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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has announced a royal commission into suicides by Australian veterans and serving Defence personnel.

The Federal Government will release a draft terms of reference today, recommending the royal commission to Governor-General David Hurley.

The royal commission will have a mandate to examine systemic issues, any common themes and past deaths by suicide of Australian Defence Force members and veterans, Mr Morrison said.

"We want this to be comprehensive," Mr Morrison said.

"And I have no doubt that that will get supported."

It will examine all aspects of service in the Australian Defence Force and the experience of those transitioning from active service.

Mr Morrison said the inquiry would not be about making findings of civil or criminal wrongdoing, nor on the manner or causes of death in relation to particular cases of suicide.

The commission will have the full range of compulsory powers including being able to summon witnesses, hold public hearings, take evidence on oath or affirmation and compel the production of documents and witness statements.

"This will be an important process for the families," Mr Morrison said.

"I think and I hope it will be a healing process."

Veterans Affairs' Minister Darren Chester will lead the consultation process.

Mr Chester said the royal commission would "help restore hope" for suffering veterans and their families.

"We do understand that some people in our veteran community and their families will not heal until we have this royal commission," he said.

Returning home from war was a "very difficult, sensitive and incredibly complex issue" for veterans and their families, Mr Chester said.

The prime minister estimated the royal commission could take between 18 months and two years to complete.

Mr Morrison hopes the commission can begin its work by July after the terms of reference are established.

READ MORE: Mum tells of Navy veteran's suicide to call for change

Veterans who return from Iraq and Afghanistan were dealing with a very different set of challenges to previous generations of diggers, Mr Morrison said.

"We need to take action to support them," he said.

"We see the number of presentations increasing, the demand for veteran support increasing, of course, it is a function of the deployments over the last 20 years."

The announcement comes after more than two years of campaigning by Adelaide woman, Julie-Ann Finney, who lost her veteran son Dave Stafford Finney to PTSD-related suicide.

Her petition for a royal commission has been signed by more than 409,000 people.

Ms Finney welcomed the announcement by the prime minister today in a poignant statement, but added it was long overdue.

"Finally, the voices of veterans will be heard. Finally, families can stand up and share their stories," she said.

She urged the government to ensure the voices of veterans were "front and centre" in the royal commission.

"Today is about veterans. The veterans fighting every day to make it through to the next. The veterans who we have lost too soon, who live on in too many broken hearts," she said.

"I am so thankful to all the veterans who have stood brave and tall in the face of so much opposition over the years, and kept fighting for this royal commission. Today, this victory belongs to them.

"My fight over these last two painful years has all been to honour my son, and to ensure that in the future, that no other mum feels this pain.

"Today is for my son, Dave Stafford Finney. "

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Soldier On Australia 1300 620 380, Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636, or Open Arms on 1800 011 046.

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is Australia's leading national provider of high-quality mental health assessment, clinical counselling and support services for veterans and their families. Support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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The leader of Sein Fein has said she is "sorry" that the Irish Republican Army (IRA) assassinated Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten.

Lord Mountbatten, the Queen's second cousin, was killed in August 1979 when a bomb planted aboard his yacht exploded on Mullaghmore Harbour in Ireland.

He died of his injuries along with his 14-year-old grandson Nicholas Knatchbull and crew member Paul Maxwell, 15.

READ MORE: Queen farewells the man who was always by her side

Mary Lou McDonald, the leader of Irish nationalist party Sein Fein, the former political wing of the IRA terrorist group, expressed regret about the murder following Prince Philip's funeral, the Independent reports.

"I am sorry that happened. Of course, that is heartbreaking," she told Times Radio.

Lord Mountbatten's death – labelled an "execution" by the IRA leadership – came at the height of the bloody Northern Ireland conflict, known as the Troubles.

When Ms McDonald was asked if she would apologise to Prince Charles over the killing of Lord Mountbatten – his great uncle – she said the British military had carried out "many, many violent actions" during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

"My job, and I think that Prince Charles and others would absolutely appreciate this, my job is to lead from the front, now, in these times.

"I believe it is all our jobs to ensure that no other child, no other family, no matter who they are, suffers the same trauma and heartbreak that was all too common on all sides of this island and beyond."

Ms McDonald was speaking after the funeral of Prince Philip – the Queen's husband – on Saturday.

"I have an absolute responsibility to make sure that no family faces that again and I am happy to reiterate that on the weekend that your Queen buried her beloved husband."

