Commissioner leading defence force reform wants to 'hold people to account'
The woman tasked with changing the culture of the defence force knows there have been 50 inquiries and 750 recommendations already. She isn't naive to the task that lies ahead of her.
Penny McKay, the inaugural commissioner of the Defence and Veterans Service Commission (DVSC), is leading a push for systemic change within Australia's defence force. Her appointment came in the wake of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which found self-harm among veterans and serving members to be a national crisis rooted in systemic and cultural failures.
McKay told the ABC that while change may not be immediate, her commission is committed to a long-term effort to ensure the recommendations of the Royal Commission translate into tangible improvements. The DVSC is tasked with shining a light on issues related to defence and veteran wellbeing, from military sexual violence to mental health and compensation backlogs.
McKay emphasized that her team is not naive about the challenges ahead but will hold people accountable where necessary. During her first meetings with an advisory group, McKay indicated that the focus would be on pushing the government for meaningful implementation of the Royal Commission's recommendations. The commission is set to lead an independent inquiry into military sexual violence later this year, aiming to hear firsthand accounts and make recommendations for real change.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
