Inquiry into Implementation of Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission Recommendations (1st Progress Report)

The Inquiry will examine the progress made by Australian Government agencies towards implementing the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.

The Inquiry will consider progress on the recommendations of both the Interim and Final reports made by the Royal Commission. See our Recommendations and Response page to explore what was recommended and how the Australian Government responded.

The Royal Commission was the most comprehensive review in Australian history that considered the systemic factors impacting the wellbeing of current and former serving members of the Australian Defence Force. It reviewed the systems designed to support people and brought to light the systemic failures which had been experienced by veterans and their families for years.

Through their recommendations, the Royal Commissioners provided a roadmap for the Australian Government to improve Defence member and veteran wellbeing. They aimed to make a positive impact, addressing the national tragedy of Defence and veteran suicide in Australia.

Providing independent oversight, with a dedicated and sustained focus on suicide prevention was also described by the Royal Commission as the most significant action the Australian Government could take to address Defence and veteran suicide.

Consistent with the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026 (DVSC Act), the Inquiry Report must be provided to Government on or before 5 February 2027.  

As the Commonwealth is progressively implementing recommendations, this Inquiry will assess:

1. Timeliness of progress to date,
2. Whether the Commonwealth’s approach to implementation will enable a future assessment of effectiveness, and
3. The extent to which implementation is meaningful and meets the intent of the Royal Commission.

The Inquiry will particularly consider the following focus areas:

• Whether Commonwealth entities have established effective mechanisms to implement the recommendations for which they are responsible, including plans for implementation with appropriate timelines, milestones, and allocated responsibility, governance and reporting.
• Whether the Commonwealth entities have mechanisms to measure effectiveness of the recommendations once implemented.
• Whether the implementation is comprehensive, meaningful and consistent with the intent of the Royal Commission (or are on track to be).
• Whether the Commonwealth entities have used (or plan to use) appropriate design principles, engagement with relevant stakeholders and consideration of lived experience where appropriate.

The Inquiry has been commenced under section 110ZFC of the Defence Act 1903 (Cth). Once the DVSC Act commences on 1 June 2026, the Inquiry will be taken to have commenced under section 18 of the DVSC Act.

The Inquiry will focus on information provided by responsible Commonwealth entities. Public submissions will not be sought for this first Inquiry into the implementation of the recommendations. The Commissioner will make an independent and objective assessment against the Terms of Reference.

This Inquiry is operating concurrently to the Access to Information Inquiry. It is expected that findings of the Access to Information Inquiry will inform this inquiry.

At the conclusion of the Inquiry, the Commissioner’s report will be provided to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel on or before 5 February 2027 and will be published on our website.