Overview
- The draft terms set a mandate to compare the military justice system with civilian processes on sexual and related offences, including investigative powers and barriers to investigation.
- The Defence and Veteran Services Commission will run the inquiry and appoint an assistant commissioner, while the Human Rights Commission will consult on the terms and lead research on military sexual trauma due by the end of next year.
- From next week, any military conviction for a sexual offence must be reported to civilian police, closing a gap identified in recent reviews.
- The scope includes deterrents to reporting, recidivism, decisions not to prosecute, conviction and sentencing outcomes, civilian police access to bases, and the effectiveness of anonymous reporting with reference to approaches in the US, UK, Canada and New Zealand.
- A Federal Court class action alleging systemic abuse held its first hearing in Sydney today, as the government notes nine of 122 royal commission recommendations completed with work underway on about 110 more.