The IRA and former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams have maintained that Lord Mountbatten was a legitimate target.

The bomb that killed the senior royal had been planted by IRA member Thomas McMahon who had installed the radio-controlled explosive device aboard the boat before Lord Mountbatten and his party set out on August 27, 1979.

Four hours later the IRA struck again when two bombs killed 18 British soldiers in an ambush at Warrenpoint in Northern Ireland.

Cooler and wetter conditions are forecast for large parts of south eastern Australia from today.

A cold front is crossing the southeast and is bringing strong winds to Tasmania and southern Victoria, with gusts of 90-110km/ph over western and southern parts of Tasmania predicted this evening.

Another cold front will then impact the state on Wednesday into Thursday. 

These cold fronts moving across southeastern states will lead to a run of cool days, with below average temperatures expected to last into the weekend in some areas.

Melbourne – after a top of 21C today – will see temperatures dip to about four degrees below average from tomorrow, with wind chill making it feel around two to three degrees cooler than this.

Chilly conditions are also expected for Canberra. After a maximum of 20C today, the mercury will dip three to five degrees below average from tomorrow.

South Australia will also begin to feel cooler conditions tomorrow after today's top of 21C.

Sydney can expect warm and sunny conditions today as a ridge of high pressure extends across New South Wales from the west. The city will have a top temperature of 25C.

There will be a slight chance of rain showers in south eastern Queensland today, but the state's far north can expect heavier rain later this week.

Rain fall of more than 150mm is most likely over coastal and adjacent inland areas between Ayr and Cooktown later this week from Wednesday, as a trough deepens and shifts further south and west.

Brisbane can expect a top of 26C and warm and sunny conditions today.

Some showers along the south coast of Western Australia are expected today. Perth is forecast for a slightly cloudy day and a maximum temperature of 24C.

The Northern Territory can look forward to mainly dry conditions except in the Arnhem Land region which could see a few showers. Darwin is set for a maximum of 34C and mainly sunny weather.

Australia's Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack says the government remains "in discussions" with Singapore as it looks to create more quarantine-free travel bubbles with other low COVID-risk countries.

The discussions come as the long-awaited trans-Tasman bubble commenced this morning, with Australians being able to travel freely to New Zealand for the first time in more than a year.

Mr McCormack said the two-way travel bubble with New Zealand showed "confidence" in a pathway out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

LIVE UPDATES: Trans-Tasman travel bubble opens

"It shows we're on the pathway out of COVID and back to some sort of normality. It's going to benefit both nations," he said.

"We love New Zealand. New Zealanders love Australia and it's a good thing."

A timeframe has not yet been given for other travel bubbles, with Mr McCormack insisting discussions with the Singaporean government were just "initial talks".

"We're having those chats, those initial chats with other countries as well, and as vaccines are rolled out here and elsewhere, these travel bubbles will be created, and as I say again, it will get us back to some sort of pre-COVID normality," he said.

The first flight from Australia to New Zealand is due to land at Auckland Airport about 12.10pm local time, where an official welcome is expected to take place.

JetStar flight JQ201 from Sydney took off at around 7.40am following delays this morning.

https://twitter.com/briannascully9/status/1383904954889293827

While the first Air New Zealand plane will land in Wellington at 1pm local time, with a special welcome, including live music, also planned.

The first flight from New Zealand touched down at Sydney Airport at 7:55am.

There were tearful welcomes as arrivals from Wellington reunited with loved ones.

https://twitter.com/sophie_walsh9/status/1383907332413788166

There are 30 flights scheduled today, with a total of 10,000 passengers flying on trans-Tasman routes.

READ MORE: Airports want kickstart of international travel 'within months'

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce has described the commencement of the trans-Tasman travel bubble as an "amazing day".

The airline has 630 employees returning to work today due to the arrangement, with 16 flights departing Australia today.

"The flights are full. We've got a lot of people going back to see family and friends, people wanting to take a holiday," Mr Joyce said.

"We have such excitement at the airport and it's nearly 400 days since people could travel, quarantine free.

"So a lot of people were dusting off the passport, trying to find where the passport was to try to get on these flights to New Zealand.

"It's great to see, it's very exciting."

Mr Joyce said he hoped New Zealand would be the first of many other destinations to come in the future.

Other potential hopefuls include the Pacific Islands, Fiji, Taiwan, Korea and Japan.

"We know this needs to go through National Cabinet and National Cabinet are looking at how to open up the border safely," he said.