Waking Up Naked, Groped, And Left Bruised: Women Soldiers Accuse Australian Army Of Horrific Sexual Abuse, File Landmark Lawsuit Against ADF

Four Australian servicewomen have initiated a historical class action lawsuit against the Australian Defence Force (ADF), claiming rampant sexual abuse, harassment, and gender discrimination. The case was filed in the Federal Court last Friday seeking justice for female personnel who have suffered while serving their nation.

According to the lawsuit, the lead applicants, whose identities are withheld for legal reasons faced shocking incidents, including being forcibly pinned to a wall and groped, as well as waking up naked and bruised after a party with male officers. The allegations highlight a persistent culture of misconduct that the plaintiffs claim has gone unaddressed within the ADF.

Law firm JGA Saddler, who are acting on behalf of the plaintiffs, reiterated that every woman who served in the Australian Defence Force between November 12, 2003, and May 25, 2025, is entitled to be part of the case. Lawyers anticipate that thousands of women will come forward, with this being one of the biggest legal cases brought against the ADF in recent history.

An ADF spokesperson said the organisation was actively working on a sexual misconduct prevention plan and asserted that there is "no place for sexual violence" within the military forces. But the lawsuit highlights continued skepticism regarding the efficacy of such strategies.

Detailed Allegations of Misconduct

The plaintiffs have narrated multiple incidents of sexist and hostile actions. A lead applicant who is a member of the air force reported that she had been subjected to obscene remarks, vulgar dialogue, and unsolicited pornographic photos. She further asserted that her sergeant said to her that "women shouldn't earn as much as men because they are not as powerful."

Another applicant from the Navy described enduring unwanted touching and being grabbed and kissed by a colleague while on duty abroad, despite her efforts to resist. Additionally, a former air force member who is not among the four lead plaintiffs reported facing consistent harassment and misogyny, and was forced to work alongside a colleague she had complained about, with the investigation ultimately dismissed for lack of evidence.

Heightened Concerns Regarding Military Sexual Misconduct

The  report on military suicides delivered last year found that nearly 800 allegations of sexual assault were reported within the ADF between 2019 and 2024, with some 60 per cent of the incidents believed to go unreported. Lawyers on the case insist that for numerous female servicemen and women, the prospect of being sexually assaulted is more of a concern than the threat of combat.

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Women's worst fear of war is not usually the danger of war; it is the potential for sexual assault in their place of work," said plaintiffs' attorney Josh Aylward. "They signed up to protect their nation, not to defend themselves against fellow staff on a daily basis as they go about their job.

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The lawsuit is an important move towards tackling institutional problems in the Australian Defence Force, focusing on the imperative of cultural reform, responsibility, and the safeguarding of women service members' rights.