It’s about protecting protectors

NOT one person I spoke to about a new report on the causes of death among Australian veterans was surprised to learn suicide topped the list for young men.

The report published by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare this week highlighted just how badly we’re letting down current and former Australian Defence Force personnel and their families.

The report found about 42 per cent of deaths among ex- serving men aged 16 to 29 during the research period were due to suicide, compared to 27 per cent in the general population.

“Appalling,” “saddening” and “disappointing” were just some words used by political representatives to describe the devastating statistics.

There is not a catch- all solution to mental health support for defence personnel, but this study does support the creation of a military covenant.

On his recent visit to Townsville, Labor leader Bill Shorten said he would sign Australia’s first “military covenant”, based on a United Kingdom agreement promising “that those who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly”.

Following Mr Shorten’s visit, the LNP’s candidate for Herbert, Phillip Thompson, noted the Federal Government had already consulted the defence community about a covenant.

Soon after, Katter’s Australia Party’s Senator Fraser Anning spoke to Parliament on his hopes to deliver a military covenant for Australia.

If this document is what the defence community believes is needed to hold governments to account, these commitments should be welcomed.

But it seems ridiculous there are potentially three iterations of the same document being progressed at the expense of a more efficient bipartisan effort. Mr Thompson and Herbert Labor MP Cathy O’Toole both insist this issue should be above politics — working together to deliver a covenant could be the best way to prove it.

In the past a lack of data has been a major battle for advocates, policy experts and practitioners, but with reports such as this one, the country is starting to get a detailed picture of the issues faced by our veterans. It will be up to those in government to decide what to do with the information. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Veterans and Veterans Families Counselling Service: 1800 011 046