Prime Minister Scott Morrison will unveil a $40 million plan on Wednesday which the government says will be a “permanent shield” against military and veteran suicides.
Mr Morrison said the new National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention would have “the full powers of a royal commission”, would be a permanent position and a report would be handed to parliament each year. Since 2001, there have been 400 veteran suicides. “Our veterans and all serving men and women protect our community and our freedoms. It is our duty to do the same for them,” Mr Morrison said.
“That’s why we’re establishing a national and permanent rolling commission into veteran suicide and its prevention with the full powers of a royal commission. “This is about being forever vigilant for the care and well-being of our veterans. It’s our duty to protect our servicemen and women just as they’ve protected our community and our freedoms. "We need to do more than a royal commission that looks at the past.
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