ADF Members Convicted of Serious Violence or Sexual Offences Face Automatic Discharge and Permanent Ban; New Health Data-Sharing Rules to Help Prevent Suicide
Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026
House of Representatives
Senate
Assent
Topics
data privacy defence force military health military recruitment national security personnel wellbeing
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Debate
What different members said when this bill was debated:
Matt Keogh ALP
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I’m pleased to present the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. This bill reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to responding to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. On 9 September 2024, the royal commission delivered its final report, making 122 recommendations.”
Phillip Thompson LNP
“I rise today to speak on the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill. I start by acknowledging all those that continue to wear the uniform in service to this nation, our veterans and your families, and note that the freedoms that we enjoy today are on the back of hard fought battles, wars and sacrifices that you have made.”
Jo Briskey ALP
“The Flem/Ken RSL is a small but mighty subbranch down the south end of my electorate. I’ve stopped by a couple of times, and after one visit a conversation really stuck with me.”
Simon Kennedy LIB
“This government is failing veterans. This budget lacks empathy, human decency and emotion for what veterans have put their bodies, their minds and their families through. It lacks any respect for the fact that these men and women have risked their lives for our country. It’s punishing them. It’s punishing people who’ve laid down everything for things we wake up and take for granted every day.”
Tom French ALP
“I rise to speak in support of the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. This is not a routine defence bill. It sits in the long shadow of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.”
Kate Chaney IND
“The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is a further response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, building on the reforms that this parliament has already passed.”
Luke Gosling ALP
“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the reforms that the Albanese government is making to the Defence Act 1903 and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004—commonly known as the MRCA—to give effect to key elements of the government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.”
“I thank the member for Solomon for his service as a distinguished and decorated Australian Army officer. I know he understands that the home of the soldier is at Kapooka, where he served. The long line of khaki that stretches from Gallipoli right through to the front gates at Blamey Barracks, right through to the present day, is an important thing—not just for our nation, but for the world.”
Ash Ambihaipahar ALP
“I rise today to speak in support of the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. Before I turn to the details of this bill, I want to take a moment to share something with the chamber that speaks directly to why this legislation matters. This is very much in the lived experience of the community I proudly represent in the southern part of Sydney.”
Ms RYAN
“There are moments in this parliament when we are not simply debating legislation but answering a national moral obligation. This is one of those moments. The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is part of Australia’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.”
Matt Burnell ALP
“I would like to commend the previous speaker, the member for Lalor, for that fantastic speech. The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 marks another important milestone in the Albanese government’s response to the landmark royal commission into veteran suicide.”
David Moncrieff ALP
“The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide final report does not just make harrowing reading; it is a cry for leaders in government, Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to arrest the deeply tragic rate of suicide and suicidality among serving and formerly serving members of the Australian Defence Force. The numbers are confronting.”
Tim Ayres ALP
“I move: That this bill be now read a second time. I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard. Leave granted. The speech read as follows— DEFENCE LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (IMPLEMENTATION OF RELATED MEASURES NO.2) BILL 2026 I am pleased to present the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill.”
James Paterson LIB
“I rise to speak on the Defence Force Discipline Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 1) Bill. The opposition will be supporting this bill. We do so because we recognise both the importance of the reforms before the Senate and the obligation that we all owe to our men and women who have served and who continue to serve the ADF.”
David Shoebridge GRN
“I indicate that the Greens will be supporting this second piece of legislation to implement measures recommended by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. The purpose of the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No.”
Leah Blyth LIB
“I rise to speak in relation to the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026. This directly implements 15 of the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.”
Nick McKim GRN
“The Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026 is an important piece of legislation, and the Australian Greens are very happy that it will pass through this place today.”
Jenny McAllister ALP
“I’d like to thank senators for their contribution to the debate on the Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026.”
News articles and press releases
Context: Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, Final Report — 2024-09-09
At least 1,677 serving and ex-serving ADF members died by suicide between 1997 and 2021, but the Royal Commission estimates the true number of preventable deaths to be upwards of 3,000.