Scott Morrison has confirmed the coalition will not oppose a motion calling for a royal commission into veteran suicides but remains committed to an alternative model.
The Prime Minister said the non-binding motion would be waved through the House of Representatives, avoiding an embarrassing loss.
"We won't be opposing that motion at all," he told 2GB radio on Monday.
"We've always thought you need something better than and more than a royal commission - what we need is a permanent arrangement - and that's what we've put into the parliament."
The government has introduced legislation to establish a permanent agency with the powers of a royal commission to address veteran suicides.
"I'm sure that these two things can come together and we can come to some agreement over the course of this week," Mr Morrison said.
"I want to do what's right for veterans.
"Royal commissions are fine but they're only temporary, they're not a silver bullet. You need permanent arrangements and support to address the root causes of these issues and that's what we're committed to doing."
Coalition senators voted with Labor, the Greens and independents to establish a royal commission last week.
The motion notes Australian Defence Force personnel have a suicide rate of less than half of the wider community's while serving but nearly twice the general population rate once they leave.
Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese at a rally to protest veteran suicide outside Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, March 22, 2021. Source: AAP
It calls on the Morrison government to establish a royal commission into the rate of suicide among current and former ADF personnel.
The coalition would probably lose the vote if it contested the motion.
Craig Kelly, who quit the Liberal Party last month to become an independent, was prepared to vote in favour. So too was Queensland independent Bob Katter.
'The fight is not over'
The motion before the House of Representatives is only symbolic, rather than a bill to create a royal commission.
Campaigners who want to see a royal commission gathered outside Parliament House in Canberra on Monday morning.
Julie-Ann Finney, whose veteran son David died by suicide in 2019, said a royal commission had to be held.
"I've seen some of his friends here today who have come down just for this," Ms Finney told SBS News on the lawn of Parliament House. "And I promised them that I will not stop telling David's story until we have veteran wellbeing."
Retired Special Forces Commander Heston Russell was also in Canberra on Monday.
Julie-Ann Finney outside Parliament House in Canberra Source: Pablo Viñales/SBS News
The founder of advocacy group Voice of a Veteran said a royal commission "would be a rare opportunity where we get to potentially provide hope to people."
"That hope is that people care enough and [the] government cares enough to go back and provide accountability to the systemic failings that have been, and also the hope that we can then draw a line in the sand from which we can form up and advance from."
Additional reporting by Pablo Viñales and Tys Occhiuzzi.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged 5 to 25). More information is available at and . supports people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
