2 days Ago By Ellen Ransley
An independent inquiry will be set up to examine sexual violence within the Australian Defence Force and perpetrators will face mandatory discharge as part of a significant overhaul of the military aimed at better protecting serving and retired members. In response to the landmark Royal Commission into defence and veterans’ suicide, the Government on Monday revealed a new body will be set up within a year to oversee “enduring and systemic reform” that will address suicidality and prioritise mental health, protect victims of sexual violence and misconduct, and support members’ transitioning into civilian lives. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles said an interim body would be established immediately to begin the work with haste.
Of the 122 recommendations made by commissioners at the end of the three-year royal commission, the Government has agreed or agreed-in-principle to 104, noted 17, and rejected one. “Today’s response to the final report is an historic opportunity to deliver lasting reform and support our Defence personnel, veterans and their families,” Mr Albanese said. The only recommendation the Government did not agree to was removing the service differential related to permanent impairment compensation, which offers higher levels of compensation for members injured in operational type service.
“The Government notes that while all veterans, including reservists, are able to access support and assistance for all conditions linked to their service through DVA, the service differential is a long-standing feature of Australia’s support for veterans,” the response said. The Government’s response was particularly focused on targeting “completely unacceptable” rates of sexual violence being reported in the ADF, and has agreed to commission an independent inquiry into the phenomenon. “Defence will support and participate in any formal inquiries conducted into military sexual violence in the ADF,” the Government said.
Katina Curtis Ellen Ransley Workplace relations will be strengthened to ensure victims do not have to come into contact with alleged perpetrators during sexual misconduct investigations, and if that person is found guilty, then “where possible and appropriate” victims will not be posted with their perpetrator during the course of their career. Legislative reform will be carried out to implement a presumption of discharge, subject to fair process, within the military for all members found to have engaged in serious sexual misconduct. For those found guilty, either in the military justice system or criminal system, there will be a policy of mandatory discharge.
That includes for the crimes of stalking and intimate image abuse. More broadly, there will be a greater onus on preventing sexual misconduct within the military, with a comprehensive strategy to be developed in line with the 10-year plan on ending violence against women and children. Training on managing sexual misconduct will be mandatory for all leaders and work will be done to foster a stronger culture of reporting unacceptable behaviour.
Elsewhere, more work will be done to support serving members unable to be deployed, and those transitioning to civilian lives. Respect for and recognition of service “should be embedded throughout Defence and DVA”, the Government agreed, and the military is examining ways to better recognise service of members transitioning from service. The Government agreed “in principle” to establish a new agency focused on veteran wellbeing, “as part of its commitment to ensuring service members are supported through their transition out of the ADF”.
A recommendation to expand and strengthen healthcare services for veterans was simply “noted”. As part of the Government’s response, the Inspector-General of the ADF will be given greater powers to probe military deaths suspected to be suicides, with the watchdog to regularly review its own inquiries into suicides to determine common themes. The IGADG will also conduct more frequent military justice-related audits and the body will become more transparent and accountable.
But, while the Royal Commission called for an overhaul of the Inspector General of the ADF, including ensuring the watchdog had not served in the military, the Government only noted this recommendation..
