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A spiraling scandal involving alleged sexual and other abuse within the Australian military could force the government to make payouts to victims, the country's defense minister said on Sunday. Canberra has announced sweeping reviews of the military after a female cadet at the military academy told the media that a classmate had broadcast her having sex with him over Skype to fellow students. Her allegations unleashed a wave of complaints from other ex-members of the military involving sexual abuse, beatings and other forms of misconduct within the defense force. "There is a distinct possibility, either in individual cases or more generally, that through the Department of Defense or through the services, that there is a Commonwealth (federal government) liability here," Defense Minister Stephen Smith said. "That is why I say we need to proceed carefully; we need to make sure we respect all the rights of the people who are either complaining or raising issues or in respect of whose adverse comments have been made." It emerged Saturday that the defense force faces the threat of a class-action lawsuit after advocates for one ex-recruit, who claims he was beaten and raped, warned that "hundreds" more cases could emerge. Police are investigating allegations that the man endured beatings and assaults before he left the service within a year with an honorable discharge. AFP |
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