Thread by @JacquiLambie, Jacqui asks the President of the Royal Australian Regiment Corp for the [...]

Jacqui asks the President of the Royal Australian Regiment Corp for the feedback on the National Commissioner he relied on to come out and say his org supports the policy. #vetsweforget

RAR Corp President takes it on notice. Senator Molan jumps in: "if you don't have any written feedback, that's okay, you're relying on your years of experience." #vetsweforget

Next up, the Defence Force Welfare Association. They're an organisation whose support the Government has quoted when defending its National Commissioner policy proposal. #vetsweforget

DFWA noting that attempted suicides of veterans *aren't* in the scope of the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention. #vetsweforget

Senator Eric Abetz asking if there are any statistics on suicide attempts by veterans. DFWA National President says not to his knowledge, but you'd think it would be helpful #vetsweforget

DFWA QLD President says 90% of recommendations from the recent Productivity Commission report into DVA have yet to be implemented. Notes the Covenant says DVA claims promises resolution in 90 days, but many are waiting nearly a year for financial support still #vetsweforget

Jacqui asks the DFWA National president how many members it speaks for. He says 6,000-7,000. She asks their average age. He says they're in their upper 60s. #vetsweforget

DFWA National President confirms he didn't ask his members for their views before speaking on their behalf in support of the Morrison Government's policy. Said it was a matter of him exercising his "leadership". #vetsweforget

Jacqui asks DFWA National President why DFWA supported the banking royal commission, but not a Royal Commission into veteran suicide. DFWA National President says "suicide is a national issue".

"Isn't banking also a national issue?" Jacqui asks.

#vetsweforget

Senator Jim Molan asks if a Royal Commission would have the same powers as the National Commissioner. DFWA say they don't know. #vetsweforget

Senator Steele-John asks the DFWA what makes them say (critically) that a Royal Commission only looks at a point in time, while a National Commissioner goes forever, considering Royal Commissions can be extended. #vetsweforget

Senator Steele-John asks if DFWA has spoken to families who've lost veterans to suicide, who want justice. "What does justice look like for members you represent, & how does the National Commissioner help bring that about?"
"Justice is what you make it", DFWA says. #vetsweforget

(There's something weird with why the DFWA supports the National Commissioner, considering they don't support any focus on veteran suicide, but also oppose the Royal Commission because it doesn't focus on veteran suicides for long enough) — Team Lambie #vetsweforget

Senator Jim Molan going to great lengths to insist that the powers of the National Commissioner and a Royal Commission are effectively the same. (If they're the same, who knows why the Gov are so absolutely opposed to it) #vetsweforget

Next up, Nikki Jamieson. Mother of Private Daniel Garforth, who died by suicide in 2014. She's now a PhD researcher in veteran suicide, Suicidologist and Social Worker. #vetsweforget

Nikki says, two weeks before his own suicide, her son Daniel witnessed another suicide on base. #vetsweforget

Jacqui asks Nikki for her opinion on the ADF's attitude towards reforming itself. "Sadly, hugely lacking," she replies. #vetsweforget

"The lack of independence is a huge problem", Nikki says. "It's compounding the trauma of Defence investigating itself. Why on earth would you have military or ex-military investigating cultural problems within the military? It doesn't make sense to me". #vetsweforget

"My fear is people will not come forward [to the National Commissioner]", Nikki says to Senator Jim Molan. "I would be very fearful that it would be more of a coronial and not a judicial inquest." #vetsweforget

Senator Molan saying "it's the same as a Royal Commission". "As a veteran's mother, who died from suicide, and who's been through five inquiries...there are all sorts of issues around coverups... that only a Royal Commission has the power to bring to the surface." #vetsweforget

On the National Commissioner: "If it were this, or nothing, I'd rather have nothing", Nikki Jamieson says (mother of Private Daniel Garforth, who died by suicide in 2014) #vetsweforget

Labor Senator Kimberley Kitching asks what consultation was done with families, when designing this policy. To Nikki Jamieson's knowledge, nobody was consulted. #vetsweforget

"The Government has gone over the heads of veterans, put the horse before the cart, and they're not listening to the families of veterans. We need a Royal Commission." - Nikki Jamieson #vetsweforget

Now up, Dr Bruce Baer Arnold (Assistant Professor, University of Canberra Law School) and Deborah Morris (Critical Military Research, Griffith University). #vetsweforget

Deborah Morris: this National Commissioner into veteran suicide is "a watered-down inquiry [that will] compound trauma." #vetsweforget

Deborah Morris: "if the bill passes, and fails to deliver on what is being promised, it will actually cause more harm to the community." #vetsweforget

"Do you think this could make things worse for veterans if it passes?" Jacqui asks Dr Baer Arnold.

"Yes. Yes, definitely. And I think that's a a tragedy," he replies. #vetsweforget

Law professor Dr Bruce Baer Arnold: changes to the Privacy Act in the bill "aren't concerned with protecting families and veterans", but are about "looking after the department". #vetsweforget

Jacqui asks Griffith University military researcher Deborah Morris if the National Commissioner could make things worse, not better:

"In its current form, 100% yes."

#vetsweforget

Griffith University military researcher Deborah Morris: "if we sideline this - if we make it a tick and flick and make it more like a second coronial inquest - we're never going to get to the bottom of the issue." #vetsweforget

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