'We buried four mates this year:' Veterans' split on royal commission - 2600 | Sky News Australia

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A world away from the battlefields where our soldiers dodged enemy fire they’re waging war against a more insidious enemy. Veteran Anthony Meixner told Sky News he had lost more than four friends to suicide since being in the army.

A world away from the battlefields where our soldiers dodged enemy fire they’re waging war against a more insidious enemy. Veteran Anthony Meixner bluntly told Sky News he’s lost more than four friends to suicide since he’s been in the army, but this has been a particularly bad year.

On the ground in Townsville, Australia’s largest garrison city, the pain is tangible. Soldiers and veterans quickly reel off the names of mates who’ve died by suicide. Then know plenty more still tending to the mental wounds of war. It’s a problem the new Townsville MP and former soldier Phil Thompson knows all too well. His major press call with Prime Minister Scott Morrison on the 2019 election campaign trail was delayed, not for a last-minute spin session on Clive Palmer’s latest preference deal, but because he was outside taking a call hearing the news that another one of his friends had died by suicide.

He does acknowledge, that the question of whether a royal commission will help, is far more contentious in the veteran community.

 

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