KNOCKED OUT at Minister’s “we only lost 4 at Sterling” comment

There’s been TOTALLY no movement in changing entrenched Government departmental standards to save lives due to my son’s suicide in the Navy, or the other boys who we lost alongside him on HMAS Sterling. Now I feel truly insulted and dismayed at the government’s response. The Assist. Defence Minister said in our meeting with him that “we only lost 4 at Sterling”. I am not too sure how many need to be enough before you take loss of life more seriously. Beyond being incorrect – there is a total of 13+ suicides on that base we’ve heard about – it’s so disheartening for the Minister who has the duty of care for our ADF personnel to discard lives like this. Stuart Robert, it was you that sighted the looking after the family unit as the key to Australia’s future….that was the message you gave in your inaugural speech to Parliament wasn’t it? Now you faced with the opportunity to put into effect the things that you reportedly hold so dear. If not, it seems you have lost your way as so many politicians do after a short time with the others that have to tow the political line, regardless of promises made. The only excuse that we have heard so far is, “it is unlawful to amend this position” – this is totally unacceptable coming from a law maker! If it is, as you say “unlawful” then amend the Privacy Act so that it does not kill people. It is incomprehensible to believe that the authors of this Act meant to have the words interpreted in this way – you are hiding behind stupidity – and that does not look good at all. Please signatories, SHARE this comment on social media to tell the government to stop sitting on their hands as our ADF personnel die due to lack of duty of care. http://on.fb.me/1Kxvzrs It’s been 2 months since ABC 7.30 revealed the extent of suicide on that base – and yet the government still has not acted to ensure family are notified in cases of self-harm. This is a simple way we could prevent more deaths. The drug and alcohol side of this ABC program was taken and acted on overnight but the root cause analysis will show that depression was the key factor – this must be acknowledged and accepted if we are to get to that end goal. I have read every single comment you’ve left about suicide in the ADF. There are so many parents like me who have lost a child to suicide in and out of the armed services. Your comments have been another source of meaning to stop this issue taking more young Australian lives. If you’re a health professional and you support my campaign to have family notification of self-harm in the ADF – can you please get in touch here: mark@upwey.net and use the subject heading, “LET FAMILIES HELP THEIR CHILDREN” Your colleagues can also add to this email collection that I will put together supporting family having involvement with their members with depression. The aim is to pass professional advice to Government which holds higher credibility than that of departmental, political and military advisors. Thank you so much, help me keep this change proposal important enough so that Politicians may give it more attention or even them come up with a solution instead of sighting reasons why it cannot be done. Yours with total sincerity and thanks, Mark Addison.