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Michael Manthorpe PSM has been appointed the interim head of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission.
Manthorpe will head the interim organisation and work across government to deliver the establishment of a legislated oversight body by September this year.
Manthorpe has served in the Australian Public Service for 37 years, including as Commonwealth ombudsman, which incorporates the roles of Defence Force ombudsman, among others, from 2017 to 2021.
Last year, the federal government committed to deliver swift action on key recommendations made by the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide.
The appointment is a significant milestone in implementing recommendation 122 of the Royal Commission’s final report, according to the federal government.
The federal government is committed to the delivery of the entity which will provide independent oversight and evidence-based advice to improve suicide prevention and drive better outcomes for serving and ex-serving ADF personnel.
As part of the federal government’s response to the royal commission, more than $9.5 million of funding has been committed as part of the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, to support its implementation.
This includes $5 million over two years to fund the appointment of the interim head of the Defence and Veterans’ Service Commission and to establish a cross‑agency taskforce to provide advice to government as well as $4.5 million in 2024–25 to fund consultations for both a new agency within DVA focused on veteran wellbeing and a new peak body for ex-service organisations.
