Suicide Royal Commission’s Interim Report – an Address from the Chair

11 Aug 2022

Interim Report – an address from the Chair Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Chair, Nick Kaldas APM, provides an important update on the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Interim Report (interim report) after it was tabled in Parliament today.

On 11 August 2022, Commissioners Nick Kaldas APM, The Hon James Douglas QC and Dr Peggy Brown AO presented the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Interim Report to the Governor-General, His Excellency, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd).

The interim report was then tabled in Parliament at 10:30 am today. It has now also been published on the Royal Commission website.

The interim report delivers 13 urgent recommendations, including the following:

  • Without delay the Government should implement legislative reforms to simplify and harmonise the veteran entitlement system.
  • The Government and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs should take urgent steps to fix problems with the processing of claims for serving and ex-serving members.
  • Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to improve access to information for serving and ex- members and their families

How can I get a copy of the interim report?

There are a number of ways to obtain a copy of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Interim Report.

Please be aware that the report includes accounts of lived experiences of suicide and other material that may be distressing.
You can contact our counselling team 1800 329 095 or +61 2 5122 3105, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm AEST Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays. There is also crisis support information available through our website.

The Royal Commission’s inquiry is focused on the identification of systemic, structural and cultural issues and solutions to suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members.

The report also makes some preliminary observations about a range of issues including:

  • suicide prevention and wellbeing,
  • families,
  • Australian Defence Force culture,
  • transition, and
  • a possible body to follow the Royal Commission.

There are many matters not aired in this interim report, but this does not mean that these issues are not being considered as part of the Commission’s ongoing inquiries. The Royal Commission plans to publish a number of papers and reports in the lead up to the final report.

Until the final report is due in June 2024 the Royal Commission will continue to carefully read submissions, listen to people with lived experience, consider evidence, hear from experts, and conduct research.

Website: https://defenceveteransuicide.royalcommission.gov.au

Email: [email protected]