‘National apology overlooks’ ADF abuse victims

Teenagers sexually abused as while serving with the ADF say they have been overlooked in preparations for a national apology.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said approximately 800 seats would be allocated for the apology.

People sexually abused as teen­agers while serving with the Australian ­Defence Force say they have been overlooked in preparations for a national apology to be delivered by the Prime Minister next month.

A reference group including advocate Chrissie Foster, Bravehearts founder Hetty Johnston and Leonie Sheedy of Care Leavers Australasia Network advised the government on the apology to be delivered at Parliament House on October 22.

The Victims of Abuse in the Australian Defence Force Association claims it should have been included in the 11-person reference group. Association secretary Jennifer Jacomb said the group was not told of the apology to institutional abuse victims and was alerted to the event by a member who heard it mentioned on the radio. “The commonwealth had full control over the Australian ­Defence Force and we weren’t involved in the drafting of the apology,” she said.

Ms Jacomb said the drafting of the apology should have prioritised involvement of the group ahead of representation from institutions which the commonwealth had no control over. “I don’t mind (organisations such as CLAN) being there, it’s just we should have been there as well,” she said.

Ms Jacomb said the association had also been excluded from the ceremony, with no seats allocated to the group. “If anyone should have been involved in drafting the apology, if anyone should be in the Great Hall it is child abuse victims of the Australian Defence Force … the commonwealth was woefully negligent in protecting them,” she said.

Attorney-General Christian Porter said approximately 800 seats would be allocated for the apology, including 400 to be distributed by organisations working with survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, including those in defence settings. “As yet, none of those seats have been ­allocated to individuals but the process is designed to ­ensure as broad a representation of survivors as possible,” he said.

The remaining 400 seats are available through a ballot.