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AAP
AAP
Politics
Paul Osborne

Veteran suicide inquiry to cost $174m

The royal commission into defence and veteran suicide is set to cost $174 million over two years. (AAP)

The royal commission into defence and veteran suicide is set to cost $174 million over two years.

The funding, unveiled in the federal budget on Tuesday, will cover the cost of the inquiry itself as well as support for families and advocates to take part in it.

There is also $28.9 million for the Department of Veterans' Affairs to respond to information requests from the royal commission and the National Commissioner for Defence and Veteran Suicide Prevention.

However, the government is not waiting for the results of the royal commission before rolling out extra support for veterans.

The budget includes $302.8 million over four years for the department's operations and processing of claims for rehabilitation, compensation and income support, as well as a new computer system.

Crisis support services, streamlined access to vocational and psychological rehabilitation and a range of health-related services are also funded.

And after two years of cancelled Anzac Day events in France and Turkey, the government expects next year's events to go ahead - if the budget papers are to be believed.

There is $32.1 million over four years for commemoration services at the Australian National Memorial near Villers-Bretonneux and Gallipoli, as well as ongoing maintenance of Australian war graves and domestic commemorative events.

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