Page 746 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 March 2021
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few weeks after my return from active service I fell into a deep slump. I do not know that it was depression. I do not know what it was. But at that time I had regular thoughts of taking my own life. With the support of Fleur, I picked myself up and moved on, and our story has a happy ending. Sadly, for many vets and their families there is no happy ending.
Many vets are not coping by themselves. They need our help as a community and they need the support of government at all levels. This crusade that I have been on—and I am glad to see that Minister Ramsay is seemingly joining that crusade, and I congratulate him again on that and urge him to continue to do so—to improve the lives of veterans and service members and their families is personal for me. I will continue to fight for veterans and their families as long as I am in this place.
So this is an issue that is close to me. And it is not just my own experience but the experience of many of those I have served with. Those who were under my command in Iraq have struggled with issues, as have many as others.
We have enjoyed in this place a very bipartisan approach to this issue. I worked very closely with Gordon Ramsay. If there were issues to be dealt with, we would communicate well. I must say that I was bitterly disappointed to see the motion on the notice paper today. That was the first I was aware of it.
I spoke to veterans groups and rang them to see what they thought about this issue. The veterans groups I spoke to had not been consulted and were not aware that this motion was being brought before the Assembly today. Given the complexity of these issues and the emotion that can be caused around them, it is very important, as we have these debates, to make sure that those who are affected by them in the ACT have that involvement.
When it comes to the issue of a royal commission, there are mixed views. There are significant mixed views. I spoke to a number of veterans organisations today. Personally, I do not mind a royal commission; I will go to that. I do not think there is anyone that I am aware of on my side who is opposing it. But we need to understand the complexity of this environment.
As Ms Davidson alluded to, the government looked at this issue some time ago, considered a royal commission and consulted and discussed with veterans groups and veterans on what is the best way forward.
A royal commission certainly serves a purpose. The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Prime Minister do not oppose it. The problem is that it is a snapshot in time. Think about the veterans issues that have been plaguing this nation from World War I, when we called it shell shock, through World War II to the real trauma suffered by veterans from Vietnam and in later conflicts. Each conflict is different. Each circumstance is unique. Ms Davidson talked about the role of women. That is not something that was occurring significantly in Vietnam, World War II or World War I, but it is a genuine, important issue now. A royal commission only looks at a snapshot in time.
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