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1. Introduction

On 2 December 2025, the Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, will address the National Press Club on “The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, 12 months on.”

To help us collectively fact-check the progress made, please take 7 minutes to detail your personal experiences over the past year. Your insights are essential to validating official claims and driving meaningful change.
You can scroll up and down all questions and also change your answers.

Prepared by Ian Lindgren
Australian Peacekeeper and Peacemaker Veterans' Association
Privacy Policy
Email: ian.lindgren@peacekeepers.asn.au

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* 1.
Reflecting on the past 12 months, have you noticed improvements in services for veterans following the Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide?

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* 2.
In the past year, to what extent do you feel DVA has improved in recognising and meeting the unique needs of women veterans, including those recovering from sexual trauma or domestic and family violence?

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* 3. In March 2024, it was announced that the claims backlog had been cleared. Based on your recent experience with DVA claims and compensation processing, how would you rate this statement?

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* 4.
A trauma-informed approach acknowledges how systems and processes impact individuals and aims to prevent further trauma. For example, a supportive interaction can feel safe and positive, whereas a negative experience might increase distress.

The Royal Commission recommended that DVA embed trauma-informed, person-centred practice across all processes. Over the past year, how much improvement have you personally observed in this area?

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* 5.
Over the past 12 months, how well do you feel DVA and support services have addressed the unique needs of LGBTQI+ veterans, especially those affected by sexual trauma or family violence?

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* 6.
How would you rate your experience communicating with DVA over the past year, including how often your enquiries were acknowledged, progressed, and resolved?

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* 7.
The Royal Commission recommended an independent oversight commission, established under its own legislation and apppointed by the Governor General to hold Defence, DVA and other departments accountable. Instead, the current Interim Defence and Veterans' Service Comissioner was appointed under the Defence Act and is accountable to the Minister.

How confident are you in the Commission’s ability to provide independent oversight and improve veteran wellbeing?

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* 8.
To what extent have DVA and the Australian Government effectively consulted and collaborated with stakeholders, including those with lived experience of suicide, veterans, veteran families, and affected individuals, in shaping and implementing recent reforms from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

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* 9.
How confident are you that the Government will establish a sustainable, consistently funded Veterans’ and Families’ Hub network built in genuine partnership with local veteran organisations and communities?

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* 10.
Thinking about your transition from the ADF, how would you rate the support you received to prepare for civilian life (finances, employment, health, and family)?

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* 11.
Since the Royal Commission concluded, how well have military children been supported in Defence and veteran wellbeing initiatives, and have parents had meaningful opportunities to contribute?

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* 12.
How often have veteran families been invited to participate in consultation activities, such as designing the Suicide Prevention Framework or the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission—since the Royal Commission?

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* 13.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
When I participate in consultation activities, I feel that my opinions are genuinely considered in the Commonwealth’s decisions?

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* 14.
There is a policy that provides higher payments for veterans injured during warlike service than for those injured in non-warlike or peacekeeping service.

The Royal Commission identified this as unfair, arguing it failed to adequately recognise the sacrifices of all who served, regardless of deployment context, and because it exacerbates financial stress linked to suicidality. At the end of the day, two veterans with the same injury receive two different compensation types for life.

How appropriate is this today, given that peacekeeping missions and training accidents pose risks and injuries equally as dangerous as warlike service?

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* 15.
When a veteran receives both a fortnightly disability pension and a lump sum compensation payment for the same injury or illness, this is considered "double dipping," or being compensated twice for the same condition.

To prevent this, a special calculation is done to determine how much the pension will be reduced to repay the lump sum payment. This deduction continues for the remainder of the veteran's life to ensure the veteran is not effectively receiving double compensation.

A Real Example. The veteran became Totally and Permanently Incapacitated in 2001 and started to received the Special Rate Pension. The veteran received $171,000 in a lump sum payment in 2001. The following deductions have been made from the veteran's pension.
Date Total Deductions
8 May 2008 $90,210
27 December 2012 $163,114
8 August 2013 $171,068 (lump sum now repaid)
26 December 2024 $246,229
On 25 December 2025 $364,013
In another 10 years 25 December 2035 Estimated $550,000

In your opinion, would Australian society today approve or disapprove of this practice?

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* 16. You can choose to stay anonymous, or you can identify yourself. The latter can give this information more credibility, but we understand many people wish to remain anonymous for good reasons.

0 of 16 answered
 

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