The Hon Matt Keogh MP, Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, will Address the National Press Club of Australia on “The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, 12 months on“.
2 December will mark the first anniversary of the Albanese Government’s response to the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide – a harrowing report featuring 122 recommendations to reform culture and wellbeing across Defence and the broader veteran community.
This response was described as one of the fastest ever by a Federal Government to a Royal Commission, just three months after the Final Report was released.
12 months on there’s been a huge amount of work across Government to take action, and in a number of cases, implement recommendations.
Minister Keogh will step through the significant changes have already been made across the Defence and veteran eco-system and will unveil what is to come.
The implementation of the Royal Commission will be the most comprehensive reform ever undertaken of the culture, systems and processes across Defence, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and DVA to prevent suicide and improve the mental health and wellbeing of serving ADF personnel, veterans and their families.
BIO
The Hon Matt Keogh MP is Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, and the Federal Member for Burt.
As Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel, Matt’s ensured Australia’s veterans and families can better access the supports they need and reversed the Liberals’ Defence recruitment crisis.
Matt Keogh was elected as the first member for the Federal Division of Burt, in the south-eastern suburbs of Perth, at the 2016 Federal Election.
Born and raised in Kelmscott, Matt attended school in Armadale and went on to study law at the University of Notre Dame Australia in Fremantle and London.
Matt has spent his adult life advocating for the community – volunteering as a youth group leader, starting his career in a local law firm, as Chairperson of his local domestic violence refuge Starick, and as a representative on the Armadale Redevelopment Authority. He continues to strive to “change the story” in the area.
Matt was also a President of the Law Society of Western Australia, Director of the Law Council of Australia and inaugural Chairperson of Law Access WA.
In Opposition, Matt served as Shadow Minister for Defence Industry, WA Resources and Assisting for Small Business, as well as on the Parliamentary Committees on Economics, Agriculture and Water Resources, and Corporations and Financial Services.
Matt and his wife Annabel have two children. Matt loves being engaged with his community, taking his kids to sport on the weekends, and getting out for bush walks in the hills. If he gets the chance, he also likes taking his motorbike out for a ride.
