Hope Defence will tackle homophobia

The first volume of the Defence Department’s DLA Piper Review of Allegations of Sexual and Other Forms of Abuse has not touched on homophobic abuse but it is mentioned in related reviews.

Homophobic abuse is mentioned once in the Review of Personal Conduct of ADF Personnel. It is dealt with more substantially in the Review of Social Media and Defence after a homophobic Facebook campaign to out gay ADF personnel was revealed last year.

“Instances of poor conduct that have occurred across the ADF include the use of prohibited substances such as steroids and a case where an anti-homosexual ‘hate campaign’ was conducted through Facebook,” the conduct review reads.

“These incidents have been taken to suggest that the ADF has a serious problem with its culture.”

The social media review quotes an anonymous ADF member who noted that if the Facebook campaign had taken place in a civilian workplace, all involved would have been disciplined and quite likely fired.

“Yet within Defence that is not the case,” the ADF member wrote.

“We should hold ourselves to a higher level of accountability … There should be very clear and explicit regulations regarding social media use and they should be reinforced through education and enforced through the discipline system.”

The review found that inconsistencies in responding to abuse meant that many ADF personnel underestimated the potential consequences.

“Poor behaviour is recognised only during more serious infractions, which end up being reported either in the traditional media or by someone in a social media friendship group,” the report reads.

“Personnel responsible for enforcing policy should receive incremental training and advice about what constitutes bad behaviour online and how to reprimand personnel for infractions.”

Defence LGBTI Information Service (DEFGLIS) spokesman Vince Chong (pictured) told the Star Observer he was hopeful that the next stage of the DLA Piper Review would examine homophobic abuse in the ADF in more detail.

“The types of options and schemes that are being investigated under Phase 2 appear to be sufficiently broad and capable of handling allegations of homophobic abuse,” Chong said.

Chong said DEFGLIS is working with the ADF to create a culture where an incident like the Facebook campaign would not happen, and welcomed the broader recommendations of the Review of Personal Conduct.

“DEFGLIS welcomes the recommendations made in the … Report that proposes a substantial cultural change strategy that goes well beyond policy improvement,” Chong said.

“This type of change could yield substantial improvements for the wellbeing and inclusion of LGBTI personnel and a substantial improvement in the performance of personnel who aren’t out.

“We’ll be seeking opportunities to work with Defence during the implementation of the Pathways to Change program to ensure the consideration of LGBTI personnel during cultural change.”

A Defence Department spokesman confirmed there was scope for homophobic abuse to be dealt with in the next volume of the DLA Piper Review, due in March.