Deep dive probe into insidious military sexual assault
Barriers to investigating sexual assault in the Australian Defense Force and how the military can better address the issue will be put under the spotlight as part of a landmark investigation.
An independent and independent investigation into military sexual violence will include 11 recommendations. Royal Defense and Veterans Suicide CommissionReport finds sexual harassment in the military is systematic.
The independent inquiry will compare the effectiveness of the military justice system, which operates separately, and the civilian justice system, including how sexual and related crimes are investigated, according to terms of reference obtained by the AAP.
Rebecca McGaw, who was sexually assaulted as a 17-year-old soldier in the Royal Australian Air Force in May 2017, welcomed the investigation and said it was important it was open to everyone, regardless of gender and rank.
“(Sexual violence) is an issue that is extremely prevalent in the current environment that is the Australian Defense Force,” she told AAP.
Because he was a minor, the attack by a fellow soldier should have been reported to the police, but this was not reported despite being witnessed by a more senior colleague.
A report was submitted but the investigation never progressed and the member did not face consequences.
The former lead airwoman said she believes the investigation should look at how judicial systems are armed and how the command investigates reports of sexual violence.
“This is an issue that needs to be addressed and the whole system needs to be addressed holistically, whether in conjunction with or separate from any other ongoing investigations,” he said.
Minister for Veterans Affairs and Defense Personnel Matt Keogh will announce the job descriptions at the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.
The inquiry was recommended by the royal commission, which also found that soldiers convicted of certain sexual offenses should be expelled from the army, improve victim-survivor support and do more work to understand the prevalence of sexual violence.
The federal government accepted all of these recommendations.
The investigation will examine the investigative powers of the military police, the obstacles faced by civilian police investigating sexual assaults against defense forces bases, recidivism, non-prosecution decisions, conviction rates, sentencing outcomes and penalties.
It will also look at how reporting sexual assault can impact careers and what support is available to help victims, witnesses and complainants, as well as the legal and other support available to perpetrators.
Barriers to reporting sexual misconduct, following up on complaints and taking action will also be covered, as well as the role of alcohol and drugs, family and domestic violence, and the influence of peers and colleagues when a person decides whether to report.
The effectiveness of anonymous reporting will be investigated, including comparing approaches in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and New Zealand.
The inquiry will also provide recommendations to improve the military’s understanding of perpetrators’ behavior, “consistent with a victim, survivor-centered approach and including clear consequences for perpetrators when a report is substantiated.”
The investigation will begin in 2026 and be completed 12 months before the final report on military sexual violence is made public.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Resolution Support Service 1800 211 028
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Open Arms 1800 011 046
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