Under the Letters Patent, Nick KaldasAPM, James DouglasKC, and Dr Peggy Brown AO were appointed as Royal Commissioners. They delivered an interim report on 11 August 2022. The Letters Patent set out the Royal Commissioners’ terms of reference.
They were originally to produce a final report by 17 June 2024, but it was actually presented on 9 September 2024 to the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC. It was tabled in Federal Parliament on the same day. The report made 122 recommendations.
Background
Between 1997 and 2020 there were 1600 known cases of Defence and veteran suicides in Australia.[1] The Federal Government resisted calls for the establishment of a Royal Commission, instead preferring establishing a permanent National Commissioner for veteran suicides. A National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention was established in February 2020.[2] The work of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention concluded on 15 September 2021.[3]
Following increased pressure from members of the public, on 22 March 2021, the motion to support the establishment of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide passed both the Senate and the House of Representatives.[4]
After a recommendation in the Interim Report, the Australian Government agreed to make legislative reform to provide stronger and broader protections to those who engage with the Royal Commission. On 30 March 2023, the Government expanded protections with Royal Commissions Amendment (Enhancing Engagement) Bill 2023 becoming law.
The amended legislation ensures any sensitive, personal or confidential information disclosed to the Commission is protected during and after the life of the inquiry.[5]
On 14 September 2023, the Royal Commissions Amendment (Private Sessions) Bill 2023 passed in parliament. The new laws outlined in this bill allow royal commissions to appoint qualified and experienced senior staff members of royal commissions to conduct private sessions, in order to assist in workload. Prior to this, only royal commissioners were able to conduct private sessions, as outlined in the Royal Commissions Act 1902.
Hearings
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide commenced its proceedings with a Ceremonial Hearing in Brisbane on 26 November 2021.
The Interim Report includes urgent recommendations and information based on the Royal Commission’s work so far. It includes initial findings on suicide prevention and wellbeing, families, Australian Defence Force culture, transition, and what might happen after the Royal Commission.
Improving access to information for serving and ex-serving members and their families.
Strengthening protections to help serving members feel more comfortable sharing their stories.
Calling on the Government to remove the barriers to the Commission’s work caused by parliamentary privilege and public interest immunity.
In September 2022, the Government responded to the Interim Report, and outlined changes it would implement based on recommendations made by the Royal Commission.[7]
Final report
On 9 September 2024 the Royal Commission handed down its Final Report. It made 122 recommendations including establishing a new support body to assist defence personnel transition into civilian life.[8]
Submissions
The Royal Commission invited members of the public, organisations, and institutions to share their experiences by making a submission. This included serving and ex-serving Defence personnel, their friends and family, support people, and organisation whose work related to the Royal Commission's terms of reference. Those who made a submission could remain anonymous.
Submissions did not need to relate only to suicide. Submissions could include anything relevant to the Royal Commission's terms of reference. Themes such as military service, trauma, mental health, family support, and more were important to the Royal Commission's inquiry.
Submissions opened on 8 July 2021 and closed on 13 October 2023. In that time, the Royal Commission received over 5000 submissions that covered a range of issues that related to the Royal Commission's terms of reference.
