THE Australian Defence Force has failed to properly investigate and punish dozens of serving members allegedly linked to a social media campaign designed to expose and intimidate homosexual personnel, reports the Newcastle herald.
Senior ADF leaders and the office of the former defence minister John Faulkner received a formal complaint in August last year about a Facebook page created to expose what the page labelled "bum bandits getting around the ADF''. But eight months later the investigation into the page and the dozens of ADF personnel who signed on as "friends" has been shelved and none of the serving members associated with the gay-hate campaign has been disciplined.
One of those publicly targeted by the Facebook page, created under the pseudonym "Steve Austin" and featuring the Army's rising sun insignia, was Major Paul Morgan, an army psychologist who has served in Iraq.
Major Morgan and four other ADF personnel, including two special forces soldiers, were named on the Facebook page - which is believed to have been taken down - as having made a "filthy lifestyle decision".
"This page has been created to inform current and past serving members of the ADF who is 'biting the pillow'," the page said.
It allegedly had links to extremely violent and pornographic videos on YouTube showing homosexuals being executed superimposed over images of Anzac Cove in Gallipoli and flag-draped coffins of dead Australian troops. At least one YouTube clip that attacks the sexuality of a serving officer remains online.
Major Morgan, who has been commended for his work with soldiers affected by the suicide of Private Jacob Kovco, said he was unable to discuss the hate campaign. The ADF has strict rules on speaking to the media.
However, Major Morgan said life as a gay man in the army was not easy. "I have sacrificed my whole adult life to the army and the inaction in this case is soul-destroying," he said.
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