Release of Terms of Reference for the reviews into aspects of Defence and Australian Defence Force culture

The Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith MP, announced on 11 April 2011 a number of reviews into aspects of Defence and Australian Defence Force (ADF) culture.

The Minister announced that subject to the usual consideration of personal, privacy and legal issues, it was proposed to make the reviews public.  As part of this process, the terms of reference for the reviews have now been released.

The terms of reference for the review of the use of alcohol in the ADF, the review of the use of social media in Defence, the review of the personal conduct of ADF personnel, the review of the management of incidents and complaints in Defence, and the review of leadership pathways for Defence Australian Public Service women can be found on the Defence website: http://www.defence.gov.au/culturereviews/index.htm.

The terms of reference for the review by the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Elizabeth Broderick, into the treatment of women in the ADF can be found on the Australian Human Rights Commission website: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/sex_discrimination/defence_review/.

In parallel with these reviews, the Minister announced a review into allegations of sexual or other forms of abuse by the external law firm DLA Piper.  The period for making allegations to the DLA Piper review closed on 17 June 2011. However, DLA Piper has announced that it will seek to address in its report to the Minister allegations received after 17 June 2011 and before the report is submitted by the end of August 2011. The review team may not be able to address all late allegations in its report, but will include in its report recommendations about what steps should be taken in relation to those late allegations. The Minister for Defence has already said publicly that such allegations will be handled sensibly. The terms of reference for this review can be found on the DLA Piper website: http://www.dlapiper.com/australia/review/

Ms Broderick is expected to report on the treatment of women at ADFA by the end of this year, and on the treatment of women in the wider ADF early in 2012.  The remaining reviews are scheduled to report in July and August this year.