Government denies cover-up after report on Australian veterans’ suicide inadvertently leaked

The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide mistakenly posted a confidential review of Australia’s military justice system, which was promptly removed once the error was realized. However, staff members of Greens Senator David Shoebridge had already viewed the document.

Despite efforts to present the review in federal parliament, it had mysteriously disappeared. Senator Shoebridge and Independent Senator Jacquie Lambie, a Defence Force veteran, demanded the release of the review, a cause Senator Lambie had been advocating for over several months. The government opposed the motion to table the review.

In a press conference on Sept. 18, the senators pointed out the mishap and accused the government of attempting to conceal the findings. They also questioned the government’s dedication to addressing cultural issues within Defence.

Senator Lambie pinned the blame on Defence Minister Richard Marles, alleging that he had suppressed the document. She criticized his lack of courage to confront senior officials, stating, “He doesn’t want to take on a top brass because he doesn’t have the courage … he doesn’t have what it takes.”

“I am tired of the cover-up. You claim to want to make changes, change the culture, and reduce veterans’ suicide rates. However, you are part of the problem and not holding them accountable,” Senator Lambie emphasized.

Regarding the military justice system, she asserted, “The truth is already evident.”

Government Allegedly Did Not Request Confidentiality

Marles refuted the accusation, stating that he was evaluating the review in conjunction with the Royal Commission’s final report.

“Addressing one report independently of the other would be impractical and inefficient,” a spokesperson for the minister explained.

Initially accepting fault for the unintentional release, the Royal Commission now argues that the government did not stipulate confidentiality for the review. The Commission’s secretariat stated that the review had been submitted as evidence in May of this year without any confidentiality instructions from the Commonwealth government.

“The Commonwealth government’s legal representatives did not request confidentiality for the redacted version of the document used as evidence in the Royal Commission’s final report,” the statement clarified.

“The Commonwealth government’s legal team did urge the solicitors assisting the Royal Commission to consider the document’s usage, including potential publication, pending government review.”

Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy ultimately managed to table the document late on Sept. 18.

The Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) review, overseen by former federal court judge and ex-Keating government attorney general Duncan Kerr, includes 51 recommendations. These recommendations propose disbanding the existing office and re-establishing it under new legislation to ensure both the appearance and actual independence, fostering trust with Defence Force personnel.

Additionally, the review suggests the establishment of an independent Australian Defence Force director of military prosecutions and a registrar of courts-martial, along with broader whistleblower protection measures.

It also recommends providing guidance to commanders and those undergoing pre-command training to discourage any inclination to hide potential military justice issues from higher authorities.

AAP contributed to this story.