Four servicewomen have launched a landmark class action lawsuit against the Australian military alleging sexual abuse, harassment, and discrimination.
Lawyers said they expected thousands of women to join the case against the Australian Defence Force (ADF), which was filed in the Federal Court on Friday.
Claims by the four women leading the lawsuit - whose names are withheld for legal reasons - include being forcibly pinned to a wall before being groped, and waking up naked and bruised after a party with male officers.
An ADF spokesperson said it was developing a sexual misconduct prevention strategy and there was no place for sexual violence in the army.
All women who served between 12 November 2003 and 25 May 2025 are eligible to join the suit, lodged by law firm JGA Saddler.
One lead applicant was a member of the air force and one of two women in a building of about 200 people. She alleged mistreatment, including hostile sexist comments and unsolicited pornographic photos shown to her.
Another applicant, who joined the navy, reported lewd comments and unwanted touching, adding that while on duty abroad, she was grabbed and kissed by a colleague against her wishes.
A recent report into suicide among Australian veterans identified about 800 sexual assault reports in the ADF from 2019 to 2024, emphasizing the significant under-reporting of such incidents and stating that the threat of sexual violence often outweighs that of war for female personnel.
Josh Aylward, a lawyer from JGA Saddler, remarked, 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.
The ADF has acknowledged the need for improvements and committed to ensuring that all members have a right to a respectful workplace.
