The veterans' affairs minister has apologised in federal parliament to serving and former military personnel who have been let down by his department and Defence over numerous decades.
Matt Keogh delivered the Albanese government's formal response to early findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide by outlining measures to address the crisis.
He said in some cases, the policies, processes and cultures that evolved over time in Defence and the Veterans' Affairs Department had been counterproductive, "causing distress to our defence and veteran communities."
"The Royal Commission's interim report is replete with examples. It is clear that things are not right," Mr Keogh said.
"On behalf of the Australian government, I say, sorry."
Last month, an interim report from the Royal Commission found urgent action was needed to eliminate the "unacceptable" backlog of veterans' compensation claims, with almost 42,000 awaiting processing at the end of May.
More serving personnel and veterans have died by suicide than the total number of Australians killed during operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"It is a great tragedy that successive Australian governments have failed those who have served our nation," Mr Keogh told parliament in a ministerial statement.
"Governments have also failed the families of those people, families who have carried a heavy burden of their own through the pain and suffering they have experienced."
In his statement to parliament, the veterans' affairs minister detailed funding allocated for additional departmental staff and more emergency housing, and pledged to provide a formal response to the findings as soon as possible.
Labor has pledged to remove department staffing caps and recruit an additional 500 staff to help clear the claims backlog, deliver better support and roll out a further 10 hubs for veterans and families.
"Our government is committed to the task of saving lives and ensuring a better future for our defence and veteran communities," Mr Keogh said.
"After years of reports, too many deaths, too many lives changed for the worse and endless discussion … it's time to get on with it."
Shadow Veterans’ Affairs Minister Barnaby Joyce also spoke in response to the interim findings, thanking the minister for his efforts, but suggesting the portfolio needed to be returned to cabinet.
"I want to thank you first of all for your engagement with me, because as much as possible we want to bring about on this side outcomes … we're not looking for blues, we're looking for outcomes," Mr Joyce said.
"But you should be on the front bench, you should be on the front bench mate," he told parliament.
Public submissions to the royal commission will remain open until October 13, 2023.
