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| Defence abuse taskforce doesn't know how many offenders are still serving | Defence abuse taskforce doesn't know how many offenders are still serving |
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| The taskforce set up to investigate abuse in the Australian military does not know how many alleged perpetrators identified among the 2,400 complaints made are still serving in the military, a Senate inquiry heard on Wednesday. | The taskforce set up to investigate abuse in the Australian military does not know how many alleged perpetrators identified among the 2,400 complaints made are still serving in the military, a Senate inquiry heard on Wednesday. |
| It also emerged that more than 300 former or current serving Australian defence force (ADF) members have approached the defence abuse response taskforce (Dart) with allegations but were turned away because the cut-off date had passed. | It also emerged that more than 300 former or current serving Australian defence force (ADF) members have approached the defence abuse response taskforce (Dart) with allegations but were turned away because the cut-off date had passed. |
| Giving evidence to the Senate committee, the taskforce chief, Len Roberts-Smith, was asked by the independent senator Nick Xenophon whether Dart had undertaken an assessment of how many of the allegations relating to physical or sexual assault involved serving members of the ADF. | Giving evidence to the Senate committee, the taskforce chief, Len Roberts-Smith, was asked by the independent senator Nick Xenophon whether Dart had undertaken an assessment of how many of the allegations relating to physical or sexual assault involved serving members of the ADF. |
| “I don’t know that we’ve run an analytical program over the data,” Roberts-Smith said. “We’re dealing with them individually.” He then took the question on notice. | “I don’t know that we’ve run an analytical program over the data,” Roberts-Smith said. “We’re dealing with them individually.” He then took the question on notice. |
| The executive director of Dart, Matt Hall, said complainants who had approached Dart often did not know if the alleged perpetrator was still serving. | The executive director of Dart, Matt Hall, said complainants who had approached Dart often did not know if the alleged perpetrator was still serving. |
| “The only way we could find out is by contacting the ADF,” he told the committee. “It’s not often information that we want or need to be seeking when determining plausibility [of claims].” | “The only way we could find out is by contacting the ADF,” he told the committee. “It’s not often information that we want or need to be seeking when determining plausibility [of claims].” |
| Xenophon said it should be in the public interest to find out if alleged abusers were still serving. | Xenophon said it should be in the public interest to find out if alleged abusers were still serving. |
| Later that afternoon, Vice chief of the ADF, vice admiral Ray Griggs, told the committee that if Dart asked for information “there is nothing we will not give.” | Later that afternoon, Vice chief of the ADF, vice admiral Ray Griggs, told the committee that if Dart asked for information “there is nothing we will not give.” |
| He said that dealing with the gap between complaints and the number of alleged abusers still serving is a “particular challenge.” | He said that dealing with the gap between complaints and the number of alleged abusers still serving is a “particular challenge.” |
| “We have to operate within the law,” he said. “If you don’t have the evidence or the consent of complainants, there’s only so much you can do. | “We have to operate within the law,” he said. “If you don’t have the evidence or the consent of complainants, there’s only so much you can do. |
| “As frustrating as that is… we must abide by due process and natural justice.” | “As frustrating as that is… we must abide by due process and natural justice.” |
| Roberts-Smith also revealed that since the deadline for complaints had passed, the taskforce had been contacted by more than 300 people who alleged they were abused while in the ADF. | Roberts-Smith also revealed that since the deadline for complaints had passed, the taskforce had been contacted by more than 300 people who alleged they were abused while in the ADF. |
| Among the submissions to the Senate committee were criticisms that the Dart did not adequately advertise itself to ensure victims were aware they could approach it. | Among the submissions to the Senate committee were criticisms that the Dart did not adequately advertise itself to ensure victims were aware they could approach it. |
| Under aggressive criticism and questioning by the Palmer United Party senator Jacqui Lambi, the Inspector General of the ADF, Geoff Earey, defended the investigations by the institution. | |
| “People have had ample opportunity now to come forward,” he said. “There are multiple avenues of complaint for anyone who feels they have been aggrieved.” | “People have had ample opportunity now to come forward,” he said. “There are multiple avenues of complaint for anyone who feels they have been aggrieved.” |
| Earlier, two lawyers representing hundreds of victims of abuse criticised the cut-off date for incidents of 11 April, 2011, and the deadline of 30 November, 2013, for victims to approach Dart with their claim. | Earlier, two lawyers representing hundreds of victims of abuse criticised the cut-off date for incidents of 11 April, 2011, and the deadline of 30 November, 2013, for victims to approach Dart with their claim. |
| “ADF personnel continue to feel unable to report incidents,” said Slater and Gordon lawyer Rachael James. She said people who were “sceptical” of the process and “not ready to make a claim” were buoyed by the success of the Dart process and now feel ready. | “ADF personnel continue to feel unable to report incidents,” said Slater and Gordon lawyer Rachael James. She said people who were “sceptical” of the process and “not ready to make a claim” were buoyed by the success of the Dart process and now feel ready. |
| “Consideration should be given to allowing those claims being made,” she said. | “Consideration should be given to allowing those claims being made,” she said. |
| Adair Donaldson, from Shine Lawyers, also told the inquiry the apparently arbitrary cut-off dates for complainants approaching Dart had excluded a number of victims. | Adair Donaldson, from Shine Lawyers, also told the inquiry the apparently arbitrary cut-off dates for complainants approaching Dart had excluded a number of victims. |
| He said “on more than 10 occasions” he had been contacted by survivors of abuse at HMAS Leeuwin who had not gone to Dart. | He said “on more than 10 occasions” he had been contacted by survivors of abuse at HMAS Leeuwin who had not gone to Dart. |
| “They simply did not have the strength to tell their stories,” Donaldson said in his submission. | “They simply did not have the strength to tell their stories,” Donaldson said in his submission. |
| “However, given the publicity and the fact that survivors are speaking positively about their experiences with Dart they are now ready to engage with the process and tell their stories.” | “However, given the publicity and the fact that survivors are speaking positively about their experiences with Dart they are now ready to engage with the process and tell their stories.” |
| Although praising the work of the taskforce, Donaldson said it was “of great concern” that the expertise, achievements and outcomes gained so far would be lost once the investigation was finalised. | Although praising the work of the taskforce, Donaldson said it was “of great concern” that the expertise, achievements and outcomes gained so far would be lost once the investigation was finalised. |
| In June, a Dart report into abuses at the defence training school HMAS Leeuwin, tabled by the defence minister, David Johnston, revealed the ADF either knew or ought to have known that hundreds of young boys were being physically and sexually abused – often by staff – over several decades. | In June, a Dart report into abuses at the defence training school HMAS Leeuwin, tabled by the defence minister, David Johnston, revealed the ADF either knew or ought to have known that hundreds of young boys were being physically and sexually abused – often by staff – over several decades. |
| It accepted as true the allegations of 207 former students who claimed they were abused, bullied and assaulted. | It accepted as true the allegations of 207 former students who claimed they were abused, bullied and assaulted. |
| Dart was set up in November 2012 after the DLA Piper review into allegations of sexual and other kinds of assault within the defence force. | Dart was set up in November 2012 after the DLA Piper review into allegations of sexual and other kinds of assault within the defence force. |
| The review was launched in response to the so-called “Skype scandal” which involved a cadet secretly filming himself having sex with a fellow cadet and broadcasting it via Skype to colleagues without the woman’s knowledge. | The review was launched in response to the so-called “Skype scandal” which involved a cadet secretly filming himself having sex with a fellow cadet and broadcasting it via Skype to colleagues without the woman’s knowledge. |