Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is a royal commission established on 8 July 2021 by the Australian government pursuant to the Royal Commissions Act 1902. The Royal Commissioners are required to provide an interim report by 11 August 2022, and a final report by 15 June 2023. Background. On 22 March 2021 both chambers of the Australian Parliament passed motions in support of a Royal Commission into defence and veteran suicide. The government had resisted calls for such a broad-ranging and powerful inquiry, preferring the option of establishing a  National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention. The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide was established on 8 July 2021 by Letters Patent, pursuant to the Royal Commissions Act 1902. The Letters Patent appoint Mr Nick Kaldas , The Hon. James Douglas and Dr Peggy Brown as Royal Commissioners. Powers. The powers of Royal Commissions in Australia are set out in the enabling legislation, the . Royal Commissions have powers to issue a summons to a person to appear before the Commission at a hearing to give evidence or to produce documents specified in the summons; require witnesses to take  an oath or give an affirmation; and require a person to deliver documents to the Commission at a specified place and time. A person served with a summons or a notice to produce documents must comply with that requirement, or face prosecution for an offence. The penalty for conviction upon such an offence is a fine of or six months imprisonment. A Royal Commission may authorise the Australian Federal Police to execute search warrants. Reports. The Commissioners are required to produce an interim report by 11 August 2022 and a final report by 15 June 2023. Royal Commission into Defence