Lieutenant General David Morrison, responding to allegations
Earlier today I addressed the media, and through them the Australian public, about ongoing
investigations into a group of officers and NCOs [non-commissioned officers] whose conduct –
if proven – has not only brought the Australian Army into disrepute, but has let down every
one of you, and all of those whose past service has won the respect of our nation.
There are limits to how much I can tell you because the investigations into this network, by
both the New South Wales police and the Australian Defence Force [ADF] Investigative Service,
are ongoing. But evidence collected to date has identified a group of men within our ranks who
have allegedly produced highly inappropriate material demeaning women, and distributed it
across the internet and Defence's e-mail networks.
If this is true, then the actions of these members are in direct contravention to every value the
Australian Army stands for. By now, I assume you know my attitude towards this type of
conduct. I have stated categorically, many times, that the Army has to be an inclusive
organisation in which every soldier – man and woman – is able to reach their full potential and
is encouraged to do so. Those who think that it is okay to behave in a way that demeans or
exploits their colleagues have no place in this Army.
Our service has been engaged in continuous operations since 1999, and in its longest war ever
in Afghanistan. On all operations, female soldiers and officers have proven themselves worthy
of the best traditions of the Australian Army. They are vital to us maintaining our capability –
now and into the future. If that does not suit you, then get out. You may find another employer
where your attitude and behaviour is acceptable, but I doubt it.
The same goes for those who think that toughness is built on humiliating others. Every one of
us is responsible for the culture and reputation of our Army, and the environment in which we
work. If you become aware of any individual degrading another, then show moral courage and
take a stand against it. No one has ever explained to me how the exploitation or degradation of
others enhances capability or honours the traditions of the Australian Army.
I will be ruthless in ridding the Army of people who cannot live up to its values, and I need
every one of you to support me in achieving this. The standard you walk past is the standard
you accept. That goes for all of us but especially those who, by their rank, have a leadership
role.
If we are a great national institution, if we care about the legacy left to us by those who have
served before us, if we care about the legacy we leave to those who, in turn, will protect and
secure Australia – then it is up to us to make a difference.
If you're not up to it, find something else to do with your life. There is no place for you amongst
this band of brothers and sisters.
Transcript taken from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QaqpoeVgr8U
The next day, Lieutenant General Morrison was questioned by the television news programme,
Today Australia about his response. He said, "I know that I am accountable to the government,
and indeed to the Australian people. That comes with being the Chief of Army."
Interview with Today Australia
Interviewer: The Defence Force has vowed to act after revelations of the sex scandal
involving as many as one hundred personnel, including senior officers’ e-mails were sent
around showing soldiers having sex with women – some of them members of the Defence
Force – accompanied by deeply offensive comments.
Army Chief, Lieutenant General David Morrison joins me now from Camber. Good morning
General.
LTG Morrison: Good morning Lisa.
Interviewer: A major, a sergeant, and a warrant officer have now stood down. These
allegations actually reach right up into the highest levels of the Defence Force. There is a
culture of misogyny in the army?
LTG Morrison: No, I don’t think there is. I think that there are, however, pockets within our
workforce that just don't understand that we need to be better than this, and who don't live to
the ethos of the Australian Army, which is all about respect for colleagues.
Interviewer: This is the message that you sent to members of the Defence Force yesterday
let's have a listen.
Interview switches to earlier recording from LTG Morrison:
“I'll be ruthless in ridding the army of all the people who cannot live up to its values –
and I want every one of you to support me in achieving this. The standard you walk past
is the standard you accept that goes for all of us.”
Interviewer: General when you say “ruthless”, will anyone found guilty of taking part in all
this be kicked out?
LTG Morrison: Yep
Interviewer: No exceptions?
LTG Morrison: Most definitely … well, if found guilty of serious offences that go to the heart of
demeaning women, their colleagues, fellow soldiers, or anyone in the general public, then yeah
they are gonna go.
Interviewer: You are you talking about as many as a hundred people. What do you decide is a
serious offence?
