Suicide ‘linked to disciplinary action’ in ADF
Evidence of pattern in mental health decline
THE internal disciplinary process within the Australian Defence Force and its misuse is a flashpoint linked to suicide, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has been told.
This came as the leader of the army in North Queensland revealed soldiers with complex mental health struggles in some cases avoid facing disciplinary action if they do the wrong thing.
Commissioner Peggy Brown linked military discipline processes and suicide as she quizzed 3rd Brigade commander Brigadier Kahlil Fegan at the first day of hearings on Monday.
Dr Brown told the hearing that the commissioners had heard accounts from former and current serving members and noticed a pattern where disciplinary action marked a decline in a person’s mental health.
“We’ve certainly heard accounts where there has been disciplinary charge after disciplinary charge,” Dr Brown said
“In one instance that I can think of there was a death by suicide. I think blind Freddy, quite frankly, could or should have been able to see there was some issue that was actually contributing to this.”
Brigadier Fegan’s written submission to the royal commission reveals for the first time that at least 20 people who were posted to Lavarack Barracks have taken their own lives since 2000.
This number does not include any of the veterans who took their own lives in the same period.
During his evidence, the brigadier revealed the brigade used its discretion and sometimes did not take action against members if an assessment showed it could have a detrimental impact.
“We won’t take disciplinary action against an individual if there is an assessment that taking that disciplinary action may compound an issue, be it welfare or psychological,” Brigadier Fegan said.
“In a circumstance by which we determine if we were to … actually take disciplinary action, should we be made aware that the taking of that action is going to significantly detrimentally impact on a medical issue, then we will need to reconsider if it is the right thing to do. I have examples where we deliberately reconsidered how we take disciplinary action. In one … we elected not to take (action) because we knew there was a heightened probability that risks would manifest.”
Counsel assisting, Kevin Connor, told the commission of accounts in which members were disciplined for missing parade or appointments and not meeting physical performance standards.
But soldiers in Townsville in recent times have also been charged with assault on service land or other serious charges that resulted in internal court proceedings.
Commission chairman Nick Kaldas said the royal commission had heard “considerable” evidence of the “weaponisation” of the ADF’S internal disciplinary system.
“You are aware of the fact that sometimes when there are conflicts within the workplace some people do use the complaints or disciplinary system as a weapon,” he said.
In his answer, the brigadier said this was “unacceptable” but that it had occurred.
Are p eople incentivised to hide potential problems? There could be an to element of truth that. Fegan Brigadier Kahlil