This article contains references to suicide/self-harm.
After documenting countless accounts of bullying and abuse in the Australian Defence Force, the final report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is being handed down.
The seven-volume report will be given to Governor-General Sam Mostyn before midday on Monday before being tabled in parliament by Defence Minister Richard Marles.
The inquiry has received almost 6000 submissions and heard from hundreds of witnesses across three years.
The report will call for a national commissioner for suicides. Source: AAP / Dave Hunt
Veterans and their families came forward to tell the royal commission about the poor treatment they received from Defence.
Senior officials also gave evidence at the inquiry, including former chief of the defence force Angus Campbell who apologised “unreservedly” for the military’s failures.
The final report contains 122 recommendations to drive improved health and wellbeing outcomes for serving and ex-serving defence force personnel — and save lives.
Former Defence chief Angus Campbell has apologised “unreservedly” for the military’s failures. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Royal commission chair Nick Kaldas told the Australian Associated Press a key recommendation in the final report would call for a body to be set up after the inquiry to monitor the situation and report publicly.
He said the government needed to recreate the interim national commissioner for suicides or the community members would be in a worse place than the royal commission had found them.
An interim report released in 2023 made 13 urgent recommendations, including eliminating the massive backlog of veteran compensation claims by March 2024.
The first recommendation was to simplify the claims processing system.
The Albanese government introduced legislation to parliament to roll three laws into one in July.
The inquiry found the complex compensation claims process had harmed the mental health of ex-personnel.
Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). More information and support with mental health is available at and on 1300 22 4636.
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