Australian women soldiers sue over ‘systemic’ sexual violence in ADF
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Hundreds of Australian women have sued the government, alleging decades of sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination in the military.
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Cadets carrying Australian flags march past thousands of people lining the street to pay tribute to their war dead during the Anzac Day parade in Sydney, Australia, Friday, April 25, 2025. (AP)
Hundreds of current and former female members of Australia’s Defence Force (ADF) have launched a landmark class action lawsuit against the federal government, alleging two decades of widespread sexual violence, harassment, and discrimination within the ranks.
Filed in the Federal Court in Sydney on Friday, the lawsuit accuses the ADF and the government of failing to protect women from sexual abuse between November 2003 and May 2025. The case, brought by legal firm JGA Saddler, is being pursued on an opt-out basis, meaning all women who served during that 21-year period are automatically included unless they declare otherwise.
“The threat of war often isn’t the biggest safety fear for female ADF personnel, it is the threat of sexual violence in their workplace,” said lawyer Josh Aylward of JGA Saddler. He added that Australians “will be shocked by the reports of sexual violence and harassment, victimization, rape and physical threats, but even more disturbing are the brutal assaults against those women who dare make a complaint."
Thousands expected to join class action
JGA Saddler said thousands of women are expected to participate in the case, which claims that the ADF is “vicariously liable” for its failure to prevent sexual misconduct and protect victims. The suit follows years of official investigations and cultural reform initiatives that, according to the firm, have produced “no meaningful change.”
One of the four lead plaintiffs alleged that after a party on a military base, she awoke naked and injured, with bruises and scratches, and later learned she had left with four servicemen. Her statement says she was forced to undergo a sexual assault examination in a storage room, had her movements restricted, and was later transferred to another base while her alleged attacker remained free.
The woman also said she received abusive messages from fellow servicemen and was ostracized following her complaint.
Government ‘aware’ of complaint amid pressure for reform
The Australian Department of Defence acknowledged the lawsuit, saying it was “aware of the complaint” and reiterated that “all Defence personnel have a right to be respected and deserve to have a positive workplace experience.”
“There is no place for sexual violence or misconduct in Defence,” a department spokesperson said, admitting that “there is work to be done.”
The government said it was implementing, “as a priority,” recommendations made in 2024 following an inquiry into defense and veteran suicides, including the rollout of a “comprehensive sexual misconduct prevention strategy.”
“This legal case is a demand for action, for accountability, and for real change,” Aylward said. “For too long, the voices of women in Defence have been silenced or dismissed. This class action is about making sure that never happens again.”
