I acknowledge the handing down of the final report into Defence and Veteran Suicide will be a confronting and difficult time for those in the Defence community, particularly those who have lost loved ones.
As a former Veterans’ Affairs Minister, former Assistant Defence Minister and representing the only inland regional city with all three arms of Defence, I appreciate how important the Royal Commission is to the Defence Force community and their loved ones – it is imperative we as Parliamentarians get the measures right for past, current and future service personnel and Veterans.
The Coalition will work through the Royal Commission’s Final Report, giving each of the 122 recommendations the appropriate consideration and respect to respond in due course. We will work with the Federal Government to ensure positive steps are taken to deliver the best outcomes to reduce and, ultimately, eliminate the incidence of suicide in the Defence Force community.
Wagga Wagga and the Riverina has a strong Veteran population and, sadly, the community has been affected by suicides among Australian Defence Force members and Veterans.