Army leader denies knowledge of hazing since directive

A senior army leader has denied knowing about any hazing rituals in Townsville since early 2021 despite a group of junior soldiers being concussed and injured, with one’s arm broken, in a series of incidents in on-base bars.

JUNIOR soldiers were concussed, injured and one had their arm broken at the hands of senior soldiers in a series of violent hazing incidents in on-base bars in Townsville.

Hazing and other unacceptable behaviour by soldiers has come under the spotlight as the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide enters its sixth day of public hearings in Townsville.

One of the city’s most senior non-commissioned officers has denied under affirmation knowing about any hazing rituals taking place in Townsville since the Chief of Army banned the activity in January last year.

Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer Class 1 Brian Buskell told the commission he had weekly meetings with other members of the 3rd Brigade leadership team as a response to the hazing ban but told the commission no hazing incidents were brought to his attention since they were forbidden.

Australian Army Warrant Office Class One Brian Buskell and Afghan Army Sergeant Major Hamdard meet at the Afghan National Army Sergeant Major Academy.

This is despite Defence launching multiple internal investigations into incidents of alleged hazing involving members of Townsville’s 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment in the 11 months up to November 2021.

Defence was aware of five incidents of “unacceptable behaviour” including alleged hazing and violence involving the unit which led to repercussions, a Defence spokesman said.

Six 1RAR soldiers were subject to “disciplinary action” with a seventh dealt with through “administrative action”.

One of the soldiers was given a formal 24-month warning while two others were formally counselled- some were still awaiting their outcomes when the Bulletin asked about the issue in November last year.

A Defence spokesman told the Bulletin that issues in 1RAR took place after the Cheif of Army’s Directive was issued.

Allegations of hazing within the unit were officially investigated by Defence which found no evidence of systemic misconduct.

A former Army officer who is aware of the problems within 1RAR told the Bulletin it was not a case of boys being boys, but rather “ongoing bullying” perpetrated by senior non-commissioned officers against junior soldiers who were new to the battalion.

“Bullying is not the same as a fight,” he said, noting the hierarchical nature of the ADF.

“These kids are scared of them.”

Military police also investigated another hazing incident in Townsville following the ban after a group of soldiers attempted to capture insignia from a different sub-unit.

Lieutenant General Rick Burr’s directive was issued in January 2021 following a highly publicised hazing incident during a training exercise in Townsville during 2019.

The Commission heard last week that the group of soldiers in the 2nd Cavalry Regiment tied up a junior soldier, carried him to an isolated place and chased him into the dark.

Multiple soldiers faced disciplinary action over the 2019 incident.

During his evidence, Warrant Officer Buskell, who isn’t personally accused of engaging in bullying behaviour, said initiation was common in the Army.

“I was subject to initiation ceremonies when I was a soldier and sergeant,” he said.

“They were there. They happened. It can’t be denied that they happened and the Chief of Army took action for us to stop doing it.”

When asked if he was aware of any initiation ceremonies or breaches of the ban since it was issued in January last year, Warrant Officer Buskell raised one innocuous tradition.

“I am aware of the 1RAR tradition of drinking blue beer- which was ceased once the directive was put out,” he said.

“There are other ceremonies that take place for example, toasts at dinners, but they are not initiation ceremonies, they are toasts.”

Counsel assisting the commission Peter Singleton pushed him twice on the point and asked: “We understand initiation ceremony to be a not very pleasant form of toughening up … you are not aware of initiation ceremonies since (January 2021) in the brigade,” he asked.

On both occasions, Warrant Officer Buskell said no.

Originally published as Army leader denies knowledge of hazing since directive