I just stood in the Parliament House courtyard alongside two amazing mothers, Colleen Pillen and Nikki Jamieson, and Senator Jacqui Lambie. We are united in our call for a Royal Commission. 

Very soon, I will meet once again with the Prime Minister. Last week he proposed a permanent national office to investigate suicides among Defence Force personnel and veterans. 

I am grateful to the Prime Minister and this government for the announcement of a rolling commissioner. However, they will only be able to do their job properly if they are informed by the findings of a Royal Commission.

Currently, the proposed office of the commissioner would only be informed by a review, undertaken by the Government with terms of reference set by the very bodies that need to be investigated.

It is vital we properly look back on the 500 or more suicides since 2001, and learn from those tragedies. We need to give this commissioner proper evidence, so that the we might have proper care for the brave men and women currently serving, and proper justice for those we lost to Veterans suicide.

I believe the proposed national commissioner will help save the lives of our bravest, and I commend the Government on their ongoing commitment to Veterans support and wellbeing.

I thank Senator Lambie for inviting us to Parliament House to deliver my petition, and I thank the Prime Minister for this Government’s ongoing commitment to Veterans.

This will never be over until we drastically improve the well-being of veterans, and that will never happen until we get a Royal Commission.

Click here to share this petition. 

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.