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A serving member of the Australian navy reserve has given shocking evidence at a royal commission of how she was sexually assaulted as a recruit.
A serving member of the Australian navy reserve has given harrowing evidence to a royal commission of her sexual assault at the hands of a fellow seaman.
Disturbingly the witness – known only as BR1 – said she was not believed by police and her chain of command, saying officers told her she would “not be believed” and she had brought this on herself.
The shocking evidence came on the final day of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide’s hearings in Brisbane.
Counsel assisting the commissioner Peter Gray QC said “crucial and thoughtful evidence” given over the fortnight would help the inquiry consider “needed reforms” in the future.
He said cultural traits present in the ADF could have serious impacts on returned servicemen and women.
“We can hypothesise there is a connection with ADF cultures and unacceptable and unlawful behaviour against women,” Mr Gray said.
On Friday, Witness BR1 told the commission she had been out for drinks before her first deployment when the sexual assault occurred.
She said she had only recently turned 18.
“I felt like no matter how many times I asked for help, it was always my fault,” Witness BR1 said.
Witness BR1 said her mental health began to decline and she began having suicidal thoughts, as she felt she was not believed by her chain of command or police when she reported the assault.
She said upon leaving the base she was told her career was “going down the toilet” because she was “creating paperwork”.
“I felt like every time I asked for help, my private information was shared,” the witness said.
“I would say to other women (in the force): it’s not your fault, and don’t let anyone think it’s your fault.
During the navy training process, Witness BR1 said she was frequently yelled at and ordered to do exercise because she was “smiling”.
She said on her first night she was screamed at by a senior officer because she left her bed to use her phone.
Jasmin Carmel, whose son Jarrad Brown was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, revealed she struggled to get access to critical information concerning Jarrad’s service in the ADF.
She recalled her “screaming” when she discovered Jarrad took his life in 2015.
“After Jarrad was buried I felt I was going to break,” Ms Carmel said.
Ms Carmel said she attempted to get Jarrad’s files from the ADF to understand what was going on but was rudely told she was “not going to get compensation” when she called.
She urged the government to consider better action on caring for veterans and returned serviceman and to “not allow even a single person in our military family to feel they had no other option to end their life”.
“I’m angry I have to be here, to tell my beautiful son’s story … of how he fell through the cracks,” she sobbed.
Earlier that day, Michael and Patricia Fernandez de Viana revealed the ADF refused to pay for the airfare to transport the body of their son James back to Western Australia, after he took his life at a South Australian air base in July 2019.
After a friend arranged to have James’ body driven back home, Patricia said it was in no state to be viewed.
The family revealed how their son’s mental health went downhill after he failed his pilot training, eventually being transferred to an admin role after taking weeks of leave.
“Difficulties showed up in the extreme difficulty of the testing and the ability to do multiple tasks … it got harder and harder,” Michael told the commission.
“At one stage he said to me, ‘It feels like I’m flying a bus with wheels.’”
With Brisbane’s hearings concluded, the commission’s next public hearings will commence in Sydney in February next year.
Originally published as Navy witness’ shock sexual assault at hands of fellow seaman: Defence Royal Commission told
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