Hello everyone,

On Thursday, I met with the PM for a second time. He assured me that a royal commission is still not off the table. He promised me that they are actively considering it and that he will be thinking about it further over the Christmas break. I am thankful to the PM for seeing me again and for the other initiatives being undertaken to improve the lives of veterans.

I also met with several members of the Labor Party - Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese, Deputy Opposition Leader Richard Marles and and Shadow Minister Shayne Nuemann, who were supportive of me and the call for a Royal Commission. My meeting with Retired Army Major General Jim Molan also went well.

These are all steps in the right direction, but simple show of support by politicians is not enough. There are mothers like me, living with the trauma of having lost their son to suicide. Family members are plagued with the helplessness of being unable to save their loved one. We need to bring justice to these families so they can heal.

There are veterans right now who need our help but we don’t have a system in place to give them the support they need. This crisis is affecting the every-day lives of veterans and their families. We need a Royal Commission now.

Please continue sharing the petition with your loved ones so we can stand with these families and show that we care.

Never giving up,

Julie-Ann Finney, proud mother of Dave Stafford Finney.

If you or someone you know needs help, please phone Lifeline on 131 114, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.