About 80% of submissions were from serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force personnel, and their families and friends.[9]
to inquire into and report upon the arrangements made for the transport of troops returning from service in South Africa in the S.S. "Drayton Grange" (1902)
on sites for the seat of government of the Commonwealth (1903)
on the Bonuses for Manufactures Bill (1903–1904)
on the butter industry (1904–1905)
on the Navigation Bill (1904–1906)
on the affray at Goaribari Island, British New Guinea, on the 6th of March, 1904 (1904)
on customs and excise tariffs (1904–1907)
on old-age pensions (1905–1906)
on the tobacco monopoly (1905–1906)
1906–1910
on ocean shipping service (1906)
British New Guinea—Royal Commission of inquiry into the present conditions, including the method of government, of the Territory of Papua, and the best means of their improvement (1906–1907)
on secret drugs, cures, and foods (1906–1907)
on postal services (1908–1910)
on insurance (1908–1910)
on stripper harvesters and drills (1908–1909)
on Tasmanian customs leakage (1910–1911)
1911–1920
1911–1912
on the sugar industry (1911–1912)
on the pearl-shelling industry (1912–1916)
on the fruit industry (1912–1914)
1913–1914
to inquire into certain charges against Mr. Henry Chinn (1913)
on Northern Territory railways and ports (1913–1914)
on powellised timber (1913–1914)
upon the Commonwealth electoral law and administration (1914–1915)
on meat export trade (1914)
on food supplies and trade and industry during the war (1914)
1915–1916
on mail services and trade development between Australia and the New Hebrides (1915)
on Liverpool Military Camp, New South Wales (1915)
on the charges made by D. L. Gilchrist concerning the construction of the western section of the Kalgoorlie to Port Augusta Railway (1916)
to inquire into and report upon certain charges against the Administrator and other officers of the Northern Territory Administration (1916)
on Federal Capital Administration (1916–1917)
1917–1918
on Java and the East Indies, Singapore and the Straits Settlements (1917–1918)
on Navy and Defence Administration (1917–1919)
on the war—Australian Imperial Force. Report as to number of members fit for active service and number of reinforcements and enlistments required (1918)
on Public Service administration, Commonwealth of Australia (1918–1920)
upon the public expenditure of the Commonwealth of Australia with a view to effecting economies (1918–1921)
on taxation of leasehold estates in Crown lands (1918–1919)
on the basic wage (1919–1920)
1919–1920
on the sugar industry (1919–1920)
on industrial troubles on Melbourne wharfs (1919–1920)
on late German New Guinea (1919–1920)
to inquire into complaints by the munition worker passengers to Australia by the transport "Bahia Castillo" (1919)
on Northern Territory Administration (1919–1920)
on taxation (1920–1923)
on the increase of the selling price of coal (1920)
upon the loyalty to the British Crown of German Nationals resident in Australia whose property is liable to a charge created by the Treaty of Peace Regulations made under the Treaty of Peace (Germany) Act 1919–1920 (1921)
1923–1924
on the circumstances attending the supposed loss at sea of the steamship "Sumatra" (1923)
in connection with sugar purchases by the Commonwealth through Mr. W. E. Davies in September and October, 1920 (1923–1924)
in connection with joinery supplied to the War Service Homes Commissioner in March, 1920 (1923–1924)
on the method for determining the unimproved value of land held under Crown leases (1924–1925)
on the assessment of war service disabilities (1924–1925)
to inquire into extracts from the reports in Parliamentary Debates of speeches made by Mr. Scullin in the House of Representatives on 7 and 19 August 1924, in relation to land tax matters (1924–1925)
on the finances of Western Australia, as affected by Federation (1924–1925)
1925–1926
on health (1925–1926)
on Norfolk Island affairs (1926)
on certain matters in connexion with the British Phosphate Commission (1926)
to inquire into allegations affecting members of the Parliamentary Joint Committee of Public Accounts in connexion with claims made by broadcasting companies against the Commonwealth Government (1930)
1931–1940
1931–1935
on Jacob Johnson (1931)
on performing rights (1932–1933)
on taxation (1932–1934)
on mineral oils and petrol and other products of mineral oils (1933–1935)
on the wheat, flour and bread industries (1934–1936)
to inquire into and report upon the circumstances associated with the retirement of Lieutenant-Commander Alan Dermot Casey from the Royal Australian Navy (1934)
to inquire into the monetary and banking systems at present in operation in Australia (1935–1937)
1936–1940
on doctors' remuneration for national insurance service and other contract practice (1938)
to inquire into and report upon the contract or contracts with Abbco Bread Co. Pty. Limited for the supply of bread to the Department of the Army, and other matters (1941)
to inquire into circumstances under which certain public monies were used and to whom, and for what purposes such moneys were paid (1941)
an inquiry into a statement that there was a document missing from the official files in relation to "The Brisbane Line" (1943)
to inquire into and report upon certain transactions of the Sydney Land Sales Control Office, and the Canberra Land Sales Control Office of the Treasury (1947)
to inquire into certain transactions in relation to timber rights in the Territory of Papua-New Guinea (1949)
1951–1960
on the Port Augusta to Alice Springs Railway (1951–1952)
on alleged improper practices and improper refusal to co-operate with the Victoria Police Force on the part of persons employed in the Postmaster-General's Department in Victoria in relation to illegal gambling (1962–1963)
