Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he remains 'open' to a royal commission into veterans' suicides and will 'reflect on these things over the break before making a decision' | nickbonyhady
A report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare released last week found veterans were committing suicide at a much higher rate than the general population. Male veterans had the most elevated risk of suicide, while female veterans were more than twice as likely to commit suicide as women who had not been in the armed forces.
Mr Morrison met last week with Julie-Ann Finney, a mother who began campaigning for a royal commission into veterans' suicides after her navy veteran son David's suicide earlier this year. "There are many changes, I want to stress, that are being made, both in the way the Defence Force operates and how the Department of Veterans' Affairs operates," Mr Morrison said, adding he had told Ms Finney he wished the changes had been made before her son entered the Australian Defence Force.Both Mr Morrison and Mr Albanese said they hoped to take a bipartisan approach to the issue.
"I would welcome that input and feedback from veterans on the other side of the chamber," Mr Morrison said.For help or information, call Open Arms – Veterans and Families Counselling 1800 011 046; Lifeline 131 114; or
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Environment is prime worry for the first time: pollEnvironment beats healthcare, cost of living to Australians' prime worry for first time | MattWadeSMH
Read more »
Labor calls for veteran suicide Royal Commission | Sky News AustraliaOpposition Leader Anthony Albanese has called for a Royal Commission into veteran suicides.\n\nMr Albanese said he took the position after meetings with the mother of a veteran who took his own life.\n\nMore than 500 current and former military personnel have taken their own lives since 2001.\n\nThe Morrison Government resisted calls for a Royal Commission, despite acknowledging more needs to done to support veterans after they transition into civilian life.\n\nImage: Getty
Read more »
'We must do better': Labor backs royal commission into veteran deathsAnthony Albanese is backing calls for a royal commission into veterans taking their own lives.
Read more »
Veteran suicide royal commission is ‘the right thing to do’ | Sky News AustraliaLabor MP Matt Thistlethwaite says Labor is calling for a royal commission into veterans’ suicide because it is “the right thing to do”.\n\nMr Thistlethwaite told Sky News there’s “something wrong” with the system, as he discovered when speaking with parents of veterans who had taken their own lives.\n\n“Nothing has the prohibitive power in Australia as the royal commission and we really need to use that power to get to the bottom of what’s going on,” he said.\n\n“It goes beyond the issue of suicide, it’s the support we’re providing for people in the military and beyond.”\n\n\n\nAnyone who may be feeling distressed can contact the following organisations for support.\n\n\nLifeline 131 114 \n\nSANE Helpline 1800 18 72 63 \n\nBeyond Blue 1300 22 4636\n\n\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »
'We need answers' on why veteran suicide rate is so high | Sky News AustraliaShadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says we need to “discover the answers” into why the suicide rate is higher with our veterans than the rest of the population. \n\nOpposition Leader Anthony Albanese has called for a royal commission into veteran suicides after he met with the mother of a veteran who took his own life.\n\n“We cannot continue with the situation where we have a much higher suicide rate among our veterans than the rest of the population,” Mr Dreyfus told Sky News on Tuesday. \n\n“They deserve our care' and 'right' thing to do is to 'instigate with a royal commission', he said. \n\nThe Morrison Government resisted calls for a royal commission, despite acknowledging more needs to done to support veterans after they transition into civilian life.\n\nImage: News Corp Australia
Read more »
Huawei claims 1500 'quiet Australians' to lose jobs due to 5G banHuawei Technologies Australia chief executive Hudson Liu has taken a direct swipe at the Morrison government
Read more »