Response to ABC's 7.30 Facebook story, 29 February 2012

Defence has responded on 29 February 2012 to a media enquiry lodged by ABC’s 7.30 program in relation to the Facebook group ‘RAR Buddies’.

Response to ABC 7.30:

Good afternoon,
 
Please find a response to your Defence media enquiry. Please attribute these comments to the Chief of Army LTGEN David Morrison.
 
Request to interview Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison. 

The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General David Morrison, is unavailable for an interview; however; he has asked that the following comments be considered for inclusion in this 7:30 Report.  General Morrison wishes to thank the ABC for highlighting these serious issues in a bid for them to be dealt with.

Is Defence aware of this FB group?
Does Defence condone the content on this group’s site?
What is or will be done to deal with the abusive content on the site? 

Army recently became aware of the Facebook group RAR Buddies and some of the offensive comments that have been posted to the site. The targeting of any person on the basis of their gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation is repugnant and contrary to both Defence and Army’s values as well as those of the wider community.  

My staff in Army Headquarters are already taking steps to determine if any serving members are linked to the offensive comments.  Where they have been, I intend to take action to deal with them to the extent that our policies and laws allow.

Was this site considered as part of the recent social media review?

The Review of Social Media and Defence was not intended to look at the content of specific social media sites, but to consider more broadly what Defence’s obligations are in using social media to achieve Defence outcomes and make recommendations to mitigate the associated risks. 

Does Defence have a social media policy it uses to train its members?

Defence maintains specific policies regarding public comment by its members. Following the Social Media Review, Defence will adapt its policies and procedures to acknowledge the complexity and increasing use of social media by our current and prospective employees and ensure that we respond effectively to mitigate risks and to harness opportunities.

We understand a member of the group has repeatedly complained to the Defence Minister, and alerted the Secretary of Defence, and the CDF to the site’s content. Why has there been no response?

Defence is not aware of repeated complaints to the Defence Minister, the Secretary of Defence or the CDF on this matter.  The Defence Minister’s office received a phone call in late January/early February to alert them to this website. The Defence Minister’s office contacted the Chief of Army’s office at that time to report the matter. The Chief of Army’s office was aware of the website at that time.

We note the clarification you provided via phone today (10:18am Wednesday 29 February 2012), that an individual has written to the Secretary of Defence and the Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) in August 2011. 

Defence can advise that in August 2011, both the then Secretary and the CDF received letters which provided extracts from social media sites.

In August 2011, the Vice Chief of the Defence Force, in his role as the chair of the steering committee overseeing the Defence culture reviews, replied to the letter on the then Secretary's behalf. Additionally, in September 2011, the CDF replied to the letter that he had received.

Defence can advise that the issues and views raised in the letters were taken into account in developing Defence's response to the suite of cultural reviews. 

Defence also understands the same matters have been raised with DLA Piper and are also being considered as part of the DLA Piper review of allegations of sexual and other abuse in Defence.

Last year there were two notable cases of racist and homophobic attacks on Facebook by Defence members – one against Major Paul Morgan. Has anyone been disciplined and how?

Vilification of any kind is unacceptable and Army considers the targeting of any person on the basis of their sexual orientation to be repugnant and contrary to both Army’s values and those of the wider community.

In regard to the case in question, a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Department of Defence identified that from the full list of ‘friends’ of the Facebook page mentioned, less than half were identified as being members of the Australian Defence Force (ADF). The suspected owner and author of the Facebook page was not a member of the ADF and subsequently faced related charges in a New South Wales court.

A small number of ADF members posted comments to the Facebook page, however, this information was not deemed to be of a vilifying nature.

The Army can only act within the bounds of the law.  In this case administrative action was taken in the form of a written warning to the ADF members who became friends of the Facebook page. This warning has been retained on file for future reference. Any future involvement in vilification or other unacceptable behaviour by these members would likely result in disciplinary and/or administrative action being taken against them. 

Does Defence have a social media policy it uses to train its members?

Current Defence policy on social media is encompassed within the same instructions that govern public comment and the dissemination of official information by Defence personnel.

Defence personnel are expected to exercise high standards of professional judgment in their use of social media.  They are to ensure that the information they post does not breach operational security or adversely affect the safety and wellbeing of Defence personnel.

Every member of the ADF has an obligation when it comes to treating others with respect.  In this, the Army is at the forefront.  I recognise that the Australian people hold their Army to a high standard and it is my duty to ensure that we strive every day to achieve that standard.