Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026

The Commissioner has the following functions:

to monitor, inquire into and report on matters relating to suicide prevention or wellbeing outcomes for veterans, including the following:

data and trends regarding suicide and suicidality among veterans;

systemic factors relating to the Commonwealth’s administration of policies, programs, systems and practices that contribute to suicide and suicidality among veterans;

the state of the defence and veteran ecosystem, as it relates to the prevention of suicide and suicidality among veterans;

the Commonwealth’s implementation of the recommendations of the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission, including progress, impact and outcomes;

any matter that another provision of this Act or any other law of the Commonwealth permits or requires the Commissioner to monitor, inquire into or report on;

to inquire into, and report on, specified matters and advise on specified matters as requested by the Minister under subsection 17(1);

to inquire into the Commonwealth’s implementation of the Government’s response to the recommendations of the Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission under section 18;

to promote improved support for veterans;

to collaborate with coroners to understand issues contributing to suicide and suicidality among veterans;

to promote understanding of:

suicide risks among veterans; and

factors that can improve the wellbeing of veterans;

any other function conferred on the Commissioner by this Act or any other law of the Commonwealth.

The Commissioner’s function of reporting referred to in paragraph (1)(a) includes the function of:

reporting evidence‑based findings of the Commissioner’s monitoring or inquiring; and

making recommendations, including recommendations relating to systemic reforms.

To avoid doubt, the following are not functions of the Commissioner:

to make findings of civil or criminal wrongdoing;

to make findings on the manner or cause of death in relation to a death of a veteran, including findings that the manner or cause of a death was suicide;

to monitor or inquire into a single exercise of a power, or a single performance of a function or duty.

In performing the Commissioner’s functions, the Commissioner must have regard to the need to avoid prejudicing current or future criminal or civil proceedings or other contemporaneous inquiries.

A contemporaneous inquiry conducted by the Inspector‑General of the Australian Defence Force under section 110C of the Defence Act 1903.

The functions of the Commissioner may be performed within and outside Australia.