ADF rejects abuse mishandling claims

March 8th, 2013

David Schulberg the 3rd

The Australian Defence Association and a former minister have backed the ADF against claims of ongoing mishandling of abuse claims within the military.

“Every independent inquiry into ADF misbehaviour over recent years has concluded that the force does not have deep-seated cultural problems. There is no cover up,” said Australian Defence Association Lawyer Neil James.

He was echoing a claim made previously by Chief of the Defence Force General David Hurley: “The very first recommendation from the Broederick Review that I put in place was to establish an office: the Sexual Misconduct Protection and Response Office”.

Former Defence Minister Brendan Nelson also spoke in defence of the ADF: “The service chiefs and the ADF, they care, believe me”.

Senior army psychologist Lieutenant Colonel Paul Morgan had condemned what he said was the neglect of abuse victims.

“The way army deals with abuse is entirely consistent with how you would run a cover-up,” Lt Col Morgan told ABC television on Thursday.

Despite cultural reviews and the establishment of an abuse tribunal, “nothing had changed”, Lt Col Morgan said.

“My personal experience tells me that the Army’s abuse management strategies that I’ve seen – delay, deter and deceive – are still in force now,” he said.

Lt Col Morgan, who has served in Bougainville, East Timor, Solomon Islands, Iraq and the Middle East, says Defence mishandled his own bullying case.

In 2010, he was the victim of gay hate on Facebook and received an email death threat.

“Every officer in my chain of command, every colonel and general all the way through to the current Chief of Army … systematically failed their duty in relation to the management of my complaint,” he said.

He wants an outside body to step in immediately to help abuse victims.

Lt Col Morgan said he could lose his job by speaking out.

“There are hundreds of abuse victims currently serving in the Defence Force today, and somebody has to say something,” he said.

General Hurley implicitly admitted that support services for victims of abuse had been inadequate.

“From the very day that we received the reports in after the six cultural reviews were completed, and we started putting together our Pathways To Change reform program, I put up in headlights in the department that our approach to victim support in the ADF had to change,” General Hurley told ABC television.

“I think the very first recommendation from the Broderick review that I put into place was to establish an office, a sexual misconduct protection and response office … and tasked it with putting in place the mechanism to support our people who are victims of sexual or other abuse in the ADF.”

Lt Col Morgan would not sacked or disciplined for speaking out, he said.

“Of course he won’t be.”

“His organisation is very supportive of him … I know they have put in very flexible work arrangements for him to allow him to work through his issues.”

“I sympathise where Colonel Morgan finds himself, but let me just say that actions speak louder than words,” he said.

General Hurley said giving the nod to gay and lesbian defence personnel marching in uniform at the Sydney Mardi Gras parade had been one of the most difficult and “most complained about” decisions he had made in his role.

“I think we’re making a clear statement about how we want the ADF to b seen as a diverse and inclusive organisation.”

ADF