The veterans Royal Commission found the long-standing compensation system contributing to suicide and poor mental health. Today,the system changed.
Former clients of Mick Bainbridge’s law firm claim they were overcharged for legal advice. The firm is suing them for not paying their fees.
A backlog of 60,000 unprocessed medical and compensation claims from veterans has been cleared – and has delivered a $13 billion hit to the budget.
The Australian Defence Force failed the veteran and treated his widow “appallingly”,a coroner has found.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was time to act to combat an “epidemic” of suicide among former and current military personnel.
Independent senator Jacqui Lambie said RSL NSW had taken no action against lawyers who overcharged veterans for legal advice because some of the worst culprits sat on its board.
The sweeping review of Australia’s military justice watchdog found too many of its inquiries were conducted with “insufficient sensitivity”.
People are understandably cynical about the prospect of change. Veterans and their families have the right to ask what will be different about these latest recommendations.
The landmark inquiry found current and former service personnel are 20 times more likely to take their own lives than to die in combat.
Julie-Ann Finney whose son David took his own life hopes the Royal Commission into veteran suicide will save lives.