New avenue for ADF abuse victims
BENN DORRINGTON
LGBTI defence personnel who have been victims of abuse may be able to apply for compensation from the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Defence Minister Stephen Smith apologised to ADF members on Monday who were subjected to sexual and other forms of abuse.
The announcement came in response to the DLA Piper report into abuse allegations within the ADF which found 750 plausible cases of abuse.
The government also announced a defence abuse response taskforce that will assess the existing abuse allegations plus any new allegations that occurred before April 11, 2011.
Defence LGBTI Information Service (DEFGLIS) chairman Vince Chong said LGBTI defence members who had suffered abuse now had an avenue to seek compensation.
“The announcement means that members of the LGBTI community who suffered abuse while serving in Defence now have an avenue to seek compensation,” he said.
“The apology issued by the government will be welcome news for LGBTI people who suffered abuse and may not have complained for fear of being outed.
“Victims who did not participate in the first phase of the review now have an opportunity to raise a new claim or complaint.”
John Davey, the lawyer who has represented the victims of the ADF gay-hate Facebook page, told the Star Observer it was too early to tell if his clients would would pursue this option.
He said it depended on what type of abuse claims were considered eligible for compensation.
In 2010, it was revealed some 40 ADF members were connected to a Facebook group which outed some ADF members and called homosexuality a “filthy lifestyle decision”.
Then Greens Senator Bob Brown said lower ranking ADF members of the Facebook page should have been charged with insubordination as to section 26 of the Defence Force Disciplinary Act 1982 since some of the ADF members attacked included senior officers.
The offending members were instead issued with written warnings.
Davey said he was encouraged by Defence Minister Stephen Smith holding the Defence Department personally responsible for the abuses by saying the department would pay the abuse
“The pain for this is not going to be inflicted on general government expenditure it’s actually going to be inflicted upon the defence force for not running themselves properly, that’s really important,” Davey said.
“I have cautious support for my clients and other people, I’d need to see the details.”
In his parliamentary apology, Smith said some forms of abuse had had a lasting, serious and traumatic impact on victims.
“The Australian Defence Force is an organisation which has demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism, of courage and of sacrifice in peace and in wartime,” Smith told the Parliament.
“But, terribly and sadly, the experience of some members of the Australian Defence Force over the years has not always reflected these high standards.
“Young men and women have suffered treatment which no member of our Defence Force or our community generally should experience.
“Young men and women have endured sexual, physical or mental abuse from their colleagues which are not acceptable and do not reflect the values of a modern diverse tolerant Australian society.”
Last week, Australia’s chief of defence said he was proud of the progress made in the defence forces since the ban on gay and lesbian soldiers was lifted 20 years ago.
INFO: Defence Abuse Response Hotline 1800 424 991
