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Australian Defence Force suspends seven people over alleged misconduct Seven suspended from military academy over alleged misconduct
(about 5 hours later)
An investigation has been launched into alleged serious misconduct involving 20 cadets and midshipmen from the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in Canberra. The Australian Defence Force is embroiled in yet another scandal, after its vice-chief, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, announced the suspension of seven cadets and midshipmen from its academy on Friday while it investigates an alleged incident of “serious misconduct” at the weekend.
Vice-chief of the defence force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin, said on Friday seven people had been suspended pending the investigation. A statement released by the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) in Canberra said staff became aware on Monday of an alleged incident off-campus “exhibiting conduct contrary to the values and standards expected of ADF members”.
He said ADFA staff had become aware on Monday of the off-campus incident that occurred at the weekend. The reported conduct involves at least 20 ADFA members, from all three defence services and all training year groups.
"They immediately referred the matter to the ADF investigative service and an investigation is under way," he said. "This particular incident we're investigating has been going for less than 12 months in ADFA,” said Binskin. “It is a small group, the conduct of which is quite questionable serious misconduct across the three years and across the three services."
"It appears the incident is linked to a group of male cadets and midshipmen that is operating contrary to the values and standards expected of ADF members and our future leaders." Binskin said he expected more men would be suspended in coming days. He said they could not rule out the use of alcohol, but as far as he was aware there were no victims involved in the conduct.
The cadets and midshipmen span all services and all three years of training. "It's more what this group was doing so it's a group that were acting inappropriately and with conduct that's not becoming of future leaders of the Australian Defence Force,” he said.
Binskin said they were all male cadets acting inappropriately. An investigation is under way, and it is understood the tip-off came from other ADF cadets.
He said he believed the culture within ADFA was improving, despite the actions of a minority who "just don't get it". "It's come to light out of this incident through the moral courage of a number of ADFA cadets that have come forward to talk about it, so I actually think that's demonstrating a good culture that's developed in ADFA at the moment," he said.
"It has come to light through the moral courage of a number of ADFA cadets who have come forward to talk about it," he said. Binskin said he and other leaders of the defence forces would not apologise for the tough stance they were taking against misbehaviour and misconduct among ADF personnel.
"So I actually think that is demonstrating a good culture which is developing in ADFA." The sex discrimination commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, has been asked to examine the culture within the ADFA and provide further advice on improving it.
Binskin said the ADF would not tolerate bad behaviour by its future leaders. In a statement, Broderick urged ADFA to implement “at pace” the remaining recommendations from her Report on the Review into the Treatment of Women at the Australian Defence Academy.
"Enough is enough,” he said. “There are some people that obviously ... still don't understand and that is what we are trying to get to here." ADFA has currently committed to implementing 24 of the 31 recommendations made.
“While cultural progress has been made,” she said, “there is clearly much more to do.”
Last week, the chief of army, Lt Gen David Morrison, announced the suspension of three ADF personnel, including one major, following an ADF and New South Wales police investigation into the creation and distribution of explicit and degrading emails.
Some of the emails included images of ADF men having sex with women who did not know images were being made. They were allegedly distributed among a network of up to 90 male defence force personnel who called themselves the “Jedi Council”.
Morrison made a video address to all personnel telling them he would be “ruthless” in ridding the army of people who did not represent its values, and called for members to take a stand if they witnessed misconduct.
“The standard you walk past is the standard you accept,” he said.
It was not clear if the cadets who came forward with information about the latest incident were prompted by Morrison’s address.
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