ADF whistleblower breaks 15-year silence on sexual abuse cover-up
Women who speak up about sexual abuse and harassment should be supported, not silenced. Unfortunately, Australian laws are failing people who blow the whistle.
On 60 Minutes and 9Fairfax, multiple women spoke about abuse in the Australian Defence Force (ADF), including our client Julia Delaforce who 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, leading to the Inquiry into the Treatment of Women in the ADF. But the settlement out-of-court silenced Julia from speaking out about her experiences. Subsequently, Julia lost her career and has suffered complex PTSD since.
The Human Rights Law Centre’s Whistleblower Project is Australia’s first dedicated legal service to help people come forward and speak out when they witness or experience wrongdoing and harm. We also advocate for stronger laws and a National Whistleblower Protection Authority to stop people like our client Julia from suffering from retaliation and reprisals for speaking up.
“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.”
When people like Julia have the courage to come forward, they shouldn’t fear losing their job and their right to speak out on harm they experienced or witnessed. Instead of helping Julia, the ADF focused its efforts on managing its reputation, pushed Julia out of her career, and turned a blind eye to abuse, enabling more women to suffer sexual harassment and assault at work.
With your support, we will continue defending our clients and pushing for just laws and a National Whistleblower Protection Authority to support and protect whistleblowers to tell the truth about wrongdoing.
What issue unites Coalition, Labor, Green, teal and One Nation voters? Whistleblower protections
The Albanese Government’s persecution of whistleblowers Richard Boyle and David McBride is unjust, and the public doesn’t support it. It’s time for much-needed reform.
Read more
We’re fighting Tasmania’s parole board gag on free speech
We have filed legal proceedings on behalf of Tasmanian grandmother, Susan Neill-Fraser. Her case challenges a restrictive parole condition placed on her by the Parole Board of Tasmania which limits her ability to speak to the media.
Read more
Universities must stop restricting protests and surveilling staff and students
The Human Rights Law Centre is urging the University of Melbourne to abandon new policy changes that severely restrict protest rights and allow widespread surveillance of students and staff through the universities’ wifi network.
Read moreACNC: 31 117 719 267 | Connect with the Human Rights Law Centre
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Cammeraygal, Darug, Wadawurrung, Turrbal and Jagera people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.