Defence Legislation Amendment (RCDVS Implementation and Related Measures No. 2) Bill 2026

Summary

The Defence Force and Department of Veterans' Affairs will gain new powers to better support serving and ex-serving military personnel and their families by making wellbeing and suicide prevention a core legal responsibility. The changes amend the Defence Act 1903 and Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 2004 to create a dedicated framework for health support, enable better data sharing for research and early intervention, clarify support during the risky transition out of service, establish stronger clinical governance in Defence hospitals, improve information sharing between agencies during claims processing, and allow Defence to engage directly with families and former partners. This matters because the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide identified widespread gaps in how the military system supports personnel mental health and suicide prevention — these amendments turn the Commission's recommendations into binding legal obligations, giving Defence and Veterans' Affairs clearer authority and responsibility to prevent deaths and provide coordinated, timely help across someone's entire military journey.

What happens at this stage

The final vote in this chamber on the bill as a whole, after all amendments have been considered. If it passes, the bill moves to the other chamber to go through the same process. If both chambers have already agreed to identical text, the bill proceeds directly to Royal Assent.

Next: The other chamber, which runs the same process from First Reading, or Royal Assent if both chambers have already agreed