Matt Keogh: Aussie Diggers deserve better than toxic and broken system

People are our most important Australian defence capability.

Their professionalism, dedication and resilience underpins our national security.

We want Australians to be attracted to serving our nation in our Australia Defence Force, with confidence that they and their families will be respected and well supported by their leadership, their mates and the broader defence organisation, as well as being safe in the knowledge that both during and after their service, they will be properly looked after and their service acknowledged by a grateful nation.

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide evidenced that, for too long, this was not the case.

Its final report, delivered a year ago today, is harrowing to read.

Lives lost. Families shattered.

Too many tears shed and voices not heard.

The families of those who took their own lives were instrumental in bringing about the royal commission, and as we, the Government pay tribute to them.

The evidence heard was that of a broken system and a toxic culture.

Our people deserve better.

This is not another report destined to live on the shelves.

This is a living, breathing to-do list for Government to do better and we are acting quickly.

In December, just three months after the final report was delivered, we accepted 104 recommendations and noted 17 for further work.

By February, we legislated a new oversight body — what the royal commission deemed to be the most important recommendation — the establishment of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission. It starts operations later this month.

We have also established a taskforce within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet to guide the implementation of recommendations across Government.

The joint defence and veteran mental health and wellbeing strategy has now been released and we have conducted extensive consultations with the veteran community to establish a new wellbeing agency in DVA.

Work is also underway to improve culture in defence.

The royal commission identified sexual violence as a major contributor to the toxic culture within the ADF.

There is no place for sexual violence in any workplace and we are prioritising recommendations to eliminate it from the ADF and defence.

Defence has completed work to support the implementation of a presumption of discharge in circumstances where ADF members are convicted of sexual and related offences.

This measure will be in place before the end of the year and supported by further legislative change.

In-depth research work is starting to understand the prevalence of sexual violence among serving personnel, to feed into an independent Inquiry. We will consult on the Inquiry’s terms of reference soon.

These reforms send a clear message: sexual misconduct has no place in our defence force.

We are building a culture that does not tolerate abuse, that acts decisively if harm occurs, and that places the safety and dignity of all members at the centre of our actions.

Defence is working to reduce suicide and improve wellbeing among serving ADF members with significant uptake in relevant and training.

Defence has strengthened the coordination of governance, assurance and policy functions within the military justice system.

Meanwhile, recommendations are being implemented to strengthen the independence of the Inspector-General of Australian Defence Force, including through separate legislation and enhancing independence in staff selection.

While the experiences examined by the royal commission are not those of all who serve in our uniform, implementing the reforms from the royal commission is vital in ensuring that all defence personnel, veterans and families receive the care, services and supports they not only need, but they deserve.

We will continue to do what’s right — to take action on the royal commission as quickly as we can.

Matt Keogh is the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel