard.

“I’m very disappointed with the government’s approach,” opposition veterans’ affairs and defence personnel spokesman Shayne Neumann told The Australian. “It (the office of the national commissioner) is not an adequate substitute for a royal commission and the very people who the government was supposed to be listening to, they’re not listening to, which is the families who have experienced this tragedy in their lives.”

While Coalition senators backed the bills, they said the government could clarify if the national commissioner would cover attempted suicide; whether the effectiveness of the commissioner’s role should be reviewed at a certain time; and the importance of independence in appointing the ultimate commissioner.

Any vote on the government national commissioner bills is set to be decided by independent South Australian senator Rex Patrick, who on Monday said he was unlikely to back the legislation. He reserved his right to endorse an alternative proposal.

Bernadette Boss, who has an extensive legal background, served in command and staff roles in the ADF and was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross, was appointed interim national commissioner in September.

“The appointment of the commissioner isn’t well thought through,” Senator Patrick told The Australian. “This doesn’t go to any disparaging of the appointee, simply the idea you appoint a former member of the armed forces to review the handling of defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in relation to veteran suicide is a little bit like appointing a former cardinal to examine child sexual abuse inside the Catholic Church. It would be difficult for them (the government) to push me back to supporting (the bills).”

Attorney-General Christian Porter said Dr Boss was ideally suited to the role, noting her experience as a magistrate and coroner, and pledged to keep discussing the legislation with all senators.

“The office of the national commissioner for defence and veteran suicide prevention has powers broadly equivalent to a royal commission and is a completely independent, enduring office which will deliver action to prevent the high rate of suicide among members of the Australian Defence Force and veterans,” Mr Porter said.

Senator Hanson said a royal commission would take years before handing down recommendations and the commissioner should be “given a go”.

“I’ve said to Jacqui (Lambie), give the commissioner a go. That position is reportable to government. See if there’s any outcomes within a year, if not I’ll support her royal commission,” she said.

Government sources said Dr Boss would remain in the position until the legislation passed and then the bills’ powers would be conferred on her. It was not clear what powers she would have if the legislation was blocked.

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