Australia has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to act on military suicides but will have to overrule bureaucrats to save lives, amid a warning the defence force and federal departments cannot be trusted to solve the issue alone.
That's according to three royal commissioners at the end of their three-year probe into the suicides of former and serving members of the nation's defence forces, described as a crisis and national tragedy.
The final report will be handed down on September 9, with Commissioner Nick Kaldas urging the government and wider defence community to grasp the "once-in-a-generation, possibly once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity to act.
He said there had been close to 60 previous inquiries into the issue over three decades but no improvement to suicide rates, with up to three deaths per fortnight.
"We call on this government and succeeding governments to finally take the courageous step of overruling bureaucratic inertia and doing what is needed, what is necessary and what is right," Mr Kaldas told the ceremonial closing of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide on Tuesday.
He said the men and women of the ADF had done everything asked of them and too many had paid a very dear price.
"Our nation is indebted to them and that debt must now be repaid," Mr Kaldas said.
At least 1677 serving or former defence personnel died by suicide from 1997 to 2021, more than 20 times the number killed while on active duty during that time, according to the commission.
History shows the Australian Defence Force, Department of Defence and Department of Veterans' Affairs could not be trusted to solve the issue no matter how sincere previous efforts have been, Commissioner Peggy Brown told the audience.
"We have seen too often that Defence's default position is to defend Defence," Dr Brown said.
"(There is) too much evidence of 'busy work' at both Defence and DVA giving the appearance of implementing change when, in reality, they have only served to perpetuate old ways of operating."
The commission previously called for a new body to oversee how recommendations from the probe are implemented, with Commissioner James Douglas pushing for those in command to embrace change.
"This will not only benefit the ADF and national security but the Australian families who support our military in making their inestimable sacrifices for our country," he said.
Defence Force Chief Admiral David Johnston said people deserved wellbeing, support and care during and after their service.
"We have heard where Defence has let people down and we are committed to doing better," he said.
"While we have made progress in many areas, there is always more that we can and should continue to do."
The government has acted on interim recommendations including introducing a bill to streamline compensation claims for veterans and families.
Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie, a former soldier, urged government and defence leaders to implement all recommendations.
"Don’t just honour our veterans on Anzac Day - honour and care for them 365 days a year," she said.
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