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In the third quarter, the RSL continued to dedicate substantial resources to the Royal Commission into Veteran and Defence Suicide, attending the Hearings and listening and learning from the emerging recommendations.
As the Commission proceeded, there was a clear need to keep bringing the ESO community together to work to address the Commission’s emerging findings. RSL is proactively taking the lead by hosting the third National Forum for ESOs on the 10th of October. Minister Matt Keogh, Lt Gen Natasha Fox, Alison Frame (Secretary DVA) and Commissioners Kaldas, Brown and Douglas will address the Forum. Forum sessions will be co-facilitated by leaders from across the ESO sector. Minister Keogh and the Royal Commissioners have called on the ESO sector to establish a peak body to represent Australia’s multiple ex-service organisations. The RSL supports this and this will be a key topic for discussion at the Forum. RSL Australia is also calling on the Government to establish a peak body headed by an Independent Commissioner to lead the implementation of the forthcoming recommendations of the Royal Commission to ensure there is a mechanism to keep a permanent watch on the issue and continue to hold Government, Defence and others to account.
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