3 Lambie Senate investigations into Defence and Vet. affairs still open for submissions

Parliamentary Link to:

3 Matters raised by NSW Police Strike Force CIVET (Jedi Council Sex Scandal) http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/NSW_police_civet/Terms_of_Reference

Has been changed since the original media release was sent out 6.12.16 because the website was being re-built after it crashed.

Independent JLN Senator for Tasmania Jacqui Lambie has called for Australian Defence Force Personnel, Veterans and their Families to continue to make submissions to 3 special Senate Committees.

“To some Australians, because of a lack of mainstream media attention, it may come as a surprise that the Senate established 3 separate investigations into important Defence and Veterans Affairs matters. I urge all people affected by these matters to make a submission.” said Senator Lambie.

1 Suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/VeteranSuicide

On 1 September 2016 the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 30 March 2017

2 Operation of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) resistance to interrogation (RTI) training

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/ADFRTI

On 10 November 2016 the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 20 March 2017.

3 Matters raised by NSW Police Strike Force CIVET (Jedi Council Sex Scandal)

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Foreign_Affairs_Defence_and_Trade/NSW_police_civet/Terms_of_Reference

On 1 December 2016 the Senate referred the following matter to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee for inquiry and report by 7 February 2017.

“These Senate investigations will help shed light on important Defence matters and answer vital questions about Veterans’ Suicides, allegations of torture during ADF training and corruption within the ADF Investigative Service – as noted by a secret NSW police investigation.” said Senator Lambie.

Senate Inquiries Terms of Reference

1 Suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel

Inquiry into suicide by veterans and ex-service personnel with particular reference to:

• the reasons why Australian veterans are committing suicide at such high rates,

• previous reviews of military compensation arrangements and their failings,

• the Repatriation Medical Authority’s Statements of Principles, claims administration time limits, claims for detriment caused by defective administration, authorised medical treatment, level of compensation payments, including defence abuse, as contained in all military compensation arrangements,

• to investigate the progress of reforms within DVA, the administration of claims by DVA and the legislative or other constraints on effective rehabilitation and compensation for veterans, and

• any other related matters.

2 Operation of the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) resistance to interrogation (RTI) training

The operation of the Australian Defence Force’s resistance to interrogation (RTI) training, with particular reference to:

• what training methods are used; whether these training methods are in accordance with Australia’s international obligations and Australian domestic laws; the effectiveness of existing ADF supervisory control measures; the ongoing mental health and wellbeing of personnel who have participated in RTI training; and the matters raised in questions to Lieutenant General Campbell during the 2015-16 additional estimates.

• That the Senate: notes that Lieutenant General Campbell acknowledged, during estimates questioning, that video and other electronic records were made by the ADF of RTI training; and

Calls on the Minister for Defence (Senator Payne) to provide the committee, under special circumstances which protect serving and former ADF personnel identities and operational security, with all recordings made by the ADF of RTI training by 28 December 2016 to assist the committee with the inquiry.

3 Matters raised by NSW Police Strike Force CIVET (Jedi Council Sex Scandal)

The Senate notes in relation to the ‘Jedi Council’ sex scandal:

• in a secret New South Wales Police report, prepared by Detective Sergeant Mark Carter, Strike Force CIVET found that the actions of a number of Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) staff and other sections of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to deliberately lie, withhold evidence, fabricate information… [mean] the conduct of future investigations [by NSW police] into and with the ADF as [a] whole and ADFIS as a body must be viewed with caution and concern;

• the personal information of many innocent ADF members, including retired Lieutenant Colonel Dubsky, was provided to the media, in breach of their right to privacy and other fundamental human rights, and without regard for their mental and physical wellbeing;

• the original ADFIS investigation into the alleged actions of the ‘Jedi Council’ was limited and was conducted without direct contact with any alleged members of the ‘Jedi Council’;

• the ADFIS investigation was limited in scope and did not include appropriate follow-up regarding some of the allegations;

• the ADFIS investigation did not include interviews with alleged victims of material created or distributed by the ‘Jedi Council’; and

• a number of the conclusions reached by the ADFIS were not consistent with the evidence presented to the ADFIS as part of the investigation.

The matters raised by New South Wales Police Strike Force CIVET, and other related matters, be referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee.
Rob Messenger for Senator Jacqui Lambie Senator for Tasmania