Statement: Defence support of sexually-explicit activity in front of children
This morning I addressed the media at the Shrine of Remembrance at ANZAC Square, Brisbane. This is the statement that I made.
Last year, the Chief of Army, General David Morrison, famously said that the standard you walk past is the standard you set.
He also said that he would be ruthless in removing members who failed to live up to the Army’s new value of respect.
They are fine words, but they are worthless if they remain words only.
Unfortunately, I am here today because they are nothing more than empty words.
I have presented graphic evidence that the Australian Defence Force
has given support to adults who exposed themselves and engaged in
sexually-explicit acts in front of children. Unfortunately, this
evidence has been ignored. Instead, the Chief of the Defence Force,
General David Hurley, has decided to terminate my commission because I
objected to this scandal.
This shameful incident occurred at last year’s Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras.
Adults exposed their breasts and partially exposed or highlighted
their genitalia in a deliberate and highly sexualised fashion. They
promoted things such as spanking, flogging and bondage, as well as
mutual masturbation. They described themselves as sexual perverts and
these adults engaged in pornographic, sexually-explicit embraces.
It was bad enough that this occurred in public. It was even worse
that this occurred with children present and even encouraged to
participate in the parade promoting this behaviour.
The Australian Defence Force marched in support of this activity. It will do so again on Saturday.
If the Chief of Army’s words do mean anything, they mean this: the
Australian Defence Force has marched past, and with, children who were
exposed to indecent and lewd, sexually-explicit behaviour. As a result,
it has set the standard that it is acceptable for adults to expose
themselves in front of children.
On Friday, I was told by my military commander that I simply had a
negative view of this behaviour. And even though he also accepted that
this behaviour was inappropriate, he then told me that the Chief of the
Defence Force, General David Hurley, had a more positive view and was
determined to accept people who conduct themselves in such a fashion
into the Australian Defence Force. My graphic complaint detailing
numerous breaches of ADF law and policy was not even investigated.
This is a terrible indictment on Australia’s military. I find it
sickening that an officer would tell me that General Hurley had a
positive view of those who expose themselves in front of children. I
find it extremely troubling that, as a result, lower-ranked officers in
the Army, who know that this behaviour is unacceptable, are now forced
to defend people who expose themselves in front of children as well.
There is currently a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse. I am a
Catholic and I support efforts to remove those from trusted positions
within the Catholic Church who have engaged in or covered up sexual
abuse of children.
Let me be very clear: any adult who exposes himself in front of
children is engaged in a form of sexual abuse. This activity should not
be supported or covered up. It does not matter whether it occurs at the
Mardi Gras or anywhere else. Unfortunately the Australian Defence Force
is doing both because General Hurley supports this behaviour.
General Hurley has even gone so far to defend his support of this
behaviour, that he has written to me that the public expression of my
Catholic faith undermines confidence in the values of the Australian
Army.
I am proud to say that I have not stood silent while the Army has
supported this form of sexual abuse of children. Unfortunately, it means
I will probably lose my commission.
General Hurley should be ashamed of himself for supporting this scandal. If he had any decency, General Hurley would resign.
I have chosen to speak today at the Shrine of Remembrance in Anzac
Square because I am proud of the Australian Army and what it has
achieved. This Shrine remembers those who have given their life for
freedom and civilisation in Australia.
Unfortunately, their legacy is being trashed by the highest ranking officer in the Australian military.
I would also like to thank the many thousands of people who have
supported me – especially those within the military. I’m happy to say
that there are still many fine officers and soldiers in uniform.
I am happy to let them know today that I will be pursuing all
remaining internal appeals through the military and will be taking legal
action as well, starting by lodging a complaint with the Australian
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission this week.
I will now take any questions on this topic.
*****
You can find my original complaint regarding ADF involvement in the Mardi Gras here.
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