Overview

• Internal reports obtained by The Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes reveal persistent sexual assaults and systemic neglect of servicewomen within the ADF.
• The September 2024 Royal Commission found nearly 800 reported assaults, an estimated 60 percent under-reporting rate, and confirmed that convicted offenders remain on active duty.
• Lieutenant General Natasha Fox publicly apologised to survivors but acknowledged that reform efforts lack direction without appointed inquiry leadership or defined terms of reference.
• Senator Linda Reynolds has demanded independent oversight, warning that unchecked abuse is undermining recruitment goals and jeopardising force readiness.
• Despite accepting 121 Royal Commission recommendations in December and pledging a Defence and Veterans Services Commission by September 2025, no substantive policy actions have been taken on sexual violence reforms.