Response to Patrick Lion of News Ltd on 20 June 2013

On Friday 21 June 2013, News Ltd publications including the Courier Mail (p3), Adelaide Advertiser (p26), Townsville Bulletin (p3) and Gold Coast Bulletin (p23) published an article ADF email slip draws fire which contains inaccuracies. Defence wishes to correct the record.

News Ltd reporting states Defence declined to provide information about the ADFIS office subject to investigation. This is incorrect.

Defence provided the following response to Patrick Lion at 16:45 on 20 June 2013:

Question 1: Who were the two staff the IG referred to – in other words, who was found to have done the wrong thing or which email was considered wrong?

Question 2: Is this Brisbane office involved in the current ongoing email porn probe or leading it?  No.

Question 3: Is [name redacted for privacy reasons], as I have been told, the officer in charge of the email porn probe as he has been telling people (or has he been involved in anyway)?

Question 4: Is it appropriate for ADFIS to be found doing this sort of stuff given the investigation it is currently undertaking and its recent media efforts relating to reducing suicides?

Question 5: Should this matter be investigated externally given ADFIS don’t seem to know what an appropriate email is?

Question 6: The Chief of Army has won praise for his tough "get out" approach. Why are these people still in their jobs – what happened with the findings forwarded to ADFIS?

Question 7: Anything else you wish to add?

Response to all questions

ADFIS has been made aware of the outcomes of this inquiry which was conducted by the Inspector General – ADF.

The Provost Marshal ADF (who commands ADFIS) is currently considering what action may be appropriate. While this matter is under consideration, it is not appropriate to make further comment.

No ADFIS member involved in the conduct of investigations related to Chief of Army’s statement last week is under review in relation to this IG-ADF inquiry.