15 August 2017

Release of Senate References Committee Report into Suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel

The Government welcomes the Senate Reference Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade report into suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel.

The Government will carefully consider the inquiry report and respond shortly.

Suicide affects all areas of our community and, as we have seen, our veterans and members of the ADF are not immune.

The Government yesterday outlined some of the steps it has taken in the last 18 months to provide better mental health support to veterans and their families.

The first annual Ministerial statement on veterans and their families made clear where the Department of Veterans’ Affairs was doing good work and where it needed to improve.

The Government would like to thank the individuals and organisations who made a submission to the inquiry or gave evidence at the public hearings for their contribution to this important issue.

Their evidence helped shape this report and will add further to the Government’s understanding of how we can further serve and support veterans and their families.

The Government would also like to thank the Senators who participated in this inquiry and the Secretariat. In particular it would like to thank the work of the Chair Senator Alex Gallacher, and the Deputy Chairs Dr Chris Back and Senator Bridget McKenzie.

Media enquiries: 
Minister Tehan’s Office: Byron Vale, 0428 262 894
Department of Veterans’ Affairs Media: 02 6289 6203

Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) can be reached 24 hours a day across Australia for crisis support and free and confidential counselling. Phone 1800 011 046 (international: +61 8 8241 45 46).  VVCS is a service founded by Vietnam veterans.