The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has handed down its interim report. 

In releasing the report, the commissioner called for urgent action to eliminate the “unacceptable” backlog of almost 42,000 veterans' compensation claims. 

The royal commission was established in July 2021 after sustained lobbying by family members of veterans who had taken their own lives.

It heard wide-ranging accounts of horrific abuse and trauma, as well as claims that defence is not doing enough to address suicides, and has left thousands suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.

Australia has lost more serving and former serving personnel to suicide than it has lost through operations in Afghanistan and Iraq over the last 20 years.

The commission made 13 recommendations, five of which are focused on Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) claims processes and staffing levels.

The other eight recommendations are intended to make it easier for witnesses to appear before the ongoing commission and allow it to more easily access documents.

The commissioners said they were “dismayed” at the “limited” ways that the federal government has reacted to previous reports relevant to the topics of suicide and suicidality among serving and ex-serving defence force members.

“We have identified over 50 previous reports, and more than 750 recommendations [since the year 2000],” the report says.

Commission chair Nick Kaldas said the DVA claims backlog is “unacceptable” and could lead to suicide and suicidality in some cases.

“Behind each claim is a veteran who needs support, and it is gravely important that this assistance is provided as quickly as possible - lives and livelihoods depend on it,” he said.

The commission recommended the department be given until March 2024 to eliminate the claims backlog. 

The full report is accessible here.