After a week of hearings in Hobart, and months around Australia, the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide will hand down its interim report this morning.
Kicking off in Brisbane in November last year, the commission wrapped up its Tasmanian hearings on Wednesday and heard from veterans and families who spoke of ongoing trauma, poor support systems, and the battle for compensation.
It has heard of abuse at all ranks of the services, that defence is not doing enough to address suicides, and accounts of ex-personnel who said they were left suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.
Here's what we know about the commission and what we've heard so far.
How did it come about?
The royal commission was established in July last year after a motion passed both chambers of parliament in March supporting its creation.
At the time, then-prime minister Scott Morrison — who had initially resisted calling the commission — said he hoped it would be a "healing process".
It came after sustained lobbying by family members of veterans who had taken their own lives, including Julie-Ann Finney.
Ms Finney's son, David, was a petty officer in the Royal Australian Navy and took his own life in 2019 after being medically discharged, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, in 2017.
Ms Finney said she welcomed the announcement, saying it was a "long time coming".
"Finally, the voices of veterans will be heard. Finally, families can stand up and share their stories," she said.
What has it heard?
The commission has heard wide-ranging accounts of horrific abuse and trauma.
During the New South Wales hearings, Danielle Wilson said she was told to "suck it up" after she reported being sexually assaulted during a Navy training exercise.
After multiple incidents, she said getting pregnant — then a reason to be discharged — was her only way out.
In Brisbane, the mother of a soldier who took his own life said he endured endless torment and ridicule by his chain of command.
Nikki Jamieson said it took four years before she received a report on her son's death and that his phone was wiped before it was returned to her. She said his laptop had never been returned, despite her requests.
In Townsville, the commission heard from retired judge Len Roberts-Smith, who said historic abuse suffered by teenage boys at a former Australian Navy base had "destroyed" the lives of men today.
He said most of the abuse was inflicted by older recruits on their junior counterparts, who were as young as 15 years of age, and included beatings and sexual abuse.
At the Tasmanian hearings, the commission heard from senator Jacqui Lambie, who said a back injury that resulted in her being medically discharged began a six-year battle with the Department of Veterans' Affairs for compensation, as well as debilitating pain and depression.
She said the department put her under surveillance after suspicions she was faking her injuries, and representatives from the rehabilitation service spied on her from a bush near her back fence.
The widow of an ex-serviceman also spoke out about her struggles with the "cruel and inhumane" Department of Veterans' Affairs after she struggled to access support following his suicide, and a former soldier spoke of his trauma after seeing the bodies of two boys killed in combat in Afghanistan.
What happens next?
The three commissioners use submissions, private sessions, hearings and research as part of their investigation, and are required to hand down two reports — an interim report and a final report.
The interim report is due on Thursday and will be handed to the Governor-General at 9am. It will then be tabled in Parliament.
It will focus on issues requiring urgent or immediate action, and any other matters considered necessary.
The final report is due no later than June 17, 2024.
That report will outline the results of the investigation and the commissioners' recommendations.
After wrapping up in Hobart on Wednesday, public hearings are set to resume in Darwin from October 17 and then move to Wagga Wagga from November 28.
As of Wednesday, the commission had received 1,912 submissions and heard from 194 witnesses.
