Major shakeup to the Australian Defence Force after shocking discovery within the ranks

Soldiers convicted of sexual offences should be removed from the Australian Defence Force, a royal commission has recommended. The commission found that the military leadership did not know whether anyone within its ranks had committed such a crime.

The Royal Commission on Defence and Veteran Suicide has recommended that the federal government establish an independent inquiry into sexual violence.

“We have not taken this decision lightly and have done so to reflect the seriousness and breadth of the evidence we heard at this Royal Commission,” the report said.

Defence personnel convicted of sexual offences in the military justice system remained in service. The ADF did not know how many of its members had been convicted in civilian courts, even if the offence was against another defence member.

The investigation found that members convicted of sexual crimes under the military justice system were not transferred to civilian court records.

Phillip Thompson, a Liberal MP and Afghanistan veteran, said he was “appalled” by the findings and backed calls to sack members found guilty of sex crimes.

“Somehow they (Defense) don’t know that someone has been convicted of a sexual assault or rape. That’s outrageous, despicable and frankly heads should roll over that,” said the member for Herbert.

“When I read things like this, I feel sick.”

Commissioners wrote that they recognized the “frustration and disappointment” many victims may feel with an additional investigation after the final report was delivered Monday, three years after hearings began.

They found that the impact of sexual violence on (former) members was ‘utterly horrific’ and increased the risk of suicide.

“Sexual misconduct remains a systemic problem for the ADF,” the report said.

“This has been the case for decades and will continue unless the ADF commits to deep, systematic reform.”

Female ex-military personnel committed suicide twice as often as the general female population.

The research found that some victims did not report sexual violence for fear of jeopardizing their career opportunities or being ostracized.

Even when reports of sexual abuse are confirmed, “systemic weaknesses” can expose victims to ongoing risks, such as being stationed in the same location as the perpetrator.

Admiral David Johnston, commander in chief of the armed forces, indicated that he had not been able to implement all the reforms to the military justice system that he had hoped for.

The ADF Inspector General has conducted an internal investigation into the military justice system’s handling of sexual violence, but the 13 recommendations have not yet been fully implemented.

Mr Thompson wants the inspector general’s report to be made public, with Defence Minister Richard Marles saying the government will be “as transparent as possible”.

Commissioners wrote that they recognized the “frustration and disappointment” many victims may feel about an additional investigation after the final report was delivered Monday, three years after hearings began (stock image)

Defense estimates that about 60 percent of sexual abuse cases go unreported. In the past five years, almost 800 cases have been registered.

Commissioner Peggy Brown said the sense of betrayal had left victims’ families traumatised.

“Sexual violence within the military, in our experience, is much more prevalent than it should be,” she said ahead of the report’s publication.

It contains 122 recommendations, including the establishment of a permanent body to monitor the progress of the royal commission’s findings.

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