Solomon Veterans,

The Albanese Government has today released its response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, setting out a plan for real, meaningful and enduring reform for Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, veterans and their families.

I fought for this Royal Commission and I am pleased we have now delivered a plan to respond to the final report so we can get on with supporting our serving and former ADF personnel and their families.

As a fourth-generation veteran myself I understand the importance of this response. The Government is committed to taking action in response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations, and ensuring a better future for serving ADF personnel, veterans and their families.

The Government has agreed to the vast majority of the recommendations.
• Agreed or agreed-in-principle to 104 recommendations
• Noted 17 recommendations
• Not supported one recommendation in part

Implementing the Royal Commission’s report, as laid out in our Government’s response, will embed change inside Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs to benefit serving personnel and their families and improve support for the veterans of today and tomorrow. The Government has also made it clear to Defence that we expect continued, meaningful and measurable improvements to Defence culture. Implementation will involve the most comprehensive reform ever undertaken of the culture, systems and processes supporting Defence personnel, veterans and their families.

Delivering the response:
• The recommendations to address sexual misconduct and unacceptable behaviour will be immediate priorities.
• As a priority, the Government has agreed to establish a new oversight body, to oversee system reform across the whole Defence ecosystem.
• An Interim Head of the oversight body will be appointed to work across government and provide advice on establishing the permanent body by September 2025. The Interim Head will be supported by a small dedicated staff from within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.
• A new taskforce will also be established in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The taskforce will provide advice to government on implementing the reforms over the short and long term, while prioritising the health and safety of Defence personnel and veterans, as recommended by the Royal Commission.
• The Government has agreed to provide funding of $5 million over 12 months from January 2025 will be provided to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet to undertake this work, comprising of $1.5 million for the interim oversight body and $3.5 million for the taskforce.
• The Government has also agreed to funding of $4.5 million in 2024-25 that will be provided to DVA to commence consultation with the veteran community on establishing a new agency in DVA to focus on wellbeing and the establishment of an Ex-Service Organisations peak body.

I thank all those who bravely told their story and came forward to give their evidence to the Royal Commission. Your courage made a difference.

Discussion of the issues covered in the Government’s Response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide may be distressing for some people. All serving and former ADF personnel and their families should know that if they need support they can contact Open Arms for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 1800 011 046 or visit www.openarms.gov.au, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 or by visiting www.lifeline.org.au.

The Government’s full response to the Royal Commission is available on the Defence and DVA websites.

Please reach out if you have any questions.

Yours in service, Luke