Hello supporters, today I am returning to Canberra to talk to as many politicians as I can about our much-needed Royal Commission. I've written to as many Senators and MPs as possible (see below for my letter).
There is even a template email for you to send. All you need to do is enter your postcode, and the website does the rest for you.
Here is what I wrote to the Prime Minister, Veterans Affairs Minister, and Defence Minister:
Dear Prime Minister Morrison, Senator Reynolds and Minister Chester,
I am writing to ask that you inform all senators to block the passage of the bills for The National Commissioner for veteran suicide in parliament.
You have all been instrumental in letting Australians believe that this policy is better than A Royal Commission, it will be ongoing, independent and have the full powers of a Royal Commission. It will hold individuals and/or institutions to account. It is a powerful inquiry that will have a one-off review into past suicides – all 650+ of our Australian veterans – where families can share their stories and past reviews can be reviewed. It will be headed up by a former defence member that is a twenty-year friend of Ms Reynolds. The policy was prepared by those we seek to investigate (your words) – The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Department of Veteran affairs (DVA)
Let us compare your all-powerful policy to the alleged war crimes. We are no longer investigating the deaths of 650+ Australians who gave their life for your government and my country, we are now talking about the alleged deaths of 39 Afghan civilians. If you were to follow the same coverup to the 39 Afghans that you apply to 650+ deceased Australian heroes, it would look like this:
Would you appoint a National Commissioner for war-crimes with a one-off review into past war crimes? Would the review into the past allow Afghan families to tell their stories in a trauma informed environment and review past reviews? Would you allow those accused to write the policies and the limits of what can be investigated? Will you look at this matter from a coronial perspective, not a judicial perspective? Does Ms Reynolds have a friend that can be appointed to investigate these alleged crimes?
Will you ensure that the bills are presented in a way that investigations can stall, stop or even be disregarded? Finally, will the Commissioner for war-crimes report to parliament and make recommendations to the Minister for Defence?
Your lack of concern regarding 650+ Australian veteran deaths (with coverups, corruption, complicities’ and alleged criminal aspects) is shameful.
Correct me if I am wrong, you will not appoint a Commissioner for a coronial review into past war crimes, because it would be seen as a cover-up, a farce. Your National Commissioner for veteran suicide is just that (I believe that there are instances of criminal deaths by defence members).
Image and egos are of zero importance here, what we need is a Government that has the will and the tenacity to investigate (in a judicial environment) the deaths of hundreds of Australians who have a direct correlation with one employer – The Department of Defence. Often, they are also associated with a “not fit for purpose” Department of Veteran Affairs.
There are 370,000 Australian signatures on a petition for a Royal Commission. Should you not be prepared to have a truthful, open, transparent, independent Royal Commission into Australian Veteran deaths, then I beseech you to block the passage of these bills and wait for the next government to do the right thing. If you really believe these bills do everything you advertise, then you must give the same concern to the 39 Afghan deaths. You won’t.
As always, I can be contacted to discuss my letter further.
Kind regards,
Julie-Ann Finney
(proud mother of David Finney - An Australian Veteran)
Please, we need to show these Senators that Australians care about our Veterans, and demand a proper Royal Commission. Will you send them a quick email today?
Click here to email your Senators.
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.