ADF whistleblower breaks fifteen year silence on sexual abuse cover-up amid calls for stronger whistleblower protections
Former RAAF airwoman Julia Delaforce has broken her fifteen year silence on alleged wrongdoing and sexual abuse which was covered up by the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Last night on 60 Minutes and 9Fairfax, Julia shared that in 2010 she was sexually harassed at knifepoint in a NSW military base by a drunken, machete-wielding senior male corporal. She was then instructed by her superiors to drive her assailant home.
Julia complained internally and then to the Australian Human Rights Commission, which led to the Inquiry into the Treatment of Women in the ADF. However due to an out-of-court settlement in 2013, Julia was not able to speak about her experiences, give evidence at various inquiries or Royal Commissions about sexual harassment within the defence force. Subsequently, Julia lost her career and has suffered complex PTSD since.
Julia is represented by the Human Rights Law Centre’s Whistleblower Project, which supported her to be able to speak out in the media about her experiences.
Her case shows the devastating consequences of sexual harassment and the need for a Whistleblower Protection Authority to support and empower people to speak up on wrongdoing and corruption in Australia.
Quotes attributed to Julia Delaforce, former RAAF airwoman and whistleblower:
“For fifteen years I was silent. I asked for help so many times: from inside the ADF, to multiple Defence Ministers and even to the Prime Minister over many years. Yet instead of the corporal who sexually harassed me being punished, I was the one punished. I couldn’t speak about the abuse and coverup in the ADF which led me to losing my career and suffering complex PTSD. The Human Rights Law Centre helped me get my voice back.”
Quotes attributed to Regina Featherstone, Senior Lawyer, Human Rights Law Centre’s Whistleblower Project:
“Women who speak up about sexual abuse, harassment and wrongdoing should be supported and the wrongdoing should be addressed. Instead, they lose their careers and are often silenced. This important public interest journalism shows the systemic abuse and mistreatment of women in the ADF. The Albanese Government must fix Australia’s broken whistleblowing laws and implement a federal Whistleblower Protection Authority to ensure that women can speak out against wrongdoing.”
Media contact:
Thomas Feng
0431 285 275
thomas.feng@hrlc.org.au
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