Traumatised diggers mired in red tape, inquiry finds

The Federal Government yesterday said more changes were needed to lessen the struggle faced by some veterans, after three inquiries were released into the 2006 suicide of army signaller Geff Gregg.

Mr Gregg suffered post-traumatic stress disorder caused by his involvement in an intense gunfight in Afghanistan in 2002.

Consultant investigator Christopher Doogan, whose report examined Mr Gregg's experience in applying for benefits and support from the Department of Veterans' Affairs, said the department's legislation was too complex.

Mr Doogan found that the department and ComSuper, which administers superannuation schemes for military personnel, had not failed in their care of duty to Mr Gregg and should not be blamed for his death.

But he said the department had failed to provide adequate face-to-face support for troubled soldiers and that some of the departmental and medical staff he interviewed believed that the agency's "hand-off approach (was) . a deliberate means of ensuring" that the department was not sued.

"I was left with the very strong impression that the processing of claims is exceedingly impersonal, not something which I expected to find in light of the recent statement by the former prime minister after the death of David Pearce," Mr Doogan wrote.

He also called for an end to the bouncing of veterans' claims between numerous departmental staff, saying it was more appropriate for one case officer to handle a case from start to finish.

He also said veterans should not have to interact with several departments when seeking support and called for a "one-stop-shop" approach for all compensation and pension matters.

Mr Doogan said this would "relieve the burden on incapacitated veterans who find the compensation/payment maze almost impenetrable in some instances".

Ron McLeod, who investigated Mr Gregg's interaction with several Commonwealth departments, also called for better co-operation between the Defence and Veterans' Affairs departments and ComSuper. He suggested Veterans' Affairs should handle transition services for all departing soldiers.

Mr McLeod stressed that the Department of Veterans' Affairs must not seek only to provide the minimum level of support required by law to troubled veterans. He said Mr Gregg would have benefited from increased attention.

"This is what Geffrey needed, but unfortunately that grade of service was not available."

Mr McLeod also said Mr Gregg had suffered "considerable distress" as a result of repeated requests from medical professionals to describe his traumatic experiences in Afghanistan.

The Federal Government said it had introduced a range of measures to improve transitional services and support for departing defence personnel.

For help or information, visit beyondblue.org.au, call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251 or Lifeline on 131 114.