In a shocking development, dozens of women have filed a class-action lawsuit against the Australian Defence Force (ADF), accusing the military of enabling decades of sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination within its ranks.
The lawsuit, filed in a federal court this week, details disturbing allegations of systemic misconduct, claiming that military officials failed to protect female personnel and often covered up reports of assault and harassment.
According to the plaintiffs, the abuse — which spans several decades — occurred across multiple branches of the armed forces, leaving lasting emotional, physical, and psychological scars.
“We were silenced, threatened, and made to believe our pain didn’t matter,” one of the claimants said in a statement through her lawyer. “Now, we’re demanding accountability.”
Legal experts say the case could become one of the largest institutional abuse lawsuits in Australia’s history, potentially prompting sweeping reforms within the Defence establishment.
The Australian Defence Department has acknowledged receipt of the legal notice but declined to comment further, citing ongoing legal proceedings.