Under Fire : Overview : SBS Insight

Overview

What's really going on inside our Defence Force?

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Defence is receiving a public backlash for its handling of an incident in which a female cadet’s sexual encounter with a fellow cadet was filmed and broadcast via skype without her consent.

The scandal has sparked a raft of inquiries looking into the treatment of women in the Defence Force. A program to allow women into all combat roles has also been fast-tracked. Other reviews will look into alcohol use, binge drinking culture, the use of social media, the management of complaints and the treatment of victims.

We explore the Defence culture and the future of women in the military.

Meet the Guests

Retired Major General Elizabeth Cosson

Elizabeth was the first woman in Australia to reach the rank of Major General. She served with the Defence Force for 32 years and says she saw a lot of change in that time. Elizabeth left Defence in November last year to take a senior position in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Peter Reith

Peter was Australia’s Defence Minister in the Howard government. He is supportive of the way the current Defence Minister, Labor’s Stephen Smith, is dealing with the Defence Force. Peter has said there’s a culture within the Defence Force which concerns him.

Dr Kathryn Spurling

Kathryn served with the Australian Navy and taught at the Australian Defence Force Academy. She says during her time at ADFA many young women came to her with stories of mistreatment. Kathryn believes the culture won’t change until women can access all positions in the Defence Force.

Retired Major Peter Tinley

Peter spent more than two decades in the Army and served for 17 years with the Special Air Service Regiment. He’s now a Labor MP in the West Australian parliament.

Retired Major Matina Jewell

During her military career, Matina earned eight war medals, tracked militia leaders, fast-roped out of Navy helicopters and served on operations with the American Navy SEALS and Australian Special Forces. She graduated from the Australian Defence Force Academy in 1994. She doesn’t believe there’s a problem with the culture. She left Defence after sustaining an injury while serving in the Middle East.