Two add-on assistant commissioners are helping with the heavy-lifting in the defence and veteran suicide inquiry, continuing 639 private one-on-one sessions held to date.
Bob Atkinson and Dr Susan Young are continuing hearings for private sessions of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
The pair issued a statement, describing the mission of their work as a “privilege” to hear witnesses’ deeply personal stories in the private sessions of the royal commission.
Atkinson said the experiences shared in the private session would inform the recommendations the royal commission made to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for current and former defence personnel.
“[These experiences will also] contribute to a stronger, more resilient and better ADF to meet Australia’s future defence capability needs,” he said.
The government recently granted an extra three months for the royal commission to complete its work by 9 September, 2024.
Legislation permitting the appointment of assistant commissioners passed in 2023. The Royal Commissions Amendment (Private Sessions) Act 2023 reforms were designed to grant more flexibility to royal commissions and achieve cost and efficiency benefits.
By December 2023, Atkinson and Young had been appointed as assistant commissioners to help the inquiry get through its hearing list.
Another 30 private sessions are expected to be heart in Sydney this month, with 37 to be held in Brisbane, and 41 in Canberra during February.
Royal Commission staff are working with participants to schedule the remaining sessions.
“It’s important to continue to hear about the cultural and systemic issues that have failed the brave men and women who protect us – and which are contributing to high rates of Defence and veteran suicide,” Dr Young said.
By the end of last year, a total of 639 confidential one-on-one Royal Commission hearings had been held for serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members, family members and friends.
These sessions were convened by commissioners Nick Kaldas, Peggy Brown and James Douglas.
The three commissioners will now turn their attention to the final public hearing, commencing in March, and the royal commission the final report due to be handed over to the governor-general on 9 September.
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Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide given three more months to get job done
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