MPs ‘bullied and coerced’ into opposing royal commission into veteran suicide
Interview on Sky News – Laura Jayes.
Retired special forces commander Heston Russell says a royal commission into veteran suicide has been prevented by MP’s being “bullied and coerced” into not showing support.
The push followed revelations the suicide rate among returning Australian Defence Force personnel was more than double that of the general population.
“The suicide rate for men and women is below half the national average during service – and more than double that amount when they leave service”, he said.
Mr Russell said the Prime Minister’s office is reluctant to call a royal commission – citing evidence of staff within the PM’s office abusing other political staff for their MP’s decision to “cross the floor” and support a royal commission into veteran suicide.
Mr Russell also said the Prime Minister instructed veteran MP’s loyal to him within his party to convince other MP’s to support the Party line of not supporting a royal commission. “The prime minister himself has not met with the majority of these (MP’s) he’s sent a bunch of his other people – he has sent Peter Dutton out he has sent people to pull on the heart strings – he’s brought in those veteran members of his party to try and influence, to try and bully them, to try and coerce them.”
“I travelled around the country over Christmas and New Year. I was face to face with 1500 veterans. I met with 1400 veterans who have attempted or thought about committing suicide – it is not because anything other than they feel abandoned, abused and feel resentment by the current system.”
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