The Australian Defence Force and federal departments cannot be trusted to solve military suicides alone, sparking a plea for the government to overrule bureaucrats and take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to save lives.

That’s according to Royal Commissioners at the end of a 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, which are currently 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,” Commissioner Nick Kaldas said at the ceremonial closing of the inquiry on Tuesday.

He said the men and women of the ADF had done everything ever 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 1,677 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 (ADF), Department of Defence and Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) could not be trusted to solve the issue alone 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 has previously called for a new body to oversee how recommendations from the probe are implemented, with Commissioner James Douglas calling for those in command to embrace change and better reporting.

“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.

The government has so far acted on one interim recommendation from the commission and introduced a bill to streamline the process for veterans and families making compensation claims from July 2026.

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh, Defence Force Chief Admiral David Johnston, Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Alison Frame and Senator Jacqui Lambie were among dignitaries who attended Tuesday’s closing event in Sydney.

Senator 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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This post was originally published on Michael West.