Robodebt-linked deaths could have been prevented if policies assessed for suicide risks, advocates argue

Suicide is the main cause of death for younger Australians and was behind more than one-third of deaths among 15- to 24-year-olds in 2022, data shows. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AAP

Suicide prevention advocates are urging the government to pass a federal law requiring all draft policy measures be checked against their suicidal ideation risk, arguing that measure could have ensured the Morrison government’s robodebt scandal never occurred.

The Suicide Prevention Australia CEO, Nieves Murray, said national legislation was the missing piece in the draft national suicide prevention strategy the government had published as “advice” on Tuesday, to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.