Landmark Lawsuit: Australian Servicewomen Challenge Military Over Alleged Sexual Abuse

Sat Oct 25 2025 15:02:35 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A groundbreaking class action lawsuit filed by four Australian servicewomen alleges widespread sexual abuse and discrimination within the military, with thousands expected to join the case.

In a significant legal move, four Australian servicewomen have filed a class action lawsuit against the Australian Defence Force (ADF), accusing it of sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination. The lawsuit highlights severe allegations, including groping and unwanted sexual advances, prompting the defense force to address these issues seriously through developing a prevention strategy. The action aims to amplify the voices of female military personnel and seeks to foster a safer working environment in the ADF.

Four servicewomen have launched a landmark class action lawsuit against the Australian military alleging sexual abuse, harassment and discrimination.

Lawyers said they expected thousands of women to join the case against the Australian Defence Force (ADF), which was filed in the Federal Court on Friday.

Claims by the four women leading the lawsuit - whose names are withheld for legal reasons - include being forcibly pinned to a wall before being groped and waking up naked and bruised after a party with male officers.

An ADF spokesperson said it was developing a sexual misconduct prevention strategy and there was no place for sexual violence in the army.

All women who served between 12 November 2003 and 25 May 2025 are eligible to join the suit, lodged by law firm JGA Saddler.

One of the lead applicants was a member of the air force who was one of two women in a building of about 200 people. She alleged she was subject to hostile and sexist comments, inappropriate conversations, and was shown unsolicited pornographic photos.

Another applicant, who joined the navy, reported being subjected to lewd comments throughout her training and unwanted touching, including an instance abroad where a colleague grabbed and kissed her despite her objections.

A major report into suicide among Australian veterans last year revealed about 800 reports of sexual assault within the ADF between 2019 and 2024, with a noted 60% under-reporting rate.

Lawyer Josh Aylward highlighted that the primary threat facing female ADF personnel was not external conflict but rather internal threats of sexual violence in their workplace. They have signed up to defend their country, not to fight off fellow ADF personnel on a daily basis, he stated.

The ADF has acknowledged that there is work to be done to improve conditions and respects for all defense personnel.