Coalition and crossbench back Jacqui Lambie’s calls for Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force probe

Defence Minister Richard Marles is under renewed pressure to publicly release an under-wraps review into the military justice system, with Tasmanian senator Jacqui Lambie “begging” the government to do right by veterans and Australia’s Defence community. The crossbench and Coalition sided with the firebrand senator on Tuesday after she passed a motion calling on Mr Marles to “commit to a firm timeframe” in releasing the probe into the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF), the first investigation of its kind in the office’s 20 years of operation. In an impassioned and furious speech to the Senate on Tuesday, Senator Lambie, a veteran herself, said the veterans wanted action and accountability. “(All) Minister Marles seems committed to doing is kicking our veterans to the kerb, (he) continues his toxic cover-up of culture,” she said. “I am begging you please release that report … No more hiding because it is killing veterans.” She said the IGADF had “failed to do the job,” and called on the government to “show some courage” and be “brave”. “If you want to change culture, you have to start there, and you have to show by example by not putting up with the brutality that is happening to veterans,” she said. The IGADF is appointed by the government and oversees the quality and fairness of Australia’s military justice system. The report was handed to the government nearly six months ago, and while it said it would be released, it’s sought more time to consult with “stakeholders” and respond to the sensitive report. The opposition’s senate leader Simon Birmingham acknowledged Senator Lambie’s “passionate advocacy” for veterans and backed her calls for “transparency”. While he gave the government the “benefit of the doubt” for its delayed response, he called on Mr Marles to commit to a deadline. “We respect the work of government to ensure the report is properly released, but they can’t just keep saying ‘trust us, we’ll get to it at some point’,” Senator Birmingham said. “Enough saying sometime, it’s time to say precisely when it’s time to actually give that certainty and that confidence to our veterans and Defence community.” Independent ATC senator David Pocock echoed Senator Lambie’s comments, questioning: “What is the government hiding?” “Veterans deserve transparency, our Defence community deserves transparency,” he said. “It’s time for the government to deliver on the promise for greater accountability and transparency and do what’s right for communities that sacrifice so much for our country.” The IGADF’s conduct was repeatedly raised in the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, which painted a horrific picture of institutional failures and widespread bullying and abuse within the ADF. In the final report handed down last week, 18 of the commission’s 122 recommendations targeted the Defence justice system. The report also called for the overhaul of the Defence Force’s culture and treatment of sexual assault and the creation of a new body to aid veterans transition into civilian life. Mr Marles’ office has been contacted for comment.