A National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention is set to review and investigate all suspected veteran and Australian Defence Force (ADF) suicides and their causes.
The commissioner is to be assisted by a new Veteran Family Advocate, whose role will be to directly engage with families of veterans.
Prime Minister, Scott Morrison said the commissioner would have the enduring power, scope and resources to investigate suicides and related issues.
“The independent commissioner will also have the power to compel witnesses to give evidence,” Mr Morrison said.
“I have thought long and hard about the best response to this issue,” he said.
“I believe what we have developed addresses the needs of those veterans, their families and our serving men and women.”
He said the commissioner would head an independent and permanent public accountability body with the same powers as a Royal Commission – to compel the production of evidence and summon witnesses, and make findings and recommendations to Government.
“The commissioner will also provide an ongoing investigative function of individual cases of suicide, working with each State and Territory Coronial Office, making recommendations to Government,” Mr Morrison said.
“The Government will also establish an immediate, independent review of historical veteran suicide cases, conducted by the commissioner, focusing on the impact of military service and veterans’ post service experience.”
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel, Darren Chester said the commissioner would also deliver an Annual Veteran and Defence Suicide Death Report to the Parliament.
“This will be a transparent report directly to the Parliament on an annual basis on suicides within the Defence and veteran community, including an update on the implementation and evaluation of measures to reduce suicide risk factors,” Mr Chester said.
