Content Warning: This article discusses suicide and mental health issues.
As prime minister, Scott Morrison consistently acknowledged both the traditional custodians of the land and Australia’s veterans in his speeches. Early in his tenure in 2018, one of his flagship policies was the introduction of the Australian Veterans’ Card and lapel pin, aimed at honouring military personnel and securing discounts on essential services like groceries and power bills.
However well-intentioned, the initiative quickly fizzled out. This failure reflects a broader, systemic problem that has plagued the nation for decades: the disproportionate rate of suicide among current and former members of Australia’s Defence Force (ADF).
Two years after Morrison left office, a major legacy of his administration came to light on Monday—the release of the final report from a royal commission into veterans’ suicide. While the findings are deeply distressing, they confirm long-standing concerns: Australia’s military community has been enduring a silent crisis, with three suicides occurring every fortnight for the past decade.
This report, spanning seven volumes and over 3,100 pages, places responsibility squarely in the hands of Morrison’s successor, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. His government must now confront the shocking details and work to implement solutions.
The royal commission’s findings are grim: between 1985 and 2021, 1,677 active and former defence personnel took their own lives—a number 20 times greater than those who died in active service. The commissioners warned that the true toll may be even higher, with as many as 3,000 preventable deaths.
The report highlighted how simply being in the ADF increases the risk of suicide, with the dangers amplifying for those who have served in combat roles. Men in the ADF are 30% more likely to die by suicide than those in the civilian workforce, a figure that jumps to 100% for those in combat or security roles. Ex-servicemen face an even grimmer outlook. For women, the risk is worse: ex-servicewomen are 107% more likely to die by suicide, with that number soaring to 452% for those in combat or security roles.
Commission Chair Nick Kaldos remarked that for too long, these alarming statistics were ignored, deemed too difficult to address.
Recommendations for Reform
The royal commission issued 122 recommendations aimed at preventing further deaths. The key proposal calls for the creation of a statutory entity to oversee reforms within the ADF and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). This body would ensure that both institutions take concrete steps to reduce suicides and improve the wellbeing of current and former service members.
Other recommendations include better data collection to inform policies, the creation of a national suicide database, and the establishment of a peak body for ex-service organizations. The commission also proposed a new executive agency within the DVA to help veterans transition from military to civilian life and ensure early access to mental health support.
The Long Road to Accountability
The fight for this royal commission was long and hard-fought by families of veterans who had died by suicide. For years, their calls were dismissed. In 2020, Morrison’s government attempted to bypass the demand for a royal commission by establishing a permanent national commissioner to investigate Defence Force suicides, but families like Julie-Ann Finney, whose son, Navy Petty Officer David Finney, died in 2019, continued to push for more accountability. Eventually, Morrison conceded, and the royal commission was established, running for three years.
The commission’s establishment was an acknowledgment of decades of failure—not just by the ADF and DVA but by successive governments, including Morrison’s own.
The Challenge Ahead for Albanese
The royal commission brought with it a cascade of apologies from senior ADF leaders. Kaldos noted that the DVA has begun making progress, thanks in part to hundreds of new staff recruited under Albanese’s leadership to address a 42,000-claim backlog. Both Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton have pledged to work together to implement the commission’s recommendations and prevent future tragedies.
However, the commissioners remain sceptical of Defence and DVA’s ability to enact the sweeping changes necessary. Commissioner Peggy Brown stated that the departments could not be trusted to resolve the deep-rooted issues on their own, emphasizing the need for an ongoing body to hold them accountable.
Senator Jacqui Lambie, a long-time advocate for reform and a former soldier herself, expressed hope for change but voiced concerns that the Defence Force might impede progress. “It must be all in, or else we’re never going to fix this,” she warned.
From Good Intentions to Action
For the families of those lost to suicide, the promises of cultural change from successive governments have often rung hollow. The royal commission’s report has the potential to change that—but only if it leads to real, sustained action.
The path forward is clear: Australia must confront this national shame head-on, ensuring that the final report does not gather dust on a government shelf but instead serves as a catalyst for meaningful change. Only then can the country honour its commitment to those who have served and sacrificed in its name.
Defence support services:
- The Defence all-hours Support Line is a confidential telephone and online service for ADF members and their families 1800 628 036
- Open Arms provides 24-hour free and confidential counselling and support for current and former ADF members and their families 1800 011 046
- Soldier On is a national support services provider for Defence personnel, contemporary veterans, and their families. Contact during office hours 1300 620 380