Defence's reforms to its military justice system are ahead of schedule, with the implementation of 16 recommendations contained in the Government's response to the report on the effectiveness of Australia's military justice system. The Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation committee yesterday delivered a generally favourable judgement on Defence's reforms to its military justice system in its first six-monthly report. These reforms will deliver impartial, rigorous and fair outcomes through enhanced oversight, greater transparency and improved timeliness.

At the time of the report, a total of seven full recommendations, and significant elements of a further two recommendations contained in the Government's response to the report on Australia's military justice system had been completed on, or ahead of, the Implementation Plan schedule. Since then, further recommendations have been completed bringing the total to 16.

Chief of the Defence Force Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston welcomed the positive comments of the Parliamentary Committee, in particular its conclusion that “at this early stage of the implementation program, the ADF has demonstrated a clear commitment to improving Australia’s military justice system.” Air Chief Marshal Houston said the report demonstrated the genuine commitment to change within the culture of the Australian Defence Force with regard to military justice. “We are determined to improve the military justice system and the progress made in the first six months shows we are heading in the right direction,” he said.

“The Senate report identified shortfalls in the performance of service police investigations. Dedicated service police investigators are now deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Solomon Islands and East Timor. These deployments further assure that the Australian Defence Force Military Justice System delivers impartial, rigorous and fair outcomes, both at home and on deployed operations."

“The audit of ADF service police investigative capability has been completed. The recommendations will inform the best means for developing the capability and implementing the new tri-Service investigative unit. The backlog of Redress of Grievance cases has been cleared and there is no longer a backlog that previously caused undue pressure on the complaint resolution system. The Defence Fairness and Resolution branch has been established as the central management body for dealing with all complaints and grievances.”