RSL Offers Support and Expertise to Prime Minister in Developing Royal Commission Response

MEDIA RELEASE

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has offered its support and expertise to help inform the Australian Government in its considerations and development of a response to the final report and recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

National President Greg Melick has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese advising that as the nation’s largest ex-service organisation, the RSL stands ready to leverage its considerable skills, expertise and lived experience to help the Government develop and deliver a comprehensive response to the Royal Commission’s final report. 

Greg Melick said the RSL acknowledged that it would take some time for Government to consider each of the 122 recommendations made by the Royal Commission and to respond in full.  

“Initially, we are asking for prompt acceptance and implementation of seven recommendations because early action on these will have a significantly positive and prompt impact on current and former serving men and women and their families,” he said. 

“The seven recommendations cover service personnel transitioning to civilian life, a new agency and national funding agreement for veteran wellbeing, improving veteran advocacy, establishing a peak body for ex-service organisations, more autonomy for veterans in choosing services and establishing a new entity to oversee system reform across the Defence ecosystem.” 

The RSL has more than 147,000 members based in 1,107 sub-branches across the country, supported by seven state and territory branches. The RSL provides over 600,000 hours on veterans’ welfare including claims applications, and invests more than $13 million in veteran welfare services, and leads the nation in more than 2,500 commemorative events each year. 

In the letter to the Prime Minister, Greg Melick said this vast network of skills, expertise and experience covering areas such as veteran and family wellbeing and welfare, connections to community, advocacy and compensation and adapting Australian Defence Force skills to transition to civilian life would be valuable to the Government in developing the crucial next steps following the Royal Commission’s final report. 

“Veterans and their families make a significant social and economic contribution to our nation, both during and after their ADF service. Investing in their health and wellbeing is a sound investment for all Australians,” he said.  

“The RSL stands ready to support the Government in its effort to significantly and materially enhance the health and wellbeing of our defence personnel, veterans and their families, through its response to the Royal Commission’s recommendations.