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Federal parliament has been told successive governments have failed veterans and their families in addressing soaring suicide rates in Australia.
- The veterans' affairs minister has promised action on defence suicide rates
- An extra 500 staff will be recruited to help clear payment backlogs
- The minister says successive governments have failed veterans
Veterans' Affairs Minister Matt Keogh delivered the Albanese government's initial response to early findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide by outlining measures to help tackle the crisis.
Last month, an interim report from the royal commission found urgent action was needed to eliminate the "unacceptable" backlog of veterans' compensation claims, with almost 42,000 awaiting processing at the end of May.
More serving personnel and veterans have died by suicide than the total number of Australians killed during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It is a great tragedy that successive Australian governments have failed those who have served our nation," Mr Keogh told parliament in a ministerial statement.
"Governments have also failed the families of those people, families who have carried a heavy burden of their own through the pain and suffering they have experienced."
In his statement to parliament, the veterans' affairs minister detailed funding allocated for additional departmental staff and more emergency housing, and pledged to provide a formal response to the findings as soon as possible.
Labor has pledged to remove department staffing caps and recruit an additional 500 staff to help clear the claims backlog, deliver better support and roll out a further 10 hubs for veterans and families.
"Our government is committed to the task of saving lives and ensuring a better future for our defence and veteran communities," Mr Keogh said.
"After years of reports, too many deaths, too many lives changed for the worse and endless discussion … it's time to get on with it."
Public submissions to the royal commission will remain open until October 13, 2023.