After three years of investigations, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has released its final report, presenting 122 recommendations. The report signifies hope for veterans and their families. The veteran community, including family members, advocated for this inquiry for more than a decade, as previous calls were disregarded. Initially, the Ex Service Organisation Round Table opposed the inquiry, claiming veteran suicide rates matched the national average.
The commission has addressed the issue by applying a forensic approach to data, which increased the recorded veteran suicides from around 300 to approximately 1,700. This revised figure does not include deaths that might be suicides but are recorded differently, such as single-vehicle accidents. Former service members’ suicide rates are 26% higher for men and 107% higher for women compared to the national average. The commission began by considering veteran suicide as an issue tied to individual mental health, assuming deployment trauma as a key factor. However, it concluded that systemic and cultural issues play a significant role. Despite 60 inquiries over five decades yielding around 750 recommendations regarding military systems and culture, few have been implemented.
Commissioner Nick Kaldas pointed out leadership failures, citing numerous inquiries and recommendations lacking follow-through. The seven-volume report was tabled in parliament, and Kaldas highlighted ongoing neglect and indifference over many years. The commissioners noted that non-deployed veterans are most at risk for suicide. The military’s hierarchical culture and command structure, driven by a rigid justice system, give commanders overwhelming control, which can be misused outside conflict scenarios. Service conditions, not just combat, can have heavy personal costs. Violence, both physical and sexual, was frequently reported in submissions to the inquiry. “Administrative violence” was a term coined during the research, describing harassment or abuse by superiors, with actions that strip subordinates of identity, purpose, and belonging.
Identity and camaraderie are fundamental to the military’s ANZAC legacy. Interviews revealed that veterans valued their careers and relationships within the force, making bullying and dismissal deeply painful. The transition to civilian life is another challenge, causing veterans to lose identity and purpose. While many navigate this transition successfully, those who struggle might face homelessness, imprisonment, or suicidal thoughts. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs sometimes complicates veterans’ struggles by delaying or denying support, with tragic outcomes like that of Private Jesse Bird. The report’s recommendations highlight the need for independent oversight to monitor progress on reducing suicide rates among military members. This idea was previously suggested during a 2005 inquiry but was rejected by national leaders.
Recommendations focus on creating a respectful military culture, tackling sexual assault, supporting victims, and holding offenders accountable. There’s a call for independent research into sexual violence prevalence in the military, addressing underlying cultural issues. Leadership quality also comes under scrutiny, with recommendations to assess commanders based on cultural, health, and wellbeing outcomes, and to enhance criteria for appointing leaders. The commissioners advocate for an inspector general outside the force to ensure objectivity in accountability. They urge the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to improve veteran support, reducing bureaucracy and wait times.
These recommendations are significant for addressing the insular, hierarchical culture in the defence system. There’s emphasis on education, research, and information sharing to improve our understanding. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs takes this report seriously, a stance not mirrored by the defence force. In May, Kaldas spoke at the National Press Club, criticizing the defence force for hindering access to crucial documents, noting systemic issues such as using parliamentary privilege to restrict report usage. Numerous inquiries have doubted the Australian Defence Force’s capacity for cultural reform, a sentiment echoed in a 2005 Senate inquiry and acknowledged by the defence force itself in a 2012 report. Despite limited cooperation in the royal commission, there’s hope, as many motivated individuals within the ADF and Department of Veterans’ Affairs strive for change. With recruitment and retention at historic lows, the need for reform is urgent.