Jacqui Lambie calls for transparency after secret report into IGDAF leaked online

A long-held, first-of-its-kind report into the office responsible for the military justice system was briefly leaked online, with senators demanding an explanation.

A secret report into the military justice system was briefly leaked on the website of the royal commission into veteran’s suicides before it was seized and leaked to media by senators Jaqui Lambie and David Shoebridge.

The 141-page report looking into the Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force (IGADF) had been received by Defence Minister Richard Marles about six months ago, and was kept under wraps until it was officially published on Wednesday.

The review was the first of its kind in the IGADF’s 20 years of operation.

The release of the report follows a lengthy and impassioned campaign from Senator Lambie, a veteran, who has repeatedly accused the government of a “cover-up” by not releasing it.

It makes 47 recommendations, including stronger legislation to ensure it is separate to the Defence Force, and able to initiate investigations into any matter of suspected misconduct. It also calls for the role to be appointed by the Governor-General for a non-renewable seven year term.

Senator Jacqui Lambie called the government to explain why the report was briefly published and taken off the website of the royal commission into veteran suicides. Picture: NewsWire/ Martin Ollman. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

In the Senate on Wednesday, Senator Lambie attacked the government for deleting the report, and then barring her from tabling the report in parliament on Tuesday.

She also successfully moved a motion calling a representative for Mr Marles (who is currently on an official trip to Vanuatu) to explain to the Senate how the error occurred, which will take place on Thursday.

“My office called the royal commission and asked the day that that report went up, and it was gone.

“Gone off that website in 30 minutes.

“But it was too late. We had already downloaded it.

“Senator Shoebridge and I headed back down to the chamber to tackle the report in the Senate yesterday afternoon, and the government refused.”

She also questioned why the report was kept secret for the last six months.

“It’s hardly redacted that report your minister has been telling me he’s been consulting for six months,” she said.

“The IGADF might be a statutory office, but they are not independent, and for most veterans, they see the IGDAF as an agency that just runs interference for defence.”

CANBERRA, Australia – NewsWire Photos – September 12, 2024: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Richard Marles holds a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Following her speech, the report was eventually tabled and published by Labor Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, with the review now public.

It’s understood Mr Marle’s office, who provided the review to the royal commission during its investigation, was not involved in the report being published on the royal commission’s website, or its removal.

However, Senator Shoebridge demanded more transparency over who asked for the report to be deleted on the Royal Commission’s website.

A spokesperson for Mr Marles said the minister was now considering a review into the IGDAF alongside the royal commission into veteran suicides in order to “ensure a holistic and pragmatic approach to any proposed reform”.

“To respond to one report in isolation of the other would be impractical and ineffective,” they said.

“The Deputy Prime Minister has said the Government will agree to implement the thrust of the recommendations of the Royal Commission, of which reform to the IGADF and military justice system forms a large part.