‘Pinned against the wall’: Female soldiers allege widespread sexual violence in ADF class action

Thousands of female soldiers - like Gemma, who was left ‘broken’ after a disturbing incident in a hotel pool - are set to take on the ADF in a bombshell class action lawsuit.

Female service members say they have been groped and forcibly kissed on duty, rubbed with a colleague’s “erect penis” and had a superior put his “hands down my bathers”, as the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is hit with a bombshell lawsuit.

Thousands of women are expected to be eligible to join the landmark class action, filed today in the Federal Court in Sydney, which alleges widespread, systemic sexual violence, sexual harassment, physical abuse, rape, discrimination and victimisation of female ADF members in the course of their employment.

The claim is being led by class action law firm JGA Saddler and backed by global litigation funder Omni Bridgeway.

Women who were subject to sexual violence, sexual harassment or discrimination while working in the ADF — including the Army, Navy or Air Force as well as training establishments such as the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) — from November 12, 2003 to May 25, 2025, are eligible to participate.

https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/pinned-against-the-wall-female-soldiers-allege-widespread-sexual-violence-in-adf-class-action/news-story/4407bdfbeac8f8ca661a5058a720ef7b