Defence force cover ups revealed

Staff reporters, Yahoo!7 Updated January 11, 2012, 6:05 pm

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Previously classified documents obtained by Seven News reveal ongoing, often major, breaches of discipline in Australia's armed forces.

More than a hundred incidents have been reported in the last year, from weapons mishaps to sexual assault, especially in the Navy .

The inquiry into the booze and sex culture aboard HMAS Success was supposed to clean up the Navy's act and reputation.

But just four days after its report was tabled, a female sailor was allegedly indecently assaulted during a port visit to Singapore.

The incident is detailed in Navy documents obtained by Seven News under Freedom of Information.

The sailor claims her male shipmate tried to force his way into her room then kissed and fondled her.

Then, seven months later, an officer on board the Success was reported to police for filming sex with junior sailors.

He'd previously been kicked off the ship - twice - for sex with junior ranks.

Seven News can reveal Success hasn't been the Navy's only failure.

The Newcastle, Diamantina, and Darwin have all had reported sexual assaults in the past year.

A female sailor aboard HMAS Toowoomba complained of indecent assault, bullying, and harassment, including a so-called 'Beer Bounty' being placed on her: free beer for the first sailor to sleep with her.

The incidents vary from the ridiculous - a civilian breaking into Garden Island to swing off a crane naked, to the sinister - a handful of child porn charges, drug dealing, and rape allegations.

The Army is also a hotbed of trouble. In September, at Duntroon a civilian told police she was sexually assaulted on the grounds of the officer training school.

Twelve days later, at Holsworthy two girls, 15 and 17 were taken into care by police after they were found living with a soldier in barracks - for two weeks.

Days later, a soldier was accused of sexually assaulting a female member of his unit.

None of the offences or allegations was made public.

According to Defence Academic, Kevin Foster, the "military tells as much truth as it's prepared to tell. It's certainly not nearly as open or accountable as it could be or it should be."

There were 19 reports of sex-related offences in the past year.

Click through to access full versions of classified Army, Airforce and Navy documents.



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