The RSL has commended the appointment of international independent expert Nick Booth MVO to progress the establishment of a peak Australian veteran service organisation (VSO) body. We will engage closely with Mr Booth and our partner ESOs with the aim of delivering a strong, united body that can achieve significant outcomes for veterans and their families.

The RSL Australia has called for courageous leadership and supports the establishment of a Royal Commission to independently review the failures that resulted in the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. RSL Australia National President Peter Tinley AM said Australia needed to know how the failures occurred and what needed to change to ensure such events never happened again.

On 2 December, in an update, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, Hon Matt Keogh MP announced that recommendations of the Royal Commission which relate to sexual violence and safety are being implemented by Defence as a priority

The RSL has welcomed the Department of Veterans’ Affairs’ (DVA) streamlining its claims processing system aimed in part at curbing unscrupulous practices by some private providers. The RSL has been consulted and the changes being implement by DVA to modernise its processes should assist in combatting these practices.

RSL Australia National President Greg Melick said today’s statement to parliament by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Matt Keogh MP, indicated the work already undertaken but also showed that much remained to be done to implement all 122 recommendations of the Royal Commission to enhance the wellbeing of all veterans, Defence personnel and their families.

This September marks one year since the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide handed down its final report and the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has received assurances that the Government is making strong progress on the implementation of the recommendations.

The RSL is continuing to advocate for the implementation of all recommendations and is working closely with the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA), and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) on key issue arising from the Royal Commission’s report.

Over the past few months, RSL has become aware of increasingly concerning behaviours in the claims advocacy sector – impacting veterans, advocates and DVA delegates. We are hearing reports of "kickbacks" being offered to individual advocates for referrals, directing clients away from not-for-profit service providers in favour of commercial entities that are driven by profit.

The RSL has welcomed and is supporting research into brain injuries to service personnel, being undertaken by the Departments of Defence and Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). As well, the RSL has also repeated its call for the Government to establish a brain injury program as recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

The RSL says the new Australian Government elected this Saturday, May 3 must continue the good work of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) in clearing veteran compensation and entitlement claims backlog.

The Labor, the Liberal / National Coalition and the Greens parties have responded to a series of key questions posed by the Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) to support the veterans and Defence community.

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) has reiterated its call for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and says the current election provides the opportunity for all parties to commit to this.

The RSL has described the coming May election as crucial for Australia’s future and has listed the nation’s defence preparedness and support for veterans and their families as key considerations for all politicians and parties.  The RSL has called for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and for a significant increase in investment in Australia’s defence capability. These are among five priority asks the RSL says must be addressed by the next Federal Government following the coming election. 

The RSL has welcomed tonight’s Budget announcement to continue the Federal Government’s support for the veteran community.  But it is disappointing that it hasn’t taken more definitive funding decisions to implement all recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide and that it hasn’t boosted Defence spending sufficiently to meet increased international instability and the growing security threat in our region. 

The RSL says the 2025-26 Federal Budget must provide funding for the continued implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, as well as resources to ensure a balanced Australian Defence Force (ADF). 

In its submission to the Government, the RSL advocates for necessary budgetary provisions in five priority areas.

RSL Australia has welcomed the Australia Government’s positive response to the findings of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. RSL Australia National President Greg Melick said the Government’s prompt and comprehensive response should commence the national effort to improve the health and wellbeing of veterans, current serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families.

RSL National President Greg Melick has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese advising that as the nation’s largest ex-service organisation, the RSL stands ready to leverage its considerable skills, expertise and lived experience to help the Government develop and deliver a comprehensive response to the Royal Commission’s final report. The RSL has also highlighted seven recommendations in particular that we would like to see implemented quickly as they will have a significant positive impact on current and former serving members and their families.

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) is urging the Australian Government to take comprehensive and sustainable action to implement the recommendations outlined in the Final Report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. 

On 20 June, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide released a book entitled ‘Shining a Light: Stories of Trauma & Tragedy, Hope and Healing’ to bring to life the consolidation of many lived experience witnesses of the Royal Commission.  The book has provided the RSL an opportunity to reflect on the support we offer to veterans and their families.

The Returned & Services League of Australia (RSL) says the Lived Experiences Report Shining a Light, released yesterday by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, highlights the issues and challenges facing the nation’s service personnel and veterans.

RSL Australia President Greg Melick said the detail in Shining a Light was concerning and made for difficult reading but needed to be acknowledged.  

The RSL has welcomed this week’s Budget announcements to support veterans and has thanked the Government for its ongoing commitment to the sector. Positive measures in the Budget specific to the veteran sector include continued funding for the further implementation of the interim recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, to simplify veterans’ entitlement legislation, and sustain a permanent reduction in the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) claims backlog.