Urgent culture change in Defence Forces Required
Senator Mark Wall, Labour’s Defence Spokesperson was reacting to the Terms of reference for judge-led tribunal into military abuse was approved by Cabinet.
Senator Wall said:
“This crucial step comes after years of advocacy and is driven by the imperative to improve conditions within the Force and instigate a profound cultural shift. This tribunal represents a long-overdue reckoning with the systemic issues in our Defence Forces.
“We cannot afford any further delay in addressing the deep-rooted challenges within the Defence Forces. The issues of recruitment and retention must be tackled head-on, as they are intertwined with the broader culture that needs reform. This tribunal should not be seen as a political manoeuvre but rather as a genuine effort to rectify the ingrained issues that have persisted under their watch.
“There must be accountability now within the Defence Forces to ensure that the culture of misogyny, harassment and bullying is wiped out once and for all.”