Julie-Ann Finney’s son David spent two decades serving Australia in the Navy. In February, he lost his battle with PTSD.

After attempting suicide, David was discharged, and the Department of Veteran Affairs’ inaction led to their failure of duty of care.

“He had a choice of either travelling a 700km round trip to a psychiatrist, or to wait for six months for one in his state. He died before that appointment came up.”

Ms Finney says the waiting list is so long because many psychiatrists refuse to take on DVA cases – the Department doesn’t pay them enough.

Her heartbreaking story left Steve Price infuriated.

“We can’t let people just waste away… If you’ve got an urgent need for psychiatric help, it should be delivered, surely!”

“Steve, they’re not wasting away. They’re dying. Unfortunately, they’re dying,” she responded.

Ms Finney says “the only way” to prevent more deaths is to have a royal commission into the issue. The movement is gaining steam, and Ms Finney’s petition to the government has garnered over 250,000 signatures.

“These are Australia’s bravest… and when they’re broken, we just throw them away.”

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Image: Getty/Scott Barbour