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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Seven suspended from military academy over alleged misconduct | Seven suspended from military academy over alleged misconduct |
| (3 months later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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”. | 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”. |
| The reported conduct involves at least 20 ADFA members, from all three defence services and all training year groups. | The reported conduct involves at least 20 ADFA members, from all three defence services and all training year groups. |
| "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." | "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." |
| 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. | 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. |
| "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. | "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. |
| An investigation is under way, and it is understood the tip-off came from other ADF cadets. | An investigation is under way, and it is understood the tip-off came from other ADF cadets. |
| "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'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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The sex discrimination commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, has been asked to examine the culture within the ADFA and provide further advice on improving it. | The sex discrimination commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, has been asked to examine the culture within the ADFA and provide further advice on improving it. |
| 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. | 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. |
| ADFA has currently committed to implementing 24 of the 31 recommendations made. | 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.” | “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. | 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”. | 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. | 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. | “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. | 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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