LTG Morrison: Well, I think to be as clear as I can be Lisa, there are three men who have
already been suspended and they are facing charges. I’m told by the South Wales Police there is
another group of five, closely allied I think on the evidence that I've seen to date, that at least
warrants consideration of their suspension. And that is under way now.
And then there is a group of another nine who we are working hard to establish their degree of
complicity. If they are complicit at all, and should they be shown to be, then they will be
suspended. Once that suspension happens we will undertake an investigation and, possibly,
prosecution under the Defence Force Discipline Act. And if they are found guilty of serious
offences, they will be discharged from the Army.
Interviewer: Will you be harsher on those who are higher up the pecking order, because these
are, after all, the people who are setting the standard for those underneath them?
LTG Morrison: Well I think we’ll be fair. But you know I made it pretty clear in the message
that I sent to the Army that I am gonna be relentless in pursuing this. I know that I am
accountable to the government, and indeed to the Australian people. That comes with being the
Chief of Army.
I know we've got systemic problems, or a systemic problem in this regard, with our culture …
and I am the person who is responsible for dealing with it.
Now, one of the ways that I will deal with it is [to] rigorously examine, establish if it is the guilt
of these men and, if that's the case they will be discharged.
And you’re right…you’ve gotta ask yourself more senior members who may be not did not
much more than receive an email and did nothing about it, and yet that email was demeaning
of women or explicit in terms of content and imagery. Why didn't they do something? And I can
assure you and the Australian public, these are questions that they will be required to answer.
Interviewer: How many women have been targeted in this material?
LTG Morrison: The number as women is being established. This is to a degree, Lisa, very much
an ongoing investigation. There are hundreds of emails that are being looked at by the ADF’s
Investigative Service and I don't have I definitive number above women who are victims of this
group’s alleged actions.
I have spoken to four women who were happy to take my call, or comfortable to take my call – I
shouldn’t use the term ‘happy’ at all – comfortable to take my call, and I’ll speak to another one
today.
Interviewer: From that answer I'm presuming that not all the women who were involved in
this actually know that they are part of all this?
LTG Morrison: Certainly as both the New South Wales Police and the ADF Investigative
Service have become aware of victims, they have contacted them. And through Defence we
have offered support to them as best we can in this terrible moment in their lives.
Interviewer: What some support is that going to be?
LTG Morrison: There has been the provision of counselling services. There is certainly
support being provided to them in terms of career choices if they are in the Army, what they
may wish to do now. There is peers that are being made available to talk to them. This is all
dependent of course on what those women actually want.
Interviewer: What do you think they will want?
LTG Morrison: Sorry, in terms to support that's what I was referring to. What do I think they
want? I think they want what I want and what every right-minded person in Australia wants –
they want to see justice done and they want to see this sort of thing weeded out of the Defence
Force.
Interviewer: Do you think you're going to have a tough time attracting women to the Defence
Force after this, General?
LTG Morrison: I don't think it's made any easier.
We are trying to increase the number women in the army Lisa, I am absolutely committed to
raising the overall number women in the Army and indeed making certain that women are
given career paths that take them to whatever level their potential accords it to. And we have
seen over the course of the last eight months quite a significant increase in women joining our
army, and indeed going to recruiting centres and asking about careers in the army.
But the events of the last 24 hours – they’re a blight on the Army’s reputation. They show in the
starkest and harshest light the problems with our culture, and I can't blame any woman for
looking at that and thinking “Well, why would I be a part of that?”
Could I just say though, we have over 3,000 women in the Australian Army who do a stella job:
here in Australia, overseas, single women, women with children, women who have gone
through long careers to now reach – as is the case with my chief of staff at the moment – the
promotion to major general. That’ll occur next week.
There is a wonderful career in the army, but, you know, in the face of what are we dealing with
now, it it's very hard to get that message across. And I understand that.
Interviewer: Okay. Lieutenant General David Morrison, we thank you very much for your time
this morning.
Transcript taken from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RwUupCvjiM