Page 747 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 31 March 2021
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The government started a process of consultation in February 2020 and announced the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention. At that stage, it was supported in a bipartisan way. It has been through consultation. It has been through a committee process. It has all the powers of a royal commission. It is independent. It makes findings and recommendations. It has the power to require documents, summon witnesses, take evidence on oath, receive information and evidence in private, and refer potential breaches to the law. But it is established as a permanent body. The concept is that as veterans issues emerge—as they develop, as they progress—that can be looked at by the commissioner. Dr Bernadette Boss, who is a former magistrate in the ACT, has been appointed as the interim commissioner.
This has broad support. Mental Health Australia supports it. It said:
Mental Health Australia strongly supports the objectives of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention Bill.
Suicide Prevention Australia said:
We believe the commissioner will drive accountability, transparency and systemic change to prevent suicide and suicidal behaviour …
The Defence Force Welfare Association said, in referring to the Prime Minister:
… his initiative in doing so was widely applauded within both the veteran community and among serving ADF members. DFWA and its Alliance of Defence Service Organisation (ADSO) partners welcomed it.
There was a view that, notwithstanding some staunch continued support for a Royal Commission into veterans suicides, a National Commissioner would serve veterans far better than another inquiry that many felt would do little more than lead yet again to a lengthy process of inquiry and result in a series of tedious conclusions.
And there is a list: the Vietnam Veterans Federation of Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, RSL Australia, Legacy Australia, the Air Force Association, Soldier On, RSL National, RSL Queensland, Mates4Mates, Suicide Prevention Australia, and others.
As I said, I have spoken to veterans today about this process. There are mixed views. I have circulated an amendment that seeks to encapsulate those mixed views and have a win-win. If we are going to treat veterans issues as a bipartisan issue, I do not think we want to have barneys. If they are having that barney on the hill, good luck to them. I do not think they are, because the words from the Prime Minister indicate that he is open to a royal commission, as is the minister. They have not opposed it. Based on what I am aware of, that there were coalition members voting for it, this is not something that would be opposed.
The minister and the Prime Minister are of the view that what is very important is to have something that has those powers, that has that ability as a standing body so that
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