Defence reform progress to be outlined on anniversary

The federal government will set out progress in responding to the key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defense and Veteran Suicide.

The royal commission found 1,677 serving and former defense personnel died by suicide between 1997 and 2021; That’s more than 20 times the number killed on active duty during the same period.

Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defense Personnel Matt Keogh will speak at the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday, marking one year since Labor first responded to the royal commission’s findings.

Labor accepted the overwhelming majority of the inquiry’s 122 recommendations.

But in an update presented to parliament in September, the government said only nine recommendations had been completed, while work was being done on a further 110.

Mr Keogh will confirm on Tuesday that an independent inquiry into military sexual violence will be held in line with the recommendation of the royal commission.

The new inquiry will examine barriers to investigating sexual assault in the Australian Defense Force and the effectiveness of the military justice system.

It will begin next year and be completed 12 months before the final report on sexual violence in the military is due.

This occurred as a class-action lawsuit brought to court on the same day by a group of women who alleged that sexual abuse within the military was systemic.

There are 4 applicants whose identities remain confidential for legal reasons.

Every woman who experienced sexual violence, harassment or discrimination while serving in the Australian military between 12 November 2003 and 25 May 2025 has the right to join this landmark challenge.

The royal commission found that soldiers convicted of certain sexual offenses should be expelled from the army, victim-survivor support should be improved and more work should be done to understand the prevalence of violence in the defense forces.