Sex offenders to be booted from Defence Force in sweeping overhaul

Sex offenders will be kicked out of the Australian Defence Force and potential leaders tested for emotional intelligence under a sweeping overhaul to combat the crisis of military personnel taking their own lives at alarming rates.

The federal government released on Monday its response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, announcing it had accepted 104 of the 122 recommendations, with a further 17 recommendations under review.

Defence Minister Richard Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announcing the government’s response on Monday.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

A statutory agency will be established to drive reforms to decrease suicide rates in the military, and a wellbeing agency focused on the transition from military to civilian life will be created within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

A formal inquiry will also be set up into sexual violence in the ADF. The terms of reference and timing are still to be determined.

The royal commission, the findings of which were delivered in September, found current and former service personnel were 20 times more likely to die by suicide than in combat, a figure blamed in large part on cultural failings within Defence.

The royal commission found that at least 1677 serving and former Defence personnel ended their lives between 1997 and 2021, but it said the true number of preventable deaths could be more than 3000 because of undercounting.

“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,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday.

Defence Minister Richard Marles said: “The death by suicide of any Australian, including veterans and serving Defence personnel, is a national tragedy.

“Implementing the royal commission’s recommendations is not a simple task, but it is essential.”

As a key part of the government’s response, the Chief of the Defence Force will issue a directive establishing “a presumption that anyone in the Australian Defence Force who is found to have engaged in certain forms of sexual misconduct will be discharged”.

In a shift that moves the ADF’s practices closer to corporate standards, anyone disciplined over sexual assault, harassment or other offences such as stalking would be dismissed, subject to judgment on the balance of probability.

Mandatory discharge will also apply to any ADF members convicted of sexual or related offences in the military and civilian criminal justice systems.

“All Defence personnel have a responsibility to help create a safe and respectful workplace environment and culture free from sexual misconduct,” the government says in its response.

“The rates of sexual violence being reported in the ADF are completely unacceptable.”

The government ruled out adopting one of the royal commission’s recommendations: a call to remove the longstanding “service differential” that provides higher compensation payments for personnel permanently injured during war-like service rather than in training exercises.

Albanese said the differential was a “long-standing feature of Australia’s support for veterans” that was important to maintain.

The government said it would follow the United States and United Kingdom by using psychometric testing, including assessments of emotional intelligence, in deciding which leaders to promote.

Independent senator Jacqui Lambie, a former soldier who campaigned for a royal commission, thanked the government for taking prompt action and backed its response to the report.

“There is more work to do, but this is a very good start,” she said.

Colleen Pillen, whose son Michael Powers died by suicide after leaving the army, said: “It’s really good that they’re considering virtually all of the recommendations handed down. I’m pretty pleased with the results.”

Colleen Pillen with a portrait of her son Michael Powers, who took his own life.Credit: Janie Barrett

Pillen, who lives in Penrith in western Sydney, said doctors and psychologists needed to have more awareness of the risk factors for suicide.

“I think I counted at least 10 major symptoms and signs that he was suicidal, and every one of them was ignored,” she said.

Phil Goodwin, whose son Ryan died by suicide almost five years ago after serving in Afghanistan, said driving change through the gargantuan defence establishment would be the government’s most difficult task.

“The big thing that needs to change is the bureaucracy,” said Goodwin, who lives in Port Pirie, South Australia. “This will be a massive undertaking.”

Phil and Bronwyn Goodwin, whose son Ryan took his own life after serving in the military.Credit: Janie Barrett

Goodwin and wife Bronwyn were among the first witnesses to testify before the royal commission in 2021, explaining how their son lost his way after returning from combat service and failed to receive the support he needed from the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

“He left a huge hole in our lives and will not be forgotten,” he said.

Sources close to the royal commission who were not authorised to speak publicly welcomed the fact the government had quickly accepted the vast majority of recommendations, but questioned whether the outstanding recommendations that had only been “noted” or accepted in principle would be taken up.

RSL Australia national president Greg Melick praised the government’s “prompt and comprehensive response” and called for funding in the next federal budget for the recommendations.

“Past and present ADF personnel have done and do all we ever ask of them, and too many have paid a very high price, including making the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

Opposition defence spokesman Andrew Hastie said he hoped the government would work quickly to ensure the oversight authority was established as soon as possible.

If you are a current or former ADF member, or a relative, and need counselling or support, you can contact the Defence All-Hours Support Line on 1800 628 036 or Open Arms on 1800 011 046. Crisis support is also available from Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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