Defence on notice over veteran suicide

AUSTRALIAN Defence Force efforts to reduce suicide within its ranks have been called into question, amid concerns reforms are taking too long.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide closed eight days of public hearings in Adelaide on Wednesday with chair Nick Kaldas delivering a blunt warning to the ADF leadership.

“Evidence heard during this hearing block has raised questions as to whether leadership within defence has been taking adequate and timely action in response to the very real and pressing issues of suicide and suicidality within its ranks,” he said in closing remarks.

“We’re concerned that the internal reforms being considered by defence are taking too long and there is no certainty that they will lead to meaningful improvements in members’ mental health and wellbeing.”

Mr Kaldas said the commission was also concerned at evidence of funding being withdrawn for important projects, including a key initiative shown to significantly reduce injury rates among military personnel and improve the reporting of injuries.

While the Army saw value in the program, it argued it should be funded by the Health Department. Health officials suggested it was an Army problem.

The commission chair said the inquiry had heard repeatedly from ministers and service chiefs that people were the ADF’s greatest asset.

“One wonders then why more has not been done to address the cultural and systemic challenges our servicemen and women face at every stage of their military career,” Mr Kaldas said.

Mr Kaldas also called for the establishment of a high-level group to oversee and implement the findings of the inquiry, which is due to present its final report to the governor-general by June next year.

“There’s an old saying, that talk is cheap,” he said.

“Sadly, in regards to addressing suicide and suicidality within the defence and veteran population, there has been too much talk and not enough action which has cost, and continues to cost, many lives.”

In earlier evidence on Wednesday, Department of Veterans’ Affairs secretary Alison Frame said clearing a backlog of compensation claims from veterans remained an “urgent and pressing challenge”.

Issues with delays in processing claims was a key finding of the royal commission’s interim report in August last year which found the “dysfunctional” system was repeatedly identified as a major source of trauma and distress for veterans.

“We have heard from many veterans and families that the claims system is complex and difficult to navigate and that veterans wait for long periods… to receive a decision about their claims – sometimes more than 300 days,” the report said.

As of 31 May, 2022, the department had 41,799 claims in its backlog.

The commission recommended the queue be cleared no later than March 2024.

Ms Frame said the department was continuing to work to meet that deadline and was buoyed by a recent government commitment to recruit 500 new staff.

It currently had more than 1000 staff working on claims management.

The department was also working to achieve the legislated target to have all claims settled within 90 days, once the backlog was cleared.

The royal commission will next sit in Melbourne in August followed by hearings in Sydney in November.

If you or somebody you know needs support, you can call Lifeline’s 24/7 hotline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au. You can also visit Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

– TIM DORNIN/ AAP