Veterans commission shifts focus to Darwin
Nick GIbbs |
Darwin’s military culture will be in focus as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide begins several days of hearings in the Northern Territory capital.
Life at Larrakeyah Barracks, HMAS Coonawarra and RAAF Base Tindal will be explored when hearings begin on Tuesday, including issues of training and mental health support.
“Living or being deployed to rural and remote locations can create serious challenges for veterans, serving personnel and their families,” Commissioner Nick Kaldas said ahead of the hearings.
“Additional stresses such as feeling isolated, not having support of your loves ones, or having difficulty accessing emergency or allied health services, can be enormously difficult.”
Mr Kaldas and fellow commissioner Peggy Brown visited the Larrakeyah Defence Precinct last week after arriving in the NT.
The visits were a valuable insight into life on the strategically significant military bases, Mr Kaldas said.
“These visits are also an opportunity to speak with personnel about their role and how that impacts on day-to-day life, their wellbeing and family,” he said.
The Darwin hearing is the commission’s seventh and follows the release of a 300-page interim report in August, including 13 recommendations.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh issued an apology in parliament last month when releasing the government’s response to the report’s recommendations.
The government has agreed to recommendations for a simplification and harmonisation of veteran compensation, as well as closing the backlog of veteran compensation claims.
The royal commission has received more than 2500 submissions and conducted more than 200 private sessions.
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AAP
