Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide

David Shoebridge

I seek leave to make a very short contribution.

Andrew McLachlan

Leave is granted for one minute.

David Shoebridge

The entire purpose of this motion, as I understood it, was to put a very clear timetable on the response to the royal commission. This is in circumstances where, as the royal commission itself noted, countless previous reports with hundreds and hundreds of recommendations have not had even close to a substantive response. With the amendment that has just been passed, the very purpose of the motion has been defeated. Veterans are asking themselves what commitment they have that this will be any different to any of the other recommendations or reports. The whole purpose of the motion has been defeated by this amendment moved by the government and supported by the opposition. For those reasons, the Greens will not be supporting this amended motion.

Andrew McLachlan

The question before the Senate is that the motion, as amended, be agreed to.