War veterans, defence personnel and their families take part in the ANZAC Day parade in Sydney, Australia, on April 25, 2023. Brendon Thorne/Getty Images
About 96 veterans have taken their own lives since the release of the Royal Commission’s report into defence force suicides, reveals Ian Lindgren, former soldier and the head of multiple organisations.
His comments come as part of the Senate Defence Committee’s review of the Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Act 2025 (VETS Act)—aimed at streamlining veterans services.
“Since the Royal Commission [into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s] final report, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare approximates 96 veterans have taken their own lives, and behind each of that number is a destroyed family,” Lindgren told the committee.
“In addition to that, there are approximately 135 other Australians affected. That brings it to a total of 12,960 Australians now living with loss since September last year. The Royal Commission cost $200 million whilst it delivered a number, in fact, 122 recommendations.”
Tamara Paton, senior executive officer at Vasey RSL Care, a not-for-profit aged care provider in Victoria, pointed to the link between veteran suicide and homelessness.
“No commission, no agency, no task force can reasonably expect to address the crisis of suicide and poor mental health without directly addressing the veteran homelessness crisis,” she said.
