CANBERRA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Servicewomen have launched a landmark class action lawsuit over allegations that they suffered systemic sexual abuse while serving in the Australian Defense Force (ADF).
The legal action was filed in Australia's Federal Court on Friday by Brisbane-based law firm JGA Saddler, claiming that sexual violence, harassment and discrimination are widespread within the ADF.
Filed on behalf of four lead applicants, whose identities were withheld for legal reasons, the class action suit is open to all women who were subjected to sexual violence, harassment or discrimination while working in the ADF between November 2003 and May 2025.
Joshua Aylward, a director at JGA Saddler, said that the legal case is a demand for action, accountability and real change within the ADF and that the firm expects thousands of women to join the class action.
"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 said.
Friday's filing in the court included allegations from one applicant that she had received abusive messages after accusing a male colleague of sexual assault.
Another applicant alleged that she was verbally abused after making a formal complaint about a male colleague's harassment.
A Department of Defense spokesperson said in a statement on Friday that the ADF is developing a comprehensive sexual misconduct prevention strategy. ■
