The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
RSL Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s positive response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
The Government’s prompt and comprehensive response should commence the national effort to improve the health and wellbeing of veterans, current serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, and their families. RSL Australia is now working through the detail of the response to identify how we can inform and support the implementation of recommendations, including ensuring that the voices of veterans and families shape the reforms ahead of us.
The RSL thanks the Royal Commissioners who worked tirelessly over three years to hear from the hundreds of individuals who bravely shared their personal stories, as well as reading thousands of submissions about their lived experiences. The Royal Commission shone a light on veteran welfare matters in far more detail than ever before.
The RSL is indebted to every individual who shared their story and stands ready to work with the Government to play its part in bringing about meaningful change.
Past and present ADF personnel have done and do all we ever ask of them, and too many have paid a very high price, including making the ultimate sacrifice. Australia owes them a debt which must now be paid.
“The response from the Government represents a crucial and first step. The RSL calls on the Government to make appropriate provisions in the forthcoming 2024-25 Budget, and over the longer-term to ensure appropriate funding is provided for the full delivery of the Royal Commission’s recommendations,”
RSL National President Greg Melick
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Royal Commission - Interim Report
11 August 2022
The Interim Report provides commentary on the following, summary of work undertaken, preliminary observations, recommendations about urgent and immediate issues.
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Royal Commission - Final Report
9 September 2024
The Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide includes 122 recommendations, which form the Royal Commission’s blueprint for real, meaningful and long-lasting reform.
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Australian Government Response
2 December 2024
Australian Government Response to the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Out of the Royal Commission’s 122 recommendations, the Government has agreed or agreed in principle to 104 recommendations, noting 17 recommendations for further consideration and one recommendation is not supported in part.
RSL media releases
2 December 2024 - RSL Welcomes Government’s Response to Royal Commission Report
10 October 2024 - Government must move fast on key recommendations in Defence royal commission - News Limited
29 September 2024 - RSL offers support and expertise to Prime Minister in developing Royal Commission response.
9 September 2024 - RSL welcomes Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s Final Report. Calls for immediate action
5 July 2024 - New Veteran Entitlements’ Legislation Welcomed
1 July 2024 - Reflecting on “Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope and Healing”
21 June 2024 - RSL says Lived Experiences highlight issues facing veterans and service personnel
16 May 2024 - RSL welcomes increased budget measures for veterans. More expected in the coming year
29 April 2024 - Veterans’ voices have informed the RSL’s response to the proposed Veteran Entitlements Legislation
11 April 2024 - Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Hearings wind up - RSL reports
28 March 2024 - RSL commends those who appeared at the Royal Commission Hearings.
21 December 2023 - RSL Australia Calls for Establishment of Permanent and Independent Body to Monitor Wellbeing of Veterans, Defence Members, and their Families.
1 November 2023 - RSL Australia Welcomes GP’s Veteran Access Payment Increase
5 October 2023 - Deadline for Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide Submissions Fast Approaching
5 October 2023 - Minister, Royal Commissions, Military Leader and Departmental Secretary to Address National Ex-Service Organisation Forum
15 August 2023 - RSL Australia calls for the establishment of a National Office and a Commissioner for veteran wellbeing
2 June 2023 - The National Forum for Ex-Service Organisations - A Summary
26 May 2023 - ESO Sector Continues its Push to Establish Peak Body to Support Veterans
22 May 2023 - Federal Budget Provides Joy for Veteran Community but More Remains to be Done
10 May 2023 - RSL Australia Welcomes Additional $328M Committed to Veterans in Federal Budget
2 May 2023 - RSL Australia Calls for More Veteran Support in Next Week’s Federal Budget
16 February 2023 - RSL Australia Welcomes Government’s Proposed Reform of Veteran Entitlement Legislation
8 February 2023 - RSL Australia Outlines Budget Wins for Government to Improve Veteran Healthcare and to Address Royal Commission Outcomes
14 December 2022 - Royal Commission: Wagga Wagga Hearing Block 8 Summary
18 November 2022 - The ESO Sector Comes Together to Pursue a National Peak Body For Veterans
9 November 2022 - The RSL Announces ESO Forum to Address Royal Commission
27 September 2022 - The RSL Welcome Governments Royal Commission Response and submits its own Interim Report Response
26 September 2022 - RSL Australia releases Interim Report Response and Harmonisation of Legislation document
16 August 2022 - Royal Commission Hobart Hearing Block - Summary
June 2022 - RSL submits an Interim Submission to the Royal Commission to inform the Interim Report
2 May 2022 - Royal Commission Canberra Hearing Blocks - Summary
31 March 2022 - Royal Commission Sydney Hearing Blocks - Summary
10 January 2022 - Interview with Nick Kaldas, chair of the Royal Commission
25 November 2021 - Pete Rudland to represent RSL Australia as ambassador and spokesperson at Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
25 November 2021 - Solutions Must be Found to Address Veteran and Defence Force Member Suicide
29 September - Latest report on veteran and ADF suicide timely
13 August 2021 - RSL Preparing Submission for Veteran Royal Commission
9 July 2021 – RSL Welcomes Appointment of Royal Commissioners
24 May 2021 – RSL Input to Consultation Themes for Royal Commission
19 April 2021 – RSL Commitment to the Royal Commission
26 March 2021 – RSL Fully Supports Royal Commission
RSL Submissions
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Submission: Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024
April 2024
The RSL has lodged a detailed submission in response to the Government’s release of the draft Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024. The RSL consulted across the breadth of the League to ensure members’ voices inform the development of fit-for-purpose legislation that best serves veterans and their families.
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Consultation Response: A new entity to support the wellbeing of Defence Members and Veterans
This paper provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commission’s consultation paper Proposed new entity to promote the wellbeing of Defence members and veterans. It represents a consolidated response from across the League, including state and territory branches. It follows on from the RSL Australia March 2023 submission to the Royal Commission, Proposal for Implementation of Recommendations.
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Answering the call: An ESO informed response to a Sector Peak Body - Nov 2023
This submission is provided to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on behalf of participants of the recent series of National Forums for Ex-Service Organisations (ESOs). It presents the insights for an ESO sector response to the establishment of an ESO Peak Body framework.
Note: The original submission indicated ADSO instead of RARC on pg. 32 and excluded the RARC logo, which has since been rectified. -
RSL Australia: Proposal for Implementation of Recommendations - Mar 2023
This submission provides RSL Australia’s response to the Royal Commissioners’ calls for feedback on the potential creation of a suitable entity with comprehensive oversight and powers to drive lasting reform to help reduce the incidence of suicide amongst serving and ex-serving ADF members.
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RSL Australia: Harmonisation of Legislation - Sep 22
The RSL strongly supports the need for harmonisation of veterans’ entitlements legislation. Our experience in providing claims advocacy services for veterans means the organisation is very aware of the unintended consequences of the complex array of legislation administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. We need to achieve an outcome that preserves benefits for veterans overall but also achieves a simplified, ‘user-friendly’ system to provide timely assistance to veterans in need.
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RSL Australia: Interim Report Response - Sep 2022
The urgent and immediate recommendations contained within the Interim Report released by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide are sensible, significant, and vital. RSL Australia fully supports the Commissioners’ calls for legislative reform, to improve claims processing at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, and to increase protections for those engaging with the Royal Commission.
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RSL Australia: Interim Submission - June 2022
The RSL Submission builds on the evidence examined in Public Hearings by the Royal Commission and its Stakeholder Reference Group thus far and seeks to inform the recommendations of the Interim Report. It contains both recommendations that could be implemented immediately, and others with a view to the long-term.
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RSL Australia: Submission - November 2021
Building on the contribution of our State Branches and the interest, consideration, reflection and personal input of our membership, RSL Australia has provided a submission to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide identifying issues, risks and opportunities to improve the current landscape for Australia’s Defence Members and Veterans.
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Submission: Themes for the consultation - May 2021
Read the RSL submission on the themes for the consultation to inform the Terms of Reference for the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
Support
ADF Mental Health All-hours Support Line (for current serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 628 036
Safe Zone Support (for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families) – 1800 142 072. When you call Safe Zone Support, you do not need to identify yourself.
Open Arms (current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families are able to seek this free and confidential support) – 1800 011 046
Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467