Russell Broadbent here, Federal Member for Monash.
The findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide – which noted that 1677 serving and former defence personnel had died by suicide between 1997 and 2021 is shocking and shameful national tragedy.
To the thousands of people that gave evidence, I pay tribute to your bravery in sharing testimonies of great pain and grief – all of which now serve as unequivocal evidence for much needed reform across government bureaucracies and the defence forces.
The men and women who put their lives on the line for our nation deserve better – and now government has a duty to ensure a compassionate, bipartisan and timely response to the 122 recommendations – one that puts veterans and their families above all else.
That’s justice as I see it.
