Hurley vows to stamp out defence abuse

13 Jul 2012, 12:45 pm   -   Source: AAP
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Defence force chief David Hurley says any abusive behaviour in the organisation is unacceptable. (AAP)

Defence force chief David Hurley says any abusive behaviour in the organisation is unacceptable. (AAP)

Defence force chief David Hurley says any abusive behaviour in the organisation is unacceptable.

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Defence force chief David Hurley says his organisation should not, and cannot, turn a blind eye to instances of inappropriate behaviour.

"Any abusive behaviour in the defence force is unacceptable," he wrote in Fairfax newspapers on Friday.

General Hurley was responding to the public release this week of a damning review of hundreds of allegations of sexual and other abuse in the Australian Defence Force during the past 60 years.

"I am deeply distressed by each and every allegation," he said.

Given the nature of the allegations it was critical they be addressed as soon as practicable.

The review, conducted by law firm DLA Piper, recommends a number of options including an apology and compensation to victims, and a royal commission.

General Hurley says he will fully support whatever process the government determines appropriate.

"We should not, and cannot, turn a blind eye to instances of inappropriate behaviour," he said.

"As individuals we must also be able to demonstrate that we have the moral courage to act and the ability to respond in an appropriate and timely manner when issues arise."

Any serving member of the defence force who is proved to have engaged in abusive behaviour would be dealt with, General Hurley said.

The ADF needed to focus more on the needs of sexual offence victims and report matters to the relevant authorities to investigate.

General Hurley said Australians rated the ADF as the most trusted organisation in the country, but warned no organisation could maintain such respect if it is perceived to have failed to maintain its standards and behaviours as "high as humanly possible".

"I have given a personal undertaking to do everything I can to stamp out any form of abuse in the Australian Defence Force," he said.

The government says a response to the review will be made as quickly as possible.

The review's report was handed to the government in October 2011.

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