Scott Morrison orders royal commission into veteran suicides

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called in for a royal commission into veteran suicides after months of demand for a commission.

He said he remains committed to establishing a permanent commission of inquiry into veteran suicides, but an independent office will operate alongside a standalone inquiry.

“We have been taking many steps as a government, as governments before us have as well, to address this very serious issue of death by suicide of our veterans and our serving Defence Force personnel,” he said.

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“That is why, today, we are announcing that I intend to convene and recommend to the Governor-General a royal commission into death by suicide for veterans.”

Morrison said that he hopes the royal commission will be a "healing process" for the families of veterans.

“I hope it will be a process by which veterans and families can find some comfort, but it obviously can’t replace the loss,” he said.

Morrison anticipates it will begin in July.