Protesters who claim they were threatened with rape and drowning on a Victorian military base have launched a legal bid to get the names of Defence Force officers.
Sam Quinlan, Greg Rolles and David Sprigg swam to the Swan Island military base from Queenscliff in October 2014 to protest Australia's involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They say they were thrown to the ground and dragged, had bags put over their heads and were stripped naked before being threatened with rape and drowning.
Maurice Blackburn lawyer Jacob Varghese said the Australian Defence Force had refused to release the names of the officers involved so they could be sued.
"These men are peaceful protesters who were prepared to accept the lawful consequences of their actions, but they did not deserve this violent assault on their dignity," Mr Varghese said on Tuesday.
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"The protesters experienced brutal, degrading and humiliating treatment at the hands of Defence Force personnel."
The Australian Defence Force says a request to disclose the names of members involved in the incident was recently denied and no notice of legal action has been received.
"Soldiers involved in the incident were counselled on the manner and measure of their response to the incident," a Defence spokesperson told AAP in a statement on Tuesday.
"And while the Department of Defence respects the democratic right of all Australians to express their views in a peaceful and law-abiding way, ADF members have the power under relevant legislation to arrest individuals who enter Defence premises without authorisation."
In October last year, Army chief Lieutenant General David Morrison said the allegations would be taken seriously and investigated.
The protest at Swan Island was a regular event staged by the Swan Island peace group, objecting to the US alliance and Australian involvement in foreign wars.
