Townsville's most senior serving ADF member has acknowledged "frustrations" among Defence personnel in accessing mental health support and ongoing hazing practices at the city's barracks.
Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide is holding a nine-day hearing in Townsville, home to the 3rd Combat Brigade at Lavarack Barracks.
Brigadier Kahlil Fegan, Commander of the 3rd Combat Brigade, is the first witness to be examined.
During the examination led by Counsel Assisting Kevin Connor SC, the Brigadier spoke about cultural pressures within Defence whereby some personnel refrain from seeking medical attention for mental and physical health issues to remain ready for deployment.
When asked if he believed there were any shortcomings preventing personnel from seeking help, the Brigadier said some personnel were waiting up to between four and eight weeks for an appointment with the only psychiatrist at Lavarack Barracks.
"One of the frustrations is how long it takes to get an appointment if it is not a priority issue," Brigadier Fegan said.
He believes it acts as a disincentive for people from "putting their hand up".
In his written submission to the royal commission, Brigadier Fegan wrote that there was only one psychiatrist based at Lavarack Barracks being available only two days per week.
More than 3,000 personnel assume the 3rd Combat Brigade.
When asked whether having one psychiatrist on base for two days a week was "adequate" the Brigadier said it is a challenge when the brigade is preparing for deployment or the return of soldiers.
"In those circumstances at those times, I don't think it is adequate," he said.
Hazing practices at barracks
The commission has heard of ongoing hazing practices at Lavarack Barracks, which the Brigadier confirmed have been the subject of two inquiries.
"I became aware of an incident that had occurred approximately a year prior to my assumption of command," Brigadier Fegan said.
"It involved absolute unequivocally inappropriate behaviour by a small group of soldiers towards another soldier.
"An incident where a group of soldiers on an exercise chased another soldier in the bush and tried to tie him up and it was in line with some sort of stupid initiation that that particular unit had engaged in over a number of years.
The royal commission heard that the incident had led to a court martial hearing, and two Lavarack Barracks personnel were charged over the incident were found guilty.
Despite that process, the Brigadier said hazing remained an issue at the base.
"That was the most significant incident that caused me concern," he said.
"There are other examples that have manifested since that incident that we continue to deal with today."
The Brigadier said that there had been two inquiries relating to hazing on Lavarack Barracks and that the response was still being implemented.
Military discipline in focus
Commissioner Peggy Brown raised concerns about military discipline with the Brigadier.
"We've certainly heard accounts where there has been disciplinary charge after disciplinary charge," Dr Brown said.
"In one instance that I can think of there was a death by suicide.
"I think blind Freddy, quite frankly, could or should have been able to see there was some issue that was actually contributing to this, and yet that was not picked up."
In his answer, the Brigadier described the example given by Dr Brown as "tragic and exceptionally regrettable".
"In terms of that oversight, it is doing everything that we can reasonably do to ensure that we appreciate what are the potential for unforeseen implications of taking that action," he said.
The Brigadier explained earlier to the royal commission that the Brigade did not take disciplinary action against individuals if there was an assessment that that action may compound an issue, being welfare or psychologically.
Chief of the Defence Force to appear
The Townsville hearing will mark the first time during the royal commission that deployment and First Nations experiences in Defence will be examined.
During her opening address, Counsel Assisting Erin Longbottom QC said the royal commission would not hear standalone lived experience in Townsville, unlike other hearings.
Ms Longbottom said the Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, is scheduled to appear on Thursday.
"It will cover abuse and other unacceptable behaviour in the ADF," she said.
The royal commission has received more than 1,600 submissions, with Commissioner Nick Kaldas describing each one as "unique".
Prior to the nine-day hearing, the commission heard from 14 people in private sessions in Townsville and visited Lavarack Barrack and The Oasis, a defence and veteran support hub.
