ADF to disclose serious service offences to civilian police
Soldiers, sailors and aviators who have been convicted of a serious service offence will soon have their dirty history shared onto a national police database, revealing crimes they’ve committed both in and out of uniform.
Soldiers, sailors and aviators who have been convicted of a serious service offence will soon have their record shared onto a national police database, showing cops the crimes they’ve committed both in and out of uniform.
From December, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will commence the tedious process of pulling the details of ADF personnel who have recorded a serious service offence dating back to 2015.
From there, the sensitive information will be uploaded onto the National Police Reference System, which is considered the most essential database available to police when conducting an on-the-spot background check of a suspect.
ADF maintain the information handover will be limited to serious offences – such as sexual offending, assault, fraud, property damage and making false statements.
Head of Joint Support Services Division Air Vice-Marshal Lara Gunn defended the move.
“Making that information available for police and other checks, when it is lawfully appropriate, is important for community safety, ”she said.
“Unacceptable and criminal behaviour in Defence compromises the safety, health and wellbeing of our people, and erodes our capability and credibility.
“All personnel are expected to adhere with defence values and behaviours, and leaders are to set the standard and address unacceptable behaviour.”
Recording sexual offences between ADF and civilian justice systems was a key recommendation outlined in the Royal Commission into Defence Veteran Suicide and agreed to by the Albanese Government.
The ADF has also quietly changed its classification of ‘sexual violence’.
Under their new definition, all sexual-related offences are now classified as “violence” rather than “misconduct”.
The NT News understands ADF units across the Territory have been given collective briefs on the new change, as well as the organisation’s new approach to managing alleged offenders and victims.
The quiet chambers of military justice
Matters relating to serious service offences are only partially disclosed to the public, with the name, rank and appointment of a convicted member often withheld when the findings of a tribunal are published.
In September, the NT News sought to confirm the identity of a Navy officer who was found guilty of assaulting a female subordinate.
The Department of Defence rejected this masthead’s request, saying the personal information of an ADF member could not be disclosed without their permission.
Additionally, attending a service tribunal is not as straightforward as attending a civilian court.
Court Martials and Defence Force Magistrates typically occur on military bases.
As such, reporters are required to apply for base access and be chaperoned while on defence grounds.
Class action against defence
Some veterans who have suffered at the hands of their peers have taken matters into their own hands.
Last month, four female veterans started a class action against the commonwealth.
Representatives of the group have said any woman who was subjected to sexual violence, harassment or discrimination while working in the ADF between November 2003 and May 2025 is eligible to join them.
Australian law firm JGA Saddler, who have filed the class action, is demanding the organisation make real change and protect women in uniform.
“The threat of war often isn’t the biggest safety fear for female ADF personnel, it is the threat of sexual violence in their workplace,” he told The Guardian.
“They have signed up to defend their country, not to fight off fellow ADF personnel on a daily basis, all while simply trying to do their job.”
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Originally published as ADF to disclose serious service offences to civilian police
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