Four Corners: June 13

Tackling another testy subject, tonight’s Four Corners reporter Geoff Thompson investigates the claims of servicemen and women who say they were beaten, abused or sexually assaulted.

No one doubts it takes a certain type of person to volunteer to serve in the frontline. No one doubts that person needs tough training to help them make decisions under pressure. But what happens when the training process is no longer simply tough but becomes brutal, even sadistic? And what happens when a soldier says it’s all gone too far and blows the whistle on illegal behaviour?

Four Corners tells the story of a young trainee officer who goes to the aid of another soldier who’s being physically beaten by senior trainees. “John”, as we will call him, is attacked and has bleach thrown in his eyes. When he complains to his superiors he then becomes a target of further abuse.

Caught alone in his room “John” is attacked by half a dozen trainee officers, held down and sexually assaulted. When he consults a medical officer he is told not to report the attack or he will face further problems. From this point his career spirals downward and he attempts suicide. At no point does anyone suggest an inquiry is needed. No investigation is made and those who assaulted him are allowed to pursue careers within the Defence Force. Meanwhile, “John” is told by his superior officer he has no future in the Force.

Three decades later “John” finally has a chance to tell his story, claiming he has one significant motivation for doing so:

“I am still very angry about it… I am aware that there are people that I’m certain who were involved in the assault on me who are now senior officers in the Australian Defence Forces. And I have concerns about that.”

Four Corners talks to a number of other people with similar experiences. Each one tells a story involving shocking brutality, followed by a cover up of the incident.

“Culture of Silence”, presented by Kerry O’Brien, airs Monday 13th June at 8.30pm on ABC1.