“It’s a time where affirmative action and empathetic leadership is needed,” he said.
Affirmative action?
>“It’s a time where affirmative action and empathetic leadership is needed,” he said.
Affirmative action?
Spy agency ASIS used veil of secrecy to stop news of suicide
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service has been accused of being the “gold standard” for covering up mental health issues in its ranks.
One of Australia’s key spy agencies has come under fire for “hiding behind secrecy” over efforts to keep the suicide of an intelligence officer “under wraps”.
Senior military sources claim conversations in Defence public affairs were focused on planning how to “minimise awareness of the suicide before Christmas in the hope that it might become lost in the media lull post the holiday season”.
The Sunday Telegraph revealed the ex army officer, who was working as an intelligence officer with the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), died on December 21 in the Russell precinct car park.
Details of the incident have been kept under wraps, with the ACT Coroner’s court confirming it had received a report into the death, but “no further information could be given regarding the specific matter”, including whether a coronal inquiry would be held.
Sources say transparency has never been more important, considering the spike in suicides in the defence force and in civilian roles within the six spy agencies.
“Sadly, ASIS is the gold standard for covering up mental health issues, and this suicide was not out of the ordinary for that agency,” a former special forces officer said.
“Who is holding that agency to account?”
A senior ranking officer from within the Russell precinct said colleagues were starting to become “really disappointed at the focus on minimising media awareness and potential reputation damage as suicides occur, as opposed to allocating as much effort towards speaking openly and honestly and admitting that we are experiencing a severe spike”.
“It’s a time where affirmative action and empathetic leadership is needed,” he said.
A mid-level officer said news of the death of the intelligence officer spread quickly in military circles but in the following days information dried up.
“Everyone knew it was a suicide the day it occurred. This was even confirmed in conversations with police and security footage,” he said.
“That this was not dealt with honestly and immediately has caused resentment with many who feel morally disconnected by such coercive intentions.”
ASIS is one of six agencies that makes up the Australia Intelligence Community that works to collect, analyse and disseminate intelligence information and advice in accordance with Australia’s interest and national security priorities.
The ADF and ASIS have been contacted for comment.
There have been more than 12 defence suicides in the past two months, prompting renewed calls for a Royal Commission.
“The news of a number of Defence and veteran suicides over the last month are extremely worrying,” Labor’s spokesman for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Shayne Neumann said.
“Anecdotally, we fear there may be many more than those reported and it’s clear the problem is getting worse.
“Nothing less than a Royal Commission into veteran suicide is needed to get to bottom of this shocking epidemic.”
Spy agency ASIS used veil of secrecy to stop news of suicide
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service has been accused of being the “gold standard” for covering up mental health issues in its ranks.
One of Australia’s key spy agencies has come under fire for “hiding behind secrecy” over efforts to keep the suicide of an intelligence officer “under wraps”.
Senior military sources claim conversations in Defence public affairs were focused on planning how to “minimise awareness of the suicide before Christmas in the hope that it might become lost in the media lull post the holiday season”.
The Sunday Telegraph revealed the ex army officer, who was working as an intelligence officer with the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), died on December 21 in the Russell precinct car park.
Details of the incident have been kept under wraps, with the ACT Coroner’s court confirming it had received a report into the death, but “no further information could be given regarding the specific matter”, including whether a coronal inquiry would be held.
Sources say transparency has never been more important, considering the spike in suicides in the defence force and in civilian roles within the six spy agencies.
“Sadly, ASIS is the gold standard for covering up mental health issues, and this suicide was not out of the ordinary for that agency,” a former special forces officer said.
“Who is holding that agency to account?”
A senior ranking officer from within the Russell precinct said colleagues were starting to become “really disappointed at the focus on minimising media awareness and potential reputation damage as suicides occur, as opposed to allocating as much effort towards speaking openly and honestly and admitting that we are experiencing a severe spike”.
“It’s a time where affirmative action and empathetic leadership is needed,” he said.
A mid-level officer said news of the death of the intelligence officer spread quickly in military circles but in the following days information dried up.
“Everyone knew it was a suicide the day it occurred. This was even confirmed in conversations with police and security footage,” he said.
“That this was not dealt with honestly and immediately has caused resentment with many who feel morally disconnected by such coercive intentions.”
ASIS is one of six agencies that makes up the Australia Intelligence Community that works to collect, analyse and disseminate intelligence information and advice in accordance with Australia’s interest and national security priorities.
The ADF and ASIS have been contacted for comment.
There have been more than 12 defence suicides in the past two months, prompting renewed calls for a Royal Commission.
“The news of a number of Defence and veteran suicides over the last month are extremely worrying,” Labor’s spokesman for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Shayne Neumann said.
“Anecdotally, we fear there may be many more than those reported and it’s clear the problem is getting worse.
“Nothing less than a Royal Commission into veteran suicide is needed to get to bottom of this shocking epidemic.”
(post is